At Lunch on Sunday, We had a Talk
"Do you miss your brother already, Toto?"
Mom asked me as she heated the sinigang in the microwave. We had just dropped my brother off to the airport early in the morning, then went to church, then stopped by the Filipino Store on the way back home to buy ulam for lunch. I was feeling sleepy more than anything, but I had to admit I was a bit sad that Dikong's one-week vacation here was over.
"It's okay, anak. In a few month's babalik rin naman siya dito."
I didn't say anything, I just spooned the sinigang over my rice.
"Are you still thinking of going back home?"
"Your brother will need you pagbalik niya. Kailangan niya ng kasama dito."
"Kailangan kita dito."
Tito Gene, who was quietly eating the barbeque, finally said something.
"You know, Adrian. Ganyan talaga sa simula. Ako nung bagong dating pa lang ako dito, 22 yata ako. Sobrang lungkot ko kasi nasa bahay lang ako, binabantay ang nanay ko kasi may sakit siya. Tumitingin ako sa labas at ang lungkot ng nasa labas kasi nagsosnow."
"Pero you need to be practical," Mom said, "Lalo na sa economy na ganito."
Tito Gene continued, "At yung depression, kasama yan ng devil e. Pag depressed ka, mas vulnerable ka sa masasamang thoughts."
"Ganito na lang, anak. Magstay ka muna dito ng five years, then get your citizenship. Once na may citizenship ka na, pwede kang bumalik-balik from US to Philippines. Tapos, over the years, may naipon ka rin. Diba si Tito Mario mo, ganun ginawa? Engineer siya sa Philippines, pero nagkarpintero siya dito, para lang makaipon."
"Ang importante Adrian, ay nasa isip mo palagi ang gusto ng Diyos na gawin mo. Okay? Cheer up, konting tiis lang."
After Tito Gene said that, we were all quiet. Mom finally rose up from her seat to embrace me. "I love you, anak. I'm so glad you're here with me."