[Flash 10 is required to watch video]
izanaizuki:
you lookin shexy in that dRESS
(via jinjinlees)
I opened my eyes and it was still dark. The air, cold from the endless pour of rain the past night. My windows still got mist as evidence. There’s a warm comfort in my bed that held me back to get up and get ready for school. School…s-c-h-o-o-l(sigh)! Going to school is but a burden for me. Grueling hours of tiresome routine and boring lessons I have to endure. Not to mention the sermons I get daily from my teachers about values I should possess as my preparation into the real world I am inevitably going to.
Nothing’s unusual this day. I woke up to the usual voice of my nagging mother who was also preparing breakfast while dressing up my little brother. Ah mothers…the only creatures I know in this world who can multitask after multitask without tiredness and who seemed to have taken it as a hobby! I know not any school which teach about motherhood, but there had been a contagious spread of this epitome of a mother.
“What do you think what time is it now? Don’t you have classes? Do you know what we have to do to pay for your tuition? And not only that, but for you to have daily allowance! Not all children are fortunate to be going to school. And not just about any school but in a private school! Learn to appreciate, Gail!”
I stared at my mother with amazement. How many times have I heard this line from her? Yet she never failed to forget even one word of her not so original speech. How many times have I asked myself, is this still my mother talking or am I hearing a voice recording programmed to greet me good morning every single day? I dare not stare long or else it will start another riot that may include enumeration of things I’ve done in the past.
“Good morning too, Ma! I’m now getting in the shower. I’m now taking my first splash of water. Calm down yourself, will you?”, with a smile I said her soothing words.
“Gail, you can’t trick me this time! What time did you put down your cellphone last night and sleep? At 3 o’clock I can still hear you texting. Don’t wait till I’m fed up with you or you’ll end up without cellphone and I’ll ground you. I’m warning you!”, my mom says this while taking out the sunny side up eggs, my favorite, from the frying pan and making coffee for my father who was busy reading the morning paper. I bet he gets more news from my Mom than the paper with the way she reports subtly of my misdemeanor to my father.
My father is a quiet man. He rarely comments when my Mom is fired up with energy with the morning sermon. He will just smile at me and wink. Like saying that not only I am suffering but I also his ears. He never interrupted my mother even once when she’s doing her hobby. For that, I applaud my Dad though he can’t say the same for me because I get fed up easily with her. Sometimes I will butt in, but like a spiker who thought had a clear view to score, I will be blocked up out my face. You don’t know my mother. She’s the greatest philosopher there is. She always got something to explain things. While my Dad is like an ever welcoming, calm sea to a raging river.
“Dad,” I shouted from the bathroom, “I hope you didn’t forget the meeting I told you last week. It’s today and it’s really necessary for you to be there.”
“Yes, I didn’t forget don’t worry! I filed for absence today. It’s 2o’clock in the afternoon, right?”, my father answered in his husky yet sweet voice.
“Yup, Dad! Thank you for not forgetting.”
“What meeting is that?”, my mother asked Dad.
“Career orientation for parents and children. Gail said that it’s the fathers that were requested to come. Maybe they think that it will be best that it’s the father who‘ll attend since we’re the one paying for the course,” my father joked.
“Ahh…I see.”
“Hon, where’s my coffee?”
“Oh, yes! Here’s your coffee.”
I don’t know, but with the other sounds that I could hear from where I was, I thought I heard sadness and disappointed in my mother’s voice, it was very distinct. I heard it and her voice had always been the sound I try eagerly to block from my ears every morning.
After taking a bath, I went straight to my room and got dressed. Afterwards, I forced myself to go down and eat with my parents. I felt guilty with something I could not think of doing to be tormented like this. Finally, I gave up and joined them. I instantly felt animosity between my Mom and me. I felt that the moment she says anything or just even my name, that I will say I’m sorry and ask her what have I done.
“Gail-“
“Mom, look, I’m sorry! I just didn’t think it was needed for me to tell you about the orientation. It is just a mini seminar for us before we choose the course we’ll take next year. No big deal, okay?”
“I’m just saying, no matter what course you take I’ll support you,” she said this while staring at her food and then got up and gathered our laundry for the day.
Immediately I felt choked up. I could not think of anything to say. I tried vainly to tell something light or even a joke but nothing-my mind froze! I felt a stabbing pain in my chest as I pull back the tears already lining up in my eyes. I’m totally clueless with what I felt. There’s a part of me wanting to embrace her but there’s also that part that tells me she’ll be okay. That she had experienced worse than this and she’ll get through with it.
With heavy feet and dragging my heart as I walk, I bid my parents goodbye as I went to school. The morning class passed by like a blur image in front of me. My Mom’s face and voice that moment before I left was like glued in my mind. I could not concentrate with anything.
The time for the orientation came. As I sit with my father in the auditorium, my hands were sweaty and I could not keep a steady hold of myself. The speaker went around asking each what course they’ll be taking. As the turn neared me, I turned to my Dad and borrowed his phone. With hands shaking, I dialed a familiar number. It took three rings before the one on the other line picked up.
“Hi, Mom. Dad and I are in the seminar now and it just started. I may not be that vocal with you but I really wish that you were here. My turn to say the course I choose is near and I want you to hear it first hand. I hope you’ll be proud. Please stay on the line, okay?”
“Yes, aaah Miss Elisha Gail Olivares? What course are you planning to take up?”, the speaker asked me smiling.
“I have two choices actually. But right now nursing weighs more”, I said shyly.
The speaker thanked me and asked me to sit down. With the phone still in my hand I spoke to my mother, “Mom, did you hear that? I’m taking up nursing. That was your dream before, right? Hello? Mom? Are you still there?”, an eternity of minute passed by then I heard low sobs.
“Yes Gail, I heard you. I heard and saw you. And I could not have been more proud of you thinking of me while choosing your career. You’ll make a great nurse because you’re nurturing and caring. Thank you for doing this. I appreciate it a lot!”, I knew she was crying and I could not help myself but to cry also. I’ve always been such a sucker for crying.
Then my Dad urged me to look to my left. Then there, amidst the crowd of familiar and unfamiliar faces, I saw my angel, smiling while crying. Her eyes full of emotions that were bursting out of her. All I can see was haze as tears flooded my eyes, but I could swear, I unmistakably saw her uttered “I love you!”
A piece from one of my lovely, favorite, and one of the best teacher in my highschool. :)) You ought to read this. :>
Next
|
|