If Only You Can Stay (BL/BXB)

IX

That couldn't be like that.

"You know what, let's go." I held her shoulders and hovered our way inside her house. She was trying to make fun of everything and I was not having any of it.

I spent the rest of the night thinking about what had happened and it did not take long for the dawn to finally arrive. I walked out of my room and quickly took a hot shower. The cold was unbearable in the mornings and I opted to have warm water washed over me to soothe my writhed body. My skin welcomed its warmth but my mind wandered at the fact that being chased by some stray dogs would lead me in this kind of situation.

Soon enough I found myself dressed in front of the mirror leaving my hair in a mess. Today would be my first day for orientation of some sort. I really didn't know what would happen aside from an email telling me that the orientation for exchange students would be starting today. I had my leather backpack and went downstairs with Auntie on her usual seat with his glasses on as she find the turn on button for the television and when she did, she faced me. Her robe wasn't enough to keep her warm in this cold weather that's why she started to take a sip of her hot coffee whenever she felt a chill tingling down her spine. She jogged her way to the edge of the table and took the mug with her.

"Wait for me. I'll dress up real quick."

"Uhm, I could go on my own. I'll take the public transport and it will be a walking distance from the station."

"No, I'll take you there. It's your first day. So, I wanted to be there for you."

"But how about your work?"

"I can be late for the first time this month. Fun fact: I have never ever been late this year." she tilted her head backwards. "I cannot remember if I was ever late last year."

"See. You'll lose your track record."

"Susmaryosep. That's fine. It will be alright."

"I can make my way there."

"Not without me." She told me and spun me around, twisting my body around with her hands on my shoulders.

"Let's go."

"What do you call this semester again? Spring?" I asked her as she dragged me to her car.

"Yes. It was cold and the flowers were about to bloom. But for now, we can still enjoy the snow."

"That's beautiful."

"Yeah."

"Since the visa only allows you to be in the US exactly just two days before the start of your school. If I could, I would petition you but I can't." She told me as she started the car.

"That's okay." I heaved a breath. "Actually, I am very thankful for this opportunity. It was a dream to study abroad and you made that dream into a reality."

"Aw, you're making me cry." She smiled at me.

"No, really. Paying for the visa too. It was too much. I am surely going to live the best out of this 6 month long stay."

"Yeah, that's kind of quick but forever grateful for the coming months."

"And more, if that's possible and if you want."

I wanted to go there. I knew that I was here for only three days or so, but everything was doing fine. My aunt was giving me so much love and comfort those past days. I never felt like I was a burden coming here. Though, with the way she treated me in comparison back home, I didn't have any idea or anything that she didn't want me to be here.

"Thank you. For considering me and all."

"I knew you were having a hard time. Marie, your mom, she never changed."

I paused and darted a look at her. Her expression changed to being melancholic. Her smile quickly turned into a straight line. The bright in her eyes faded.

"I still love her. For giving me a chance to live my life."

"I love her too. We're partners in crime. Sanggang-dikit, that's what they said. "

"I heard that too. Both having each other's back when someone was in need. She knew I was brave to go on my own and she knew she wasn't."

"Yes, we were okay. I did not know what happened to her that made her treat you like that. Afterall, you were his son and that's all that matters."

I heaved a sigh. I did not utter a word. I did not know that she knew that.

"She used to cling to me every single time I would go home back in the province after getting into college in the city. But after a few months, "

"How did you—?"

"Your sister told me. Everything. That's why I came up with a plan to help you out. At least, for the next coming months this would be a breather." She smiled at and tapped my shoulder and leaned in for a hug.

"We're here. Take care of yourself. Don't let our conversation spoil the mood of your day. Call me if you need anything."

"Okay. I'm fine." I reassured her and gave her a timid smile. I went to reach for the seatbelt and unbuckled myself from it.

"Bye. See you later." I waved at her and she waved back.

I heaved a sigh. I read last night that I need to go to the admission first so I could follow the orientation for freshmen and transferees, as well as for those of us who got accepted for the exchange program. This whole process took a year in my lifespan as I was trying to get everything done last year but ended up having all the papers messed up and redoing everything back home from scratch because of another student bumping into someone's self stirring mug and happened to flood its way towards my pile of documents for the exchange student program. The admin of my school was kind enough to assist me with the printables that they offered me to help reprint with papers that were washed up with coffee. They quickly processed all my papers that were needed to be processed in the admin so that I could move forward quickly with my application for visa.

The school here was spacious compared to mine back home. I knocked and a shout from the inside called me in. I reached for the knob but a hand grabbed my wrist that I quickly took back.

"You're here?"

***

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