Chapter 62
The morning drive passed in comfortable silence.
Kairi sat in the backseat beside Lara with her backpack resting on her lap. The zipper was half open at kita pa ang edge ng laptop sleeve niya. Most of her things were already packed inside two suitcases in the trunk.
Sa harap, panay ang lingon ng nanay niya every few minutes.
"Kai, anak, dala mo ba charger mo?" she asked.
"Yes po, Ma."
"And your documents?"
"Yes."
"And—"
"Ma," putol ni Lara na natatawa na. "She's moving about an hour away, hindi sa ibang bansa."
Napabuntong-hininga ang nanay nila. "Gusto ko lang makasigurado."
Kairi leaned her head lightly against the window, watching buildings slide past as they drove.
"You know," Lara said casually habang sumusulyap sa kanya. "This is basically freedom."
Kairi raised an eyebrow. "Freedom?"
"Yes. No parents. No curfew. Walang mangungulit kung anong oras ka uuwi."
Napasinghap nang mahina ang tatay nila mula sa driver's seat. "Kailan ba kayo nagkaroon ng curfew? Hindi naman kami mahigpit sa inyo. Pero ngayon—"
Kairi grinned faintly. "I knew it."
"You're living away from home now," sabi ng tatay nila. "Syempre may konting rules na."
Wala naman talagang strict rules dati. Hindi sila lumaking sobrang higpit ang parents. Pero ngayon na lilipat na siya, kailangan na ng adjustments. Especially after everything that happened nitong mga nakaraang buwan. They trust Kairi, but it wouldn't hurt to take precautions.
Their mother laughed softly. "Your father already plans to call every hour."
"Every two hours," their father corrected.
Napailing na lang si Kairi habang natatawa. "Very generous."
Madali lang ang tawanan. The kind of laughter that had started returning little by little these past few weeks.
Lara tilted her head at Kairi. "You do realize ikaw ang favorite daughter, right?"
"What?"
"You get to live five minutes away from campus. Do you know how long my commute was noong first year ako?"
"Oo na, ate. Forty minutes," sagot agad ni Kairi.
"Forty minutes on a good day," correction ni Lara. "One hour pag malas ka sa traffic."
Their father smirked. "Which is why, eventually, binilhan ka namin ng kotse."
Lara pointed at him. "Exactly. I suffered first."
"Lara, anak, you survived," their father said.
"I barely did!"
It was true though. Noong nagsisimula pa lang si Lara sa university, araw-araw siyang gigising nang maaga, makikipagsiksikan sa commute, tapos uuwi nang pagod na pagod.
Kairi had the easier option now.
The apartment she and her friends rented was only a five minute-walk from campus.
Five minutes.
Sumulyap ang father nila sa rearview mirror. "You know, noong college ako, I lived three hours away from home."
Lara groaned immediately. "Argh! Ayan na."
"Anong ayan na?" inosenteng tanong ng tatay nila.
"You've told that story a hundred times already."
"It builds character," depensa niya.
Mahinang natawa ang nanay nila. "Hayaan niyo na ang papa niyo."
Lara rolled her eyes. "Na-build na character namin, Pa. Tama na."
Nakangiti lang si Kairi habang nakikinig sa kanila.
Ilang segundo pa, lumiko ang sasakyan papasok sa isang street, saka bumagal nang malapit na sila sa isang four-story apartment building sa dulo.
"Well," sabi ni Lara habang sumisilip sa labas. "Look at that. Adult life."
Napatingin si Kairi sa building.
"Adult life, huh?"
Makalipas ang ilang minuto, bumaba na sila ng sasakyan.
Agad binuhat ng tatay nila ang dalawang maleta mula sa trunk na parang walang laman sa gaan nang mga ito.
"Pa," sabi ni Kairi. "Kaya ko naman po."
"I know," sagot ng father nila.
Pero siya pa rin ang nagdala.
Kairi slung her backpack over her shoulder at ramdam ang bigat ng laptop at ibang gamit sa loob.
They entered the building and took the elevator up to the third floor.
Tahimik ang hallway.
Kairi walked ahead and stopped in front of their unit.
She knocked.
Pagkabukas ng pinto after a few seconds, bumungad agad si Maya na may hawak pang cleaning cloth.
"Kai!" agad na lumiwanag ang mukha nito. "Finally!"
Behind her, Zoe was wiping down the kitchen counter.
Mukhang kanina pa sila naglilinis.
"Hello po, tito, tita, and ate!" bati ni Zoe mula kusina. "Pasok po!"
Kairi stepped inside with her family.
The apartment was neat already, though cleaning supplies were still scattered around.
Agad naglibot ang tingin ng nanay niya.
"Girls, nasaan ang parents niyo?" she asked, looking at Maya.
"Umalis na po," sagot ni Maya. "But not before ma-check ang every corner nitong apartment."
Tumawa si Zoe mula sa kitchen. "As in every cabinet, every drawer. Pati bathroom, chineck."
Tumango si Maya. "And halos ten times inulit-ulit ang reminders!"
Lara smirked. "Prepare yourselves. You're about to hear the same reminders again."
Their father cleared his throat.
"Well, since napunta na rin tayo sa reminders—"
"Pa!" Kairi cut in immediately.
Natawa silang lahat.
Her father raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay."
Lumapit ang nanay ni Kairi sa kitchen at binuksan ang fridge. Wala pa itong laman.
Lumingon siya sa kanilang tatlo. "Girls, kailangan niyong bumili ng groceries mamaya."
Mabilis na tumango si Zoe. "Yes po, tita."
"So you can cook dinner," dagdag ng nanay ni Kairi.
Lara snorted. "Oh, Ma. They're not cooking dinner."
Zoe frowned. "Ate Lara, magluluto kami. Marunong naman kami."
"Yes," pagsang-ayon agad ni Maya. "Kaya kaya namin."
Lara crossed her arms skeptically. "Really."
Tinuro ni Zoe si Kairi. "Kairi can cook."
Biglang napunta ang lahat ng tingin kay Kairi pero she just blinked.
Agad namang nagsalita ang tatay nila. "Ang alam lang naman ni Kairi ay mag-reheat."
"Pa."
Their mother smiled. "Marunong namang magluto ng breakfast.."
"Thank you," dry na sagot ni Kairi. "Ang laki ng tiwala niyo sakin."
Tumawa si Maya habang inaakbayan si Zoe. "Okay lang. We'll learn together!"
Lara shook her head. "You three are going to end up eating breakfast for dinner."
"Ate Lara," sabi ni Maya na parang offended. "Breakfast for dinner is a valid life choice."
"And may cereal naman," dagdag ni Zoe.
Natawa na lang ang tatay nila Kairi. "Ano na lang kaya ang magiging buhay niyo rito?"
They continued talking, walking through the apartment. Sa living room. Sa maliit na kitchen. And even sa bathroom.
Kairi's mother checked the cabinets. Her father inspected the windows and locks. Lara opened random drawers like she was judging the entire place.
Then more reminders came about locking doors, budgeting money, eating properly, and calling home.
Every few minutes, may bagong paalala.
"Pa," putol ni Kairi habang nagsasalita na naman tatay nila. "We know. Mag-iingat po kami."
Eventually, matapos ang isa pang round ng reminders, oras na para umalis sila.
Her father squeezed her shoulder.
"Call us kapag may kailangan ka, kayo. Kahit ano, Kairi."
Her mother hugged her. "Ingatan ang sarili, ha?"
Lara hugged her last.
"Freedom," she whispered dramatically.
Kairi laughed. "Go away, ate."
Tumawa lang si Lara bago umatras.
Then umalis na sila, closing the door behind them.
At biglang—
Tahimik sa loob ng unit.
Tinitigan muna ni Maya ang pinto for a second bago kinuha ang remote and turned on the TV.
Music filled the room.
"Okay," sabi niya habang pabagsak na umupo sa sofa. "We're free."
Zoe joined her, stretching her arms. "Freedom," she echoed.
Kairi sat down beside them.
Sabay-sabay silang tumingin sa paligid ng bago nilang living room.
Ngumisi si Maya. "No parents."
Nag-smirk si Zoe. "No curfew."
Sumandal si Kairi sa sofa.
"No commute," she added.
Natawa silang tatlo.
For a moment, it was just three friends sitting together in a space that belonged to them.
Then biglang umupo nang diretso si Maya.
"Okay," she said. "Enough celebrating."
Zoe groaned. "Right, right. Maglilinis pa."
"And unpack," Maya added.
Kairi stood. "Alright."
And they split up. Si Maya dumiretso sa room niya. Zoe went to hers.
Kairi walked into her own bedroom where two suitcases waited by the wall.