The Living Fictions

Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

Nagtagal ang date namin ni Ryden but that's fine, even though I got home a bit late, I had no regrets because he was with me and it's our monthsarry. Nag-enjoy lang talaga kami pareho sa araw na'to.

As usual, dahil gabi na rin naman na, Ryden walked me home kaya hindi na rin ako nagkaroon ng problema sa pag-uwi ng late. As long as I'm with him, it feels safe. Kaya naman, I got home with a bouquet of roses in my hands. Sinisinghot ko pa ito bawat segundo. I'm even smiling from ear-to-ear.

“Of all the guys out there, why him?”

“Mom!”

Halos atekehin ako sa aking puso nang mamataan ko si Mommy sa dulo ng staircase at may hawak-hawak na kape. Napalunok ako ng mariin at yumuko.

“It's almost nine, Ayezza. Iyan ba ang natutunan mo sa lalaking iyon? Umuwi sa gantong oras?”

I sighed. “Mom, don't worry, we did nothing wrong and nothing bad happened. We both got home safe, Mom.”

“I don't care. I don't want him for you.” Taray na asik nito at umirap sa kawalan.

“Mom, Ryden is kind. I know you've been telling me to take care when it comes to boys and that was what I was doing. Kaya nga ngayon lang ako nagka-boyfriend at tsaka, no need to worry about anything Mom, kahit tanungin mo pa sina Arin, Ryden is harmless.”

“Harmless? Hah! You're looking at him that way already eh wala pang isang taon kayo nagkakilala?”

“Mom—”

“Don't talk back, Aye!”

“Mom I'm sorry, I didn't mean any disrespectful to you but how could you judge him like that? Hindi mo pa siya ganoong kilala.”

“Kilala? Ryden Calen Saldivar? You don't think I actually knows his name? Oh, I can even state the names of his grandparents and parents, anak. I bet he told you about he's parents. Especially his dad.”

My heart skipped a beat. I look intently at Mom and there was something I can see in her eyes. It was resentment for something I don't know. Napalunok ako at pawang hindi mapakali sa aking kinatatayuan but I managed to stay still.

“I'm just acting this way to protect your heart, Ayezza. He might be like his Dad. A type of man that you should get rid off, Aye. Baka sa huli ay iiyak-iyak ka kasi sinaktan ka lang pala ng lalaking iyon.” She smirked. “Hindi ko alam kung anong pinakain sa'yo ng lalaking iyon for you to be head-over-heels at him like that. I can see my teenage days at your situation right now, Aye. Kaya kung ako sa'yo, be vigilant. Goodluck anak.”

I couldn't react. I can't say anything. It was like my mouth had been zippered for a reason. At talagang napako ako sa aking kinatatayuan habang paulit-ulit na ume-echo sa aking isipan ang mga salitang pinakawalan ni Mommy. Mom walked up to the stairs and left me there hanging and out of my words.

Ryden might be capable of hurting me. But for what reason? He clearly says that he loves me. Palagi niya akong sinasabihan na mahal niya ako sa tuwing magkasama kami. But what if something inevitable could occur to us and he'd be too weak to make things going for us. I shook my head. Come on, Aye, you shouldn't think of him that way. Ryden is a man of he's words. He doesn't want to hurt me and I know he'll take me away from the pain. That's it, he's not capable of hurting you, Aye.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at tinext si Ryden ng ‘good night’ bago ako umakyat sa aking kwarto at doon humilata ng siguro'y mga isang oras din. Get a grip, Aye. Ryd loves you.

***

"Oh bakit ka andito?"

Kakarating lang namin ni Ryden sa usual spot namin pero ang pagsusungit ni Ashton agad ang bumungad sa amin.