Promise Me

Chapter 19

#PMLastDayInIlocos

Soleil's Point of View

This is our last day here in Ilocos, kaya imbis na dito lang kami sa rest house mag-stay niyaya ko silang gumala.

"Tita, sa kotse ko na lang po ikaw sumakay," inalalayan ko siya at binuksan yung pintuan ng kotse.

Nakita kong papunta sa direction namin si Rain, pero bigla siyang pinigilan ng Mama niya, "Hep! Hep! Ako raw dito sabi ni Soleil. Sorry Attorney, ako ang date niya ngayon," pangaasar niya sa anak niya, kita ko naman na inirapan lang ako ni Rain kaya naman natawa ako.

"Let me do your seatbelt po, Tita," I reached for her seatbelt and buckled it.

"Thank you, 'Nak."

"Good to go na po?"

She nodded in response.

Our whole drive is full of laughter and kwentuhan, she told me about her life, her late husband's life, her kids and especially kung gaano siya ka-proud kay Rainelle. I can see that she is one of the woman who is so strong kahit na yung buong mundo ay hinihila na siya pababa. No wonder, that she's really Rain's mother and how lucky she is to have a daughter like her. I missed my Mom din tuloy, sana, maging okay na kami, someday.

"Tita, is it really okay na ligawan ko po si Rain?" I asked nervously.

"Seryoso ka ba sa anak ko, Soleil?" she asked me.

"Yes po, i'm more than sure and serious," I smiled to her.

"Alam mo, sobrang dami ng iniyakan niyang si Rain, ewan ko ba sa batang yan, ang hilig hilig magpakatanga sa mga taong alam niya naman na lolokohin lang siya, kahit obvious na 'di naman siya seseryosohin, wala siyang pake basta nagmamahal siya. Pero alam mo, sobrang bilib ako sa batang yan kasi kahit ilang beses na siyang nasaktan, nabangon at patuloy pa rin siyang nag-mamahal. Manang-mana sa tatay niya," ngumiti siya at hinawakan niya yung kamay ko, "Kaya, Soleil, kung seryoso ka talaga sa anak ko, wag na wag mo siyang sasaktan at iwan kahit anong mangyari, kung hindi pa siya handa ngayon, hayaan mo lang at hintayin mo na maging handa siya, dahil ang pagmamahal ay wala naman sa bilis o tagal yan. Ang tunay na pagmamahal ay pagpapakita mo na pursigido ka na mamahalin at gagawin mo lahat para sa kanya kahit gaano pa kahirap, at ang tunay na pagmamahal ay walang hinihintay na kapalit.

Napangiti naman ako sa sinabi ni Tita, "Yes po. Hindi po ako mahilig mangako dahil ayoko pong hindi yun natutupad pero para kay Rainelle at sa inyo po, nangangako ako na hindi ko po siya iiwan," pero paano kung ako naman yung iwan niya? gusto ko sanang idagdag kaso ayokong magisip ng mga ganoon na bagay.

"Salamat kasi pinangiti mo ulit yung anak ko, Soleil."

"Mas nagpapasalamat po ako dahil naramdaman ko po ulit paano mag-mahal makalipas ng limang taon."

Yes, 5 years akong naging manhid at nagsariling mundo, ang tanging nakakausap ko lang ay si Dawn at Ian. Matapos yung mangyari samin ni Ariel, na-trauma na rin siguro ako magmahal.

-

We are now walking to Paoay Church, i love historic places like this, it makes me wonder and love the nature, also the historical places more.

Me, Tita and Rain's siblings are walking together while she is with her friends walking ahead of us.

"Sakto, the church is open po, Thank God," i sighed and smiled.

"Sige na anak, puntahan mo na si Rain doon," Tita told me and I run to Rain.

"Oh, bakit ka natakbo?" Rain said.

"I missed you eh," i wiggled my eyebrows and i saw her roll her eyes.

"Miss mo mukha mo, eh, hindi mo nga ako pinasabay sa inyo ni Mama kanina."

"Pinagchismisan ka kasi namin kaya bawal ka sumakay kanina, don't worry, ako na sasakyan mo mamaya," i winked at her.

"Gago, nasa simbahan tayo kung anu-ano sinasabi mo," she looks annoyed which made me giggled.

"Wala naman ako sinasabi na masama ha? Unless iba yung iniisip mong—" tinakpan niya yung bibig ko at napangiti naman ako.

"Ingay mo."

We both kneeled to the prie-dieu and closed our eyes to pray.

After I prayed, i opened my eyes and I saw an angel beside me, well, my angel. I saw her tearing up, i don't know what is her prayer but I know that it is so pure. I saw her smile between her sobs, which made me smile too. She opened her eyes and I started to wipe off her tears. She reached my hand and intertwined it with hers, she hold it tightly and it sends shivers down to my spine.

"Soleil, I wouldn't want to do this with anyone else," she said.

"I wouldn't want to do this with anyone else, either."

"Promise me?" she asked.

"Promise." i said and kissed her forehead.