TWENTY-SIX
"Thank you, sir..but..I'm going to have to decline." Sabi ni Rosie sa boss niya.
Ngumiti ito. Tumawa. "Let's not be too hasty in making big decisions. Think about it."
Umiling si Rosie. "I can't, sir."
"Why not?"
"I..have a life here?"
"Hmm.."
"People to stay for, you know?"
Ngumiti lang ang boss ni Rosie. Nagsindi ng sigarilyo. "Talk to your people then. They can help you figure out what to do."
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"Do it." Sabi ni Jisoo. Binugahan ng usok ng yosi sa mukha si Rosie na sinuntok siya sa balikat.
"Tangina mo." Sagot ni Rosie.
"Mehn ano bang pumipigil sayo?"
"Madami."
"Pustahan tayo si Wendy nasa isip mo ngayon?"
"Ayokong makipag-pustahan sayo. Kampon ka ni Satanas eh."
Tumawa si Jisoo. Tumungga ng beer. "Ayaw mong pumusta kasi alam mong tama ako. Bakit ba hindi siya yung kausapin mo tungkol dito? Wala naman akong itutulong sayo bukod sa pagsasabing lumayas ka. Mamimiss kita pero mas matindi yung part na hindi. Tangina mo kasi eh."
"Una sa lahat, walang nagsabi sayo na patulan mo yung pag-aya ko ng inom. Pangalawa, tangina mo din. Bakit ba kita kaibigan?"
"Libre eh. Bakit hindi?"
"Buraot kang putangina mo."
"I hate you too, Roseanne. Kausapin mo si Wendy."
Natahimik si Rosie. Tumitig lang sa plato nila ng pulutang sisig.
"Mehn..kausapin mo si Wendy." Ulit ni Jisoo.
"Makulit ka! Ayoko nga. Di niya kailangan malaman." Umiiling na sagot ni Rosie.
"Mehn..kailangan niya malaman. Yan yung mga tipo ng bagay na dapat eh kayong dalawa ang nagde-decide hindi lang ikaw."
"Tangina naman. Ayokong pumili."
"Sino bang may sabi na dapat kang pumili?"
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"Lumipad ka." Utos ni ate Irene.
Kumurap lang si Rosie. "Ha?" Sabi niya.
"Lumipad ka daw. Bingi na yata." Sabi ni ate Seulgi.
"Bakit?" Tanong ni Rosie.
Pinitik siya sa noo ni ate Irene. Malakas. Tipong napahimas siya sa offended area.
"Kasi future mo yun, boba ka ba?" Sagot ni ate Irene.
"Kind of dumb to think that something as blurred as that could be my future right?"
"Shet?" Sabi ni ate Irene kay ate Seulgi na nagkibit-balikat lang. "Kapatid ko ba talaga to? Nata-tanga eh. Pigilan mo ako, sasapakin ko yan."
"Hyun.." Awat ni ate Seulgi. Humawak sa braso ng asawa tapos tinaasan ng kilay.
Bumuntong-hininga nalang si ate Irene. Umiiling na pinuntahan si Yeri sa living room.
Tinapik ni ate Seulgi sa braso si Rosie. Tumango. "Anong takot mo?" Tanong niya.
"Wala."
"Weh?"
"Wala. Ayoko lang sumubok kasi blurred nga. Di sure."
"Technically..sure. At least, based sa kwento mo. Lilipad ka..straight to a ready and waiting Senior Lawyer post, a company paid flat, and a sizable salary package. Try again. Anong problema?"
Bumuntong-hininga si Rosie. "Seungwan." Sagot niya.
Tumitig si ate Seulgi. Tumawa. Tapos tumawa pa lalo. Tumawa pa more tapos naiyak kaya nilapitan na ulit ni ate Irene.
"Para namang ewan." Sabi ni Rosie.
"Gags anong ginawa mo sa asawa ko?" Tanong ni ate Irene.
"Malay ko diyan."
Nagpunas ng luha si ate Seulgi. "Tangina. Galeng. Yun lang pala iniisip amputspa! Hyun! Nadinig mo yun? Si Seungwan lang pala pinoproblema kaya ayaw umalis!"
Tuluyan nang nakatikim ng suntok si Rosie galing kay ate Irene.
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"Go, Rosie." Sabi ni Mommy Tiffany.
Nabuga ni Rosie ang iniinom na coke.
"Nakakahiya ka hoy." Reklamo ni Mommy Taeyeon. "Tinuruan ka naman namin ng manners, saan mo natutunang mag spit-take?"
Punas ng tissue sa labi si Rosie. "I would have thought you two will be the voices of reason." Sabi niya sa parents niya.
Sabay na nagkibit-balikat. "We are being the voices of reason." Sabay din na sabi.
"Kaya nga sinasabihan kang tanggapin yung promotion diba?" Sabi ni Mommy Taeyeon.
"What kind of parents would we be if we tell you to stay stuck?" Dugtong ni Mommy Tiffany.
"Ohmygooooood." Bulong ni Rosie.
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"Seungwan won't stop you. You know that right?" Sabi ni Tita Seohyun.
"Gahd." Exasperated na sabi ni Rosie. Taas kamay pa. "Everyone is telling me to leave!"
"Because it's a great opportunity, Rosie. You're lucky to get that sort of recognition from your boss." Paliwanag ni Tita Yoona.
"Not very many people get that kind of offer, it means he specifically noticed your hard work enough to give you a chance to grow in your field." Sabi ni Tita Seohyun.
"Aren't you scared it's going to create a problem for your daughter and I?" Tanong ni Rosie.
"Why would we be scared?" Sagot ni Tita Yoona. "You two are as stable as you can get. Five years going on twenty-five right?"
"Still.."
Hinawakan ni Tita Seohyun ang kamay ni Rosie na nakapatong sa lamesa. Nginitian siya. "Talk to Seungwan. If she ends up being the one that tells you not to go, which I doubt..you're free to tell us we raised her wrong."
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"Madaming pupwedeng mangyari pag umalis ako." Sabi ni Rosie.
"Like what?" Sagot ng kausap niya.
Bumuntong-hininga si Rosie. "This is the first time we're back here in about three months, Seungwan." Sabi niya.
Humigpit ang yakap ng nasa ilalim ni Rosie. Tumango. "We've both been busy." Sabi ni Wendy.
"Exactly. Busy. I've got ten different cases on my plate and you've done nothing but check papers 24/365."
"So?"
"So.."
"Umiiwas ka sa mas malalang busy?"
"That..and also..Theungwan..I can't go to New York."
Kumunot ang noo ni Wendy. "Why not?"
"Time difference, promotions mean more work and..I..don't have you there.."
"So?"
"Anong so? Tangina naman, Wendy."
Bumangon si Wendy. Kumalas sa yakap kay Rosie tapos nag-indian sit sa harapan niya. "We managed time difference already didn't we? When I was in Canada. We managed that."
"Yeah but we were fucking students back then, Seungwan!"
"I don't see what the problem is, Rosie. I really don't. This is your future we're talking about aren't we?"
"I like where I am."
"Where you are is stuck." Sagot ni Wendy.
Suminghap si Rosie. "What the fuck?" Bulong niya.
Nag-tsk si Wendy. Umiling. Hinawakan ang kamay ni Rosie na pumiglas pa ng slight pero hindi niya pinawalan. "I don't mean that in a bad way..I just..think..you should REALLY go for the promotion. What kind of GFF would I be if I stop you from growing?"
"The kind that makes me think na sawa ka ng kasama ako?" Sagot ni Rosie.
Si Wendy naman ang suminghap. "Pota? Saan galing yun?! Ang layo ng reach ha! Why in the world would I be tired of having you around?!"
"Pinapaalis mo ako eh!"
"Kasi nga sayang pag di mo ginawa!"
Nagtitigan sila. Sabay na kumurap.
"Umuwi na tayo." Sabi ni Rosie. Isa-isang kinolekta ang mga naka-kalat na damit sa loob ng tent tapos nagbihis.
"Rosie please listen..I just want what's best for you." Sabi ni Wendy.
"Ever stopped and thought that you're kind of what's best for me?"