Chapter 37
Parents
Our sembreak ends faster than I expected. Kapag talaga na e-enjoy ko ang isang bagay ay hindi ko namamalayan ang oras at nagulat na lang ako isang araw ay kailangan ko ng ulit bumalik dito para mag-aral. Si Reeve naman ay nagtagal sa bahay ng dalawang araw at bumalik din siya ng New York para sa kapatid.
After he went back to New York, I also got busy helping in our hospital. Our time contradicted with each other kaya minsan lang din kami nag vi-video call. We both understand our situation kaya hindi rin kami nag de-demand masyado ng oras sa isa’t-isa lalo na sa kaniya.
That night I have no choice but to call kuya Noel to help me carry Reeve kasi walang-wala na talaga siya at hindi na kaya ang sarili. Our guestroom is still under renovation kaya sa kwarto ko siya natulog at ako naman ay sa kwarto ni Yesha natulog. Hindi naman istrikto si mama at papa pagdating sa pagtulog na kasama ang jowa as long as you know your responsibilities and limitations. They trust me enough that I won’t do reckless things that I might regret in the future that’s why they aren’t that strict when it comes to this. Maybe because they also experienced this before when they were younger.
Alam na rin naman kasi nila nasa tamang edad na ako at alam ko na kung ano ang tama o mali. It was my choice not to sleep beside him that night baka kasi hindi ako makatulog ng mahimbing kasi nasa tabi ko siya at baka ang gagawin ko lang buong gabi ay titigan ang mukha niya.
Reeve was so hard to resist kaya ako na ang iiwas at baka kung ano pa ang magawa ko sa kaniya.
“Naalala mo ba mga pinanggagawa mo noong na lasing ka sa bahay?” may halong ngisi na tanong ko sa kaniya. Hindi ko kasi natanong ito sa kaniya noon kasi kahit ako ay nahihiya sa pinanggagawa niya.
At ngayon ay bigla ko namang naalala kaya ipapaalala ko rin sa kaniya. I doubt that he forgets it. According to Andrew, hindi raw nakakalimot si Reeve kahit nalalasing siya.
He woke up that time with a severe hangover. Halos hindi siya makatayo buong araw dahil sa tindi na sakit ng ulo niya. Buong araw ay nasa kwarto ko lang siya noon natutulog at nagpapahinga kaya imbis na may plano akong igala siya sa buong lugar namin ay naudlot dahil sa tindi ng sakit ng ulo niya.
“Tsk… just forget it, Neve, it’s not worth remembering,” malamig niyang wika at hindi ko mapigilang matawa.
“Sagutin mo nga tanong ko, Reeve. Naalala mo ba?” pangungulit ko pa sa kaniya at sinundot-sundot ko ang tagiliran niya.
“We’re having a class, Neve. Listen carefully the professor might call you if he saw us talking here and not listening to his lecture,” he reasoned out.
“Eto naman ang KJ mo. Alam mo ba na nakakahiya na nakakatawa ang pinanggawa mo that time ha?” hindi ko pa rin siya tinantanan at patuloy pa rina ko sa pangungulit sa kaniya.
It was then I realized that I should have brought my phone with me to take a video of him dancing while singing nursery songs. Para may pang black mail ako sa kaniya kaso ay ako rin ang nahihiya sa mga pinanggawa niya noon.
“Nagiging ibang tao ka pala kapag nalalasing ka,” pang-aasar ko.
Medyo yumuko ako ng kaunti para hindi ako makita ng prof namin dito na nakikipagchismisan sa jowa ko. Wala ring problema sa akin kung tatawagin niya ako makakasagot pa rin naman ako sa mga tanong niya.
“Stop it, Neve.”
“Sayang ‘no at hindi ako naka kuha ng video may pang blackmail na sana ako sa’yo.” Hindi ko pa rin siya tinatantanan kahit na nakatuon ang pansin niya sa harap at taimtim na nakikinig.
“Isa Neve, hindi ka titigil?” Ngayon ay binaling na niya sa akin ang tingin niya. He looked at me, smirking, and leaned his face closer to me.
Kagat labi akong umiling ako sa kaniya. Gusto ko lang ipaalala sa kaniya ang ka weirduhan na ginawa niya no’ng nalasing siya. Iniisip ko pa lang ay natatawa na ako.
“Go on… tease me more cause you will taste my lips later,” he smirked playfully.
“Mamaya pa naman ‘yon kaya aasarin muna kita ngayon,” I said also smirking.
“Alam kong hindi mo nakalimutan ang nangyari noong gabing ‘yon at nagpapatay malisya ka lang pero gusto kong alalahanin mo ulit kung gaano ka galing sumayaw sabay kanta ng johny johny yes papa,” I bit my lips to stop myself from bursting out.
Everyone was busy listening to our prof at pati si Renaissa at nakikinig din. It was one of the most complicated subjects we have this year kaya ganoon na lamang sila ka focus maliban sa akin na kinukulit si Reeve.
His cheeks started to blush as soon as I mentioned what he has done that night. Kaya mas gusto ko siyang asarin lalo dahil sa reaksyon niya ngayon. Akala mo tatantanan kita ngayon ha.
“Sige lang asarin mo lang ako. You will receive your punishment later, Neve so be prepared,” he leaned his head closer to me and whispered.
“I don’t know if which side of yours I wanted to witness. Is it your usual self or your drunk self. It was my first time to see your behavior like that when you’re drunk, Reeve, and I find it cute and funny actually,” I honestly told him, still holding my laugh, afraid of being caught by my professor.
“Kung lalasingin na lang kaya kita araw-araw para naman araw-araw ko rin nakikita ‘yong pagiging dancer side mo,” I teased again.
“Okay that’s it for now. See you next meeting,” our prof ended the class. Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi ng prof namin at itinoon pa rin ang attensiyon ko sa kaniya.
Inayos niya ang mga gamit niya at nilagay ito sa mamamahaling bag niya. Sa aming dalawa mas masipag siya mag take note. His note were always complete and detailed ‘yong tipong pati mga sinasabi ng teacher na wala naman sa libro ay kopyang-kopya niya.
Niligpit ko na rin ang mga gamit ko at tumayo na handang lumabas. Na unang lumabas si Renaissa at may kailangan pa raw siyang bibilhin para sa club na sinalihan niya kaya naiwan kaming dalawa ni Reeve sa classroom.
“Paanong sayaw ng johny johny yes papa, Reeve? Pakita mo nga?” pang-aasar ko pa rin sa kaniya at dali-daling tumayo dahil sa banta niya kanina sa akin.
Dahil inaayos niya pa ang kaniyang gamit ay nauna akong lumabas sa kaniya at nagmamadaling pumunta sa canteen. Wala ng ka tao-tao sa hallway at kami na lang ni Reeve ang naiwan. Kaso hindi pa nga ako nakaapak sa unang hagdan pababa ay bigla na niyang hinablot ang kamay ko.
I felt the cold brush of the wall when he slowly pinned me to the wall with his hand at the back of my head and his other hand at the side of it. Nararamdaman ko na ang hininga niya ng bigla niyang nilapit ang mukha niya sa akin sabay bulong ng, “You’re not leaving me unless you’d receive your punishment, Neve.”
Napalunok ako bigla at titig sa mga mata niyang nakaakit. His deep-set of eyes pierced through my soul as he looked at me intensely. Seriousness was evident in his eyes. My heart beats rapidly when he slowly leaned his face much closer to me.
“Tease me, or you’ll taste my lips right,” he whispered huskily. Na estatwa ako sa kinatatayuan ko dahil sa boses niyang nakaakit rin, “you know, I was never a fan of kissing in public place, but you push my limits so deal with it,” then suddenly he pressed his lips onto mine.
He claimed my lips much longer. Hindi ako makagalaw sa posisyon ko sa ginawa niya. I felt him smile while kissing me. Biglang lumambot ang katawan ko nang mas lalo niya pang idiniin ang halik niya sa akin.
Kung hindi dahil sa kamay niyang biglang hinawakan ang bewang ko ay baka natuluyan na ako.
Nang mapansin na masyadong ng matagal ang kaniyang labi sa labi ko ay mahina ko siyang itinulak. Namumula ang mga pisngi ko na nakatingin sa kaniya. I bit the inside of my cheeks and looked away to him.
Hinahawakan niya pa rin ang bewang ko pero ang lapit ng mukha niya sa akin ay hindi pa rin naaalis.
“Bakit mo ginawa ‘yon? Baka may nakakita sa atin!” mahinang paratang ko sa kaniya. Hanggang ngayon ay naghihina pa rin ang katawan ko.
It never did occur he will kiss me in a public place like this. I thought he was just joking around earlier.
“I told you right, I will never slip you away without dealing with my punishment.”
“Goodbye, my love, have your break already. I still have my class,” he whispered drunkenly near my ear, and it sent shivers down on my body.
“See you at your apartment later. I’ll cook something for you,” he kissed my forehead for the last time before proceeding to his next class.
Hindi kami nagkita ni Reeve pagkatapos kong kumain. We have a different class schedule in the afternoon. I find my class boring kaya wala akong ginawa kun’di ang magbasa ng ibang libro na hindi related sa klase ko para kahit papaano ay malilibang ko ang sarili ko. This is my last class for this day. I am excited to go home since Reeve will cook for me not until I got a notification from our organization president in our department to have an emergency meeting preparing for the upcoming foundation week of the university.
“Renaissa, ma una ka na. May emergency meeting kami sa organization para sa university week,” I told my bestfriend.
“I always find our university week weird. Always nasa gitna ng taon no? Unlike in our school when we were highschool,” she mentioned.
“Hindi ko alam sa head ng organization. They are the ones who sets the date, remember? They will just disseminate the information in each department,” I replied to her.
“But, according to some rumors, some universities are coming to perform a live band. Walang live band last year kasi nagkagulo pero this time ay kukuha sila sa iba’t-ibang universities,” I shared to her.
“Totoo na ‘yan ha? Liveband talaga palagi ang inaabangan ko sa U-week natin. So sad lang na wala last year because of love war in between the two bands. Nagkasiraan talaga sila,” she muttered.
“Got to go, Renaissa! Nasa see you tomorrow!”
After we separated ways, I proceeded to the fourth floor, where our meeting will be held. Pagpasok ko ay nagsimula na ang meeting. I found a spot on the last row wherein I won’t interrupt the on-going meeting.
It’s a good thing they were just discussing the first agenda first kaya hindi pa ako masyadong late. Like the other years, almost same activities lang din naman ang magaganap except for the live band which was going to perform by the other universities.
Pinagbawalan ngayon na mag perform ang sikat na banda dito sa school namin dahil sa issue na naganap no’ng nakaraang taon.
“Okay, dahil may liveband na magaganap at ang mag pe-perform ay ang banda ng South University, I would like to volunteer someone to contact the leader of the band of South University. I invited them through email and responded, but I would like to call for someone to contact them again on which day they will perform or which day they are free, though a live band of our U-week is always done at the finale of the week,” our head of organization wondered her eyes in the four corners of the room trying to find someone to do the task as she was informing us on what to do.
I raised my hand and asked a question, “What’s the name of the leader of the band, ba? So, we should directly ask them.”
“Ryioujie Fuentabella, Henzy,” she directly answered.
“Really?” gulantang kong tanong.
“Bakit, Henzy? Do you know him?” the secretary asked me.
“Yes, he was my classmate way back junior highschool,” I answered,
“Then good. Ikaw na lang ang ko-contact sa kaniya since, you know him so it would be easy also for us. Okay lang sa’yo, Henzy?”
Walang pagdadalang isip akong tumango. Wow… sumali pala siya sa banda ng paaralan niya.
I saw him last time in the hospital before my semester ends, but he never mentioned that he was also the band leader. Ry, ever since highschool is a good singer. Siya palagi ang pinapakanta sa mga singing contest, but it didn’t occurred to my mind that he would join the band—I mean, he’s a nursing student, and we are bombarded with many activities, yet he managed to join the band pa.
“Okay, then good. Meeting adjourned. Thank you for your cooperation.”
I was scrolling through my cellphone on my way home when someone suddenly puts his shoulder around my neck. Adrenaline rush running through my veins, causing him to squirmed in pain because of what I had done to him. Pinaikot ko lang naman ang braso niyang nakapulupot sa leeg ko.
“Ahh! Ang sakit, Henzy!”
Agad kong binitawan ang kamay niya ng mamukhaan at ma bosesan ko siya.
“Ryioujie,” I uttered,
He was still squirming in pain. Natawa ako sa mukha niya dahil mukha siyang bata namimilipit sa sakit.
“Pasensya na. Ikaw kasi eh!”
He laughed and stood still nang medyo okay na ang pakiramdam niya. “It’s a good defense towards pervert, Henzy. Hinding-hindi ka talaga malalapitan ng kahit sinong mga bastos na lalaki.”
“Bakit ka nandito malapit sa campus namin?” tanong ko.
“Ahhh… napadaan lang, and it happened that I saw you kaya nilapitan na lang din kita.”
“Weh? Napadaan lang? Baka may binabalik-balikan ka dito at rason mo lang ang napadaan lang,” I teased him.
“Well, maybe you could say that. I’ve been following her since day one, but she never even took a glance at me,” he told me.
“Ang torpe mo naman pala, Ry… Bakit hindi mo lapitan baka malay mo diba?”
Umiling siya at tipid na ngumiti, “Nahh. Sometimes, it’s better for me to watch her far away. In that way, I could protect her, you know, and besides, she’s happy with someone else; how could I steal that happiness?”
“So may boyfriend na?”
“Well, yes, she has,” he simply answered.
“Owwss.. well, you’re partly at fault too. Kung lumapit ka na sana sa kaniya no’n edi sana magkasama na kayo ngayon.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I partly regret that too, but sometimes I can’t help to think that if I showed myself to her she wouldn’t be happy beside me. The reason why I settled of watching hef from afar.”
“Doubts ha… how would you know the result if you haven’t even tried it? Well, in the first place, your mind was clouded with negativities already that’s why you’re afraid, but it was much better if you take the risk, right? At least no matter what the circumstances are, you wouldn’t regret it,” sabi ko sa kaniya habang nalalakad kami pauwi.
“I admit, I’m a coward, afraid of risking things because I always looked at the negative side instead of the positives ones, but sometimes, I can’t help to think that risking things isn’t for everyone.”
I quickly disagree with him. I was once a coward also, afraid of risking because of my past. Scared of loving as my mind was also clouded with negativities, but at that time, people around me helped me and made me realize that everything in life is a matter of risk. In as simple choices that we made is also a risk. We don’t know what arises to us on the option that we have made.
“I have to disagree with you. Everything is a matter of choice, and the choice we made was a risk that was waiting for us. You just need to have the courage to take the risk and face the result after. As for the saying that sometimes, it’s not worth the risk, but then at least you gamble, right? It may be a lesson or a blessing.”
He stopped walking, which made me also stopped. He faced me and tapped my head that made me frown because my hair was getting messier.
“Since highschool until now, you’re brave enough to face hardships ha. Kaya cru—”
Hindi na niya naipagpatuloy na ang dapat sasabihin ng bigla itong pinutol ni Reeve.
“Neve..”
Biglang umangat ang ngiti ko ng makita si Reeve na papalapit sa amin.
“Reeve! Where have you been?” He was still wearing our uniform. His hands were both in his pocket as he proudly walked towards us.
“To your apartment, I cooked. Ang tagal mo at plano ko na sunduin ka and it looks like someone already fetches you.” Kinuha niya ang bag na bitbit ko at hinapit ang bewang ko bago mariin na tiningnan si Ry.
I also wrapped my hand around his waist and explained to him, “No he didn’t fetch me. Nagkaroon lang ako ng emergency meeting sa department natin para sa university week and when I was outside the school, he happened to see me kaya nilapitan niya ako.”
Hindi pa rin inalis ni Reeve ang tingin niya kay Ry. Katihimikan ang biglang bumalot sa amin tatlo at nakipagtitigan din si Ry kay Reeve. It was just me, or there was a tension going on between them as they looked into each other eyes.
I break the tension between them, “Ahmm… you already met each other right, so I’m pretty sure you know each other already.”
Ry was the first one who breaks the eye contact between them and gazes at me. He showed me a thin smile, “I gotta go, Henzy. See you around.”
“Wait, Ry!” I stopped him, remembering my duty as the officer of the org.
“Your band will perform in our university week, right? The head would like to ask on which date are your band free to perform. So we can set the final date.”
“Isn’t the live band are always in the finale of the week? We will perform on the last day of your university week,” he replied before walking away from us.
“Tsk… what an eyesore,” I heard Reeve talking.
“Eyesore? Who?”
“Wala… let’s go home and eat the food I cooked. Take a rest also I know you’re tired,” he told me. Bitbit ang bag ko ay tinalikuran niya ako at na una na sa akin.
What? He didn’t even wait for me. Anong nangyari sa kaniya? Naka on shift ang mood niya? Kanina lang inaasar ko siya kaya naka kuha ako ng punishment sa kaniya ngayon naman ay umiba ang mood niya?
“What was that?” bigla kong tanong pagkapasok sa loob.
Hindi niya ako pinansin at dumeretso sa kusina para ihanda ang pagkain na niluto niya.
“Reeve, what happened to you? Naka off shift ba ang mood mo ngayon?” I tried to laughed a bit to somehow lift his mood, yet he didn’t bother.
“Tsk… just come and eat here. Take a rest after, and I will go home,” he coldly replied.
Sinunod ko naman siya pero imbis na umupo sa upuan ay bigla ko siyang niyakap ng mahigpit. Naestatwa siya dahil sa ginawa ko at mas lalo ko pang hinigpitan ang yakap.
“What’s your problem, love? Why are you so grumpy now?” I looked up at his face and pouted, still my hands holding his waist tightly.
Tiningnan niya rin ako kaso hindi pa rin nagbabago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. Tumingkayad ako at mas inilapit ang mukha ko sa kaniya. He didn’t bother moving his face until my lips landed on his.
My other hand went to his nape and pulled him more closer to me. I bit his lower lip as he slightly opens his mouth, and without a second, I let my tongue play inside his mouth. I tilt my head and grabbed him more closer to me.
I yelped when he suddenly lifts me and put me in the sink. He responded to my kisses as he also playfully plays his tongue inside of mine.
Nang hahalikan ko pa sana siya ay kusa na niyang nilayo ang sarili niya sa akin. My eyes were lost as I looked at him. He smirked playfully at tinanggal ang pagkakahawak ko sa batok niya.
“No… no… you can’t kiss me while I am mad, Neve. Hindi mo ako madadala sa gan’yan,” he roughly stated.
“Now eat, Neve… don’t make me do things that I might lose control of. Eat now, and we’ll talk.”
I pouted for the last time and eat the food he cooks. Siya naman ay pumunta sa sala at prenteng nanonood ng TV. So he’s really mad ha?
Ano bang ginawa ko at bakit nagalit siya? Okay pa naman ang mood niya kanina ah. Ni hindi nga kami nagkita buong hapon kaya wala talaga akong alam kung bakit siya galit sa akin.
I also told him that I will be going home late because of the meeting. Hindi niya ba ‘yon na received? Kahit gaano pa ka sarap ang niluto niya ay hind naparami ang kinain ko kasi mag-isa lang naman akong kumakain.
After I ate, I cleaned the dishes pero hindi ko pa man naaabot ang sabon ay inagaw na niya sa akin ang sponge at walang imik na ginawa ang trabaho ko.
“Ako na mag huhugas d’yan, Reeve. Ikaw na ang nagluto ikaw pa rin ang gagawa niyan,” sabi ko at pilit na kinuha ang sponge at pinggan sa kaniya pero inilayo niya lang ito sa akin.
“Ako na. Magpahinga ka na do’n,” he stated.
Dahil ayaw niya naman mag pa-awat ay sinunod ko na lang ang gusto niya. Pumunta ako sa kwarto at nagbihis dahil naka uniform pa pala ako. Pati si Reeve ay naka uniform pa rin pero wala akong maipapahiram sa kaniya at uuwi rin naman siya kaya tiisin niya na lang ang uniporme niya.
Nang makababa ako ay naabutan ko siyang naka dekwatro ay prenteng nag s-scroll sa cellphone niya. Umupo sa tapat niya pero hindi niya man lang ako binalingan ng tingin.
Medyo na inis ako sa inakto niya kaya walang pagdadalawang isip na hinablot ko ang cellphone niya at tinago sa likuran ko. I eyed him.
“Now we’ll talk. What’s your problem? Bakit ka ganiyan umakto?”
“Tsk. Stop going around with that guy,” he uttered sabay iwas ng tingin sa akin.
Kumunot ang noo ko. Anong problema niya kay Ry? We’re just merely friends an old classmate of mine. I don’t see any reason to stay away from him when he didn’t even do anything to me.
“Kay Ry? What’s your reason, and you will let me stay away from him?” I raised my brow at him while raising the question.
“Tsk… just trust me, Neve. Stay away from him,” he hissed.
Hilaw akong tumawa, “We’re just friends, Reeve, and he’s my old classmate. I don’t see any reason to stay away from him unless you wanted me to stay away from him because you’re jealous?” I quite hesitated to say the last word, but that was my last resort on why he wanted me to stay away from him.
“Me? Jealous? Am I that boring, Neve?” he pointed himself, trying to reason out. Pero hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang pa simpleng pag-irap niya sa akin at iwas ng tingin.
Hindi pala selos ha. E bakit ganito ang reaksyon mo? Wala namang masama na ginawa si Ry sa akin at lalo na sa kaniya pero kung makaasta na layuan ko siya ay parang may balak na gawing masama si Ry sa akin.
“Really? Are you not jealous? Then give me a reasonable reason to stay away from him? You know, I just can’t stay away from him just because you told me so. Ang unfair sa side ni Ry,” I explained as I crossed my arms and imitated his position.
“Tsk… Fine, Neve. I admit I was jealous, but it’s not the reason why I wanted you to avoid him,” he confessed.
“Ayan naman pala eh! Pwede namang sabihin na selos ka e-de-deny mo pa talaga sa akin ha…” I mocked him.
“Tsk… just stay away from him,” pagpapaalala niya.
“Then give a reasonable reason why Reeve. We’re close friends since highschool ang unfair naman kung bigla ko na lang siya lalayuan diba? And besides, hindi naman kami palaging nagkikita ha?”
“I can’t tell you now, and just trust me about this, Neve.”
Dahil minsan ay matigas ang ulo ko ay hindi ako pumayag sa kaniya lalo na at kailangan ko si Ry ngayon para sa university week na magaganap.
I just can’t avoid the person just because my boyfriend told me so. I am not unreasonable; staying away from him was unfair, especially if I didn’t even know why I avoided him. If he wanted me to avoid Ry, then he must give me at least one reason why.
Nasa cr si Reeve ng biglang tumunog ang kaniyang cellphone sa kinauupuan niya kanina. Wala akong planong sagutin ‘to hanggang sa sunod-sunod ang pagtunog.
I have no choice but to answer the call. Hindi ko na tinignan kung sino ang caller id at bigla na lang itong sinagot.
“Ky! Finally, you answered my calls! I’ve been calling you many times, but none of those you answered. Is this how you pay respect to your mother?!” an angry voice of a woman welcomed my ears. Nailayo ko ang cellphone sa tenga ko.
Hindi muna ako umimik at hinintay na magsalita ang nasa kabilang linya. His mother called, and based on the tone of the voice ay galit na galit ito.
“Kyzyr! You spoiled brat! Where are you?!”
Galit na galit nga ito kaya tumikhim muna ako bago nagsalita. I take a deep breath before finally responding to her.
“Hello,” I responded.
Hindi agad nakasagot ang mama niya sa kabilang linya. Siguro ay hindi inaasahan na babae ang makakasagot ng tawag niya. Medyo kinabahan ako dahil sa tagal ng pagsagot niya sa akin. I keep on glancing on the cr waiting for Reeve to went out from that door.
“Who’s this?”
Hindi na galit ang boses niya kagaya kanina at medyo kumalma ito pero hindi nakatakas sa pandinig ko ang bawat marriin niyang sambit sa mga salita.
“Where’s Kyzyr?” sunod na tanong niya agad.
“This is his girlfriend po and Reeve happens to be at cr kaya ako ang sumagot ng tawag niyo po,” I politely answered her.
Hindi ko pa man nakikita sa personal ang ina niya ay pinagpapawisan na ang kamay ko sa kabang nararamdaman.
“Girlfriend? You’ve got to be kidding me, I didn’t allow my son to have a girlfriend because of a promise, and you would tell me that my son has a girlfriend? Are you that delusional or crazy over my son, miss? Can you stop the act and give my son his phone?”
It took me a moment to process what his mother has been saying. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko sa sinabi ng kaniyang ina sa akin. Kung ma iinsulto ba ako or hindi. Ako? Delusional? And promise? What promise?
What is this Reeve? What promise are your mother talking about?
Naputol ang pag-iisip ko ng bigla ulit siyang nagsalita.
“Are you still there? I’m trying to be nice here, young lady, so give my son his phone cause I wanted to talk to him.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you po, but I am your son’s girlfriend and I am not a delusional girl. What I am saying is true po. And also, I can’t give the phone to Reeve as what I have said po nasa cr po si Reeve.”
Pagkatapos kong sabihin ‘yon ay biglang lumabas si Reeve. I signaled him the phone, and he looked at me with questioning eyes.
“Your mom,” I told him at inabot ang cellphone sa kaniya. Pagkasabi ko na ina niya ang tumawag ay tahimik niyag inabot ang cellphone sa akin at walang ganang sinagot ang ina.
Nanghihina akong umupo sa sofa. May halong tanong ang mga mata ko na nakatingin kay Reeve kahit na kausap niya pa ang kaniyang ina. What promise? He’s not allowed to have a girlfriend because of a promise. Alam niya ba ‘to? Kung oo, bakit hindi niya sinabi sa akin.
From the tone of his mother earlier, she’s not happy that his son has a girlfriend. Biglang nanlamig ang buo kong katawan ng may maalala ulit.
No… I don’t want to go back to that phase again wherein I feel like trash in front of them. No, not again.
The family of Christoph—the reason why we broke up. The hatred of his family to me… No way… does his family were like also the family of his cousin?
Pinilig ko ang aking ulo at kinalma ang sarili. No way, it’s been like that, Henzy. I haven’t seen his parents, and I can’t tell it based only on my conclusion without evidence.
“Yes, the one who answers your call is my girlfriend, and whether you like it or not is none of my business anymore,” may diin sa bawat salita niyang sabi sa kaniyang ina.
Dumako ang tingin ko sa nakakuyom niyang mga kamao. The veins on his arms are visible and feel like anytime soon it will burst based on how hard he fists his palm.
Medyo kumalma siya ng hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at pilit na nginitian. Pinikit niya ang kaniyang mga mata at huminga ng malalim.
No matter what it is, Reeve, I will trust you. I trust you enough, and I know you won’t break the trust I gave you.
“Damn it!” he hissed. He frustratingly crumpled his hair. I was still holding his hands, idiniin ko ang pagkakahawak sa kaniyang kamay at napatingin siya dito.
Umupo siya at hinawakan din ang kamay ko.
“What happened?” I softly asked.
“Brace yourself for tomorrow, we’re going to meet my parents.”