When Heaven Smiled

20

Chapter 20
Boyfriend and flowers

Maxon's words were always powerful enough to make me think about my decisions in life. Sa pananalita niya, lagi niyang pinapahiwatig na sigurado siya sa akin. Sometimes it seems too good to be true, but I want to put my faith in him.

Nang maihatid niya ako sa bahay ay saktong kakarating lang ni Papa. Kaka-park lang niya ng sasakyan. I came closer to him, still holding the flowers Maxon gave.

"Papa!" I hugged him tightly. He chuckled and hugged me back. Kahit naman minsan nagkakaroon kami ng samaan ng loob ay hindi niya ako natitiis.

"Wow, he's really consistent huh." He looked at the flowers I'm holding.

"Yeah, just like you kay Mama. Are you going to give her the flowers na?" I was smiling from ear to ear.

My father's romantic gestures towards my mother made my standards high. I mean, how could you still keep the romance alive? Kahit ilang taon na ang lumipas, hindi pa rin nagkakasawaan. They may have constant fights but I must say that one of them couldn't stand to live without the other.

"What flowers?" His forehead creased. "We don't believe in that right? Kaya ko naman bigyan ng bulaklak ang Mama mo kahit hindi Valentine's, Anak."

My smile suddenly faded.

"Oh, nothing. I just thought I saw you earlier, Pa." pangangatwiran ko.

"Ikaw talaga, tara na nga." Papa caressed my hair then he guided me inside our house.

Sumunod na lang ako sa kanya at saka nilagay sa dining table ang ilang natirang pagkain namin kanina. Sayang kasi 'yung cookies at chocolates, alam kong gusto ni Kristoff no'n.

Hindi ako makapag-react sa mga pang-aasar nina Manang. What I saw earlier bothers me, anong ginagawa niya sa flower shop?

Fear was already creeping inside of me. Kilala ko si Papa. Alam ko ang plate number ng sasakyan niya. If he got home before me, imposible namang para kina lola sa sementeryo ang bulaklak? Sino ang pagbibigyan niya no'n?

Bumuntong hininga ako at saka sumalampak sa kama. I hate the thoughts that bombarded my head. They were not good, and I did not like them. Nakatulog agad ako dahil doon. I just let that slide, I prayed and let God remove whatever is going on inside of my mind.

♪♪♪

Abot langit ang kaba ko noong araw ng recognition. Balita ko kasi ay Mama ni Maxon ang magsasabit sa kanya ng medal. Sobrang bilis ng araw hindi ko inakala na tapos na ang grade 11. I didn't even notice it, natanto ko na lang na kumpleto ko na ang mga plano kong gawin sa bakasyon. Lalo na tatapat doon ang birthday ni Maxon.

I dialed my mother's number. Ang sabi niya hahabol siya dahil may emergency sa office. Ilang beses kong pina-ring ang cellphone niya pero hindi siya sumasagot. Nagsisimula na ang ceremony.

"You looked tensed, matutunaw ang makeup mo." Inabutan ako ni Trixie ng tissue. "Are you alright?"

I shook my head. "My mom isn't answering my calls. Pangalawang section pa naman tayo."

"Aabot 'yon..." Trixie assured me to lighten my mood.

Nang tawagin na ang STEM A ay gusto ko na lang paliparin ang sasakyan ni Mama kung nasaan man siya. Paubos na ang estudyante sa section nila dahil madalian lang ang pagtawag ng emcee.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang sagutin niya ang tawag.

"Ma! Saan ka na?" Relief washed over me when I finally heard her from the other line.