Rui's POV
"This is so good, Hija. It brings back old memories noong kabataan ko. Mahilig rin kasing magluto ng Filipino dish ang lola ni Shin. Sinigang at Adobo ang specialty niya. Gosh! It feels like I am ten again."
"Thank you po, Mama. Next time Adobo dish naman po ang ipapatikim ko sa inyo." Harley answered as she pours the drink on my mom's glass.
Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti. Mabuti naman at nagustuhan ni Mama ang luto ni Harley. Hindi rin naman kasi maipagkakaila na talagang masarap siyang magluto. Not to mention na napakabata niya pa, she's just 19. Her talent and intelligence is indeed out of the question.
"How about you, Akira-chan? This is your first time eating Filipino dish, right? Are you enjoying the food?" tanong ni Mama.
"Hai. Oishii desu. " [Yes, it's delicious.] nakangiting sagot nito. "It's really good, Cassandra."
Nilingon ko si Harley. Nakatuon lang siya sa pagkain niya.
"Thanks." tipid niyang sagot na tila bored na bored.
Hayss... Nagmamaldita na naman po ang magandang vixen.
"When did you learn how to cook? You look so young yet you cook like a pro." si Mama.
Harley goes back to her pa-good girl mode. "I learn it when I was 15, Mama. At that very young age I am already living by myself kaya pinag-aralan ko po talagang matutong magluto para kahit mag-isa lang po ako ay makakakain pa rin ako ng masarap na pagkain. "
I knew about it already but somehow nagulat pa rin ako. Gayon din si Mama at Akira. Puno ng pagtataka ang kanilang mukha.
"You live on your own? Na'san ang parents mo?"
"My mom and my half-brother is living in Canada with my Canadian step-dad. Ang biological father ko naman po, noong naghiwalay sila ng mama ko ay hindi ko na nakita uli. I live here alone because my mom sent me back here. I used to do bad things in the past and I rebel big time na kalaunan ay hindi na nila kinayang i-handle kaya minabuti nilang mamuhay na lang ako ng mag-isa. "
Napalunok ako. She is telling the truth. She's not hiding it. Pasimple kong pinagmasdan ang mama ko. She seems so shock but there is no judgement harboring in her eyes. Nakita kong sumilay ang ngiti sa kanyang labi.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Hija, it must be hard on you." ginagap niya ang kamay ni Harley. I was surprise. Maging si Harley ay ganoon din. "I understand what you had gone through. Rui had similar wounds as well. Pero sana ay huwag mong isipin na pinabayan ka ng mga magulang mo kung mas pinili nila na ilayo ka. Maybe they are just so worried about you to the point na iniisip nila na baka nasasakal ka na o naso-suffocate ka na kaya imbis hintayin pa nila na lumayas ka ay mas minabuti nilang ilayo ka na ng kusa. Ilayo ka patungo sa lugar kung saan mas ligtas ka at kung saan mas mapapanatag sila. "
I froze in the moment. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi lang para kay Harley ang mga katagang binitawan ng aking ina. Somehow it feels like it is most likely for me than Harley. Marahil ay sinisisi pa rin ng mama ko ang sarili niya sa nangyari sa akin four years ago. The sharp pain strike in my heart in instant. Parang gusto kong yakapin siya.
"Magiging sinungaling po ako kung sasabihin ko po na hindi ako galit sa mama ko. Ang totoo po ay I do resent her. I hate her, I hate his husband and the whole family. Dahil ni minsan hindi ko naramdaman ang pagmamahal mula sa kanya. Pero lately, she have shown me different side of her. The side of her as a real mother. Kaya parang bigla pong.... " Harley laugh. "... bigla pong lumabot rin ang puso ko."
My mom smiled. Maging ako ay napangiti na rin. "Cassandra, Hija." she held her tight. "Ang anak kayang tiisin ang kaniyang magulang pero ang magulang nunkang matitiis ang kanyang anak. Magiging okay rin ang lahat sa pagitan mo at ng mama mo. Time will heal us, just believe in it."
BINABASA MO ANG
Sweet but Psycho
RomanceI'm Rui Hakimura, I'm a half-japanese-half-pinoy, young college boy who is shy, tahimik lang at hindi pala kaibigan dahil lumaki akong home-schooled dulot ng aking pagiging sakitin. My parents want me to over come my weakness and become more indepen...