The Legacy (COMPLETED)

LIII. Second Farewell

"Babe, ilagay mo din ito d'yan!"

Anna tossed the nutella jar as I perfectly caught it. Naguguluhan ko siyang nilingon. "Nutella?"

She rolled her eyes. "Ilang years na tayong magkasama pero hindi mo alam na favorite ko 'yan? Ouch!"

She's starting to act like she's really hurt. She's not wrong though. Talagang hindi ko alam na favorite niya pala ito.

"But this is Lucca's. Baka mababaliw yung sa kakahanap?" tanong ko sabay sulyap sa nutella na nasa kamay ko.

"So? 'Wag mo nang inaalala yung lalaking 'yun. He will be fine."

I shrugged my shoulders bago nilagay sa bag yung nutella. Looks like the love-hate relationship between the two are still there.

Anna and I were packing for foods na ibabaon namin. Unfortunately, we have to go. Talagang kailangan na naming bumalik sa the Grounds at hindi na kami makaka-ayaw pa kasi si Anna na yung kasama namin. I'm cooperating din naman. Like what I've said, she's right and I was being impulsive.

"Puntahan ko lang si Cato ha?" paalam ni Anna. "I'll check if the car is ready."

Si Cato kasi yung magmamaneho sa sasakyan namin papuntang port. He rented a car with Noah's money kasi wala nga kaming dala. We were thankful though that Noah helped us. Kung hindi siya nag-offer paniguradong maglalakad kami nito.

"Sige. Susunod ako," I waved my hand at Anna before she left.

Binalik ko yung buong atensyon ko sa pageempake ng makakain. Ano pa ba ang kulang? Tubig! We need water. Agad akong tumungo sa refrigerator at kumuha ng tatlong 1 liter na bottled water. Buti nalang talaga kompleto si Lucca. Iba talaga kapag only child. Lahat nakukuha.

"So you're really leaving?"

Napalingon ako sa ngsalita. It was Noah. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin na walang ekspresyon sa mukha. Though I thought he would be sad.

"Oo," sagot ko saka nilampasan siya at inilagay yung tubig sa bag.

"So, you're leaving me again?"

Napahinto ako. Hearing those words from him were painful. For the second time, I'm leaving him at wala pa rin akong magagawa. Nalilito pa rin din ako kung mahal ko ba talaga siya. Because everytime I see him, I still feel the turmoil in my tummy. But what is stopping me? What's holding me back?

Tumalikod ako para makaharap siya.

"Noah..."

"How does it feel?" his cold glare vanished and was replace with sad eyes. "How does it feel leaving me again?"

"Why are you so affected?"

"Tinatanong pa ba 'yan?" he smiled bitterly. "Are you that numb?"

"I'm not numb."

"Then why are you asking if why am I affected? You should've known why I'd feel this way."

"Ayokong umasa ulit!" sigaw ko.

Napaatras siya. Nagulat din ako sa pagsigaw ko. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong sumabog. Maybe because I was too confused. Maybe because nothing makes sense to me.

"I was hurt badly. Minahal kita at ngayon hindi ko alam kung mahal pa ba kita! Nakuha mo ba yun? Mahal kita pero hindi ko alam kung mahal ba talaga kita. I am so complicated and please don't make it worse as it is."

"VIA I LOVE YOU! I FVCKING LOVE YOU!" sigaw niya na siyang ikinahinto ko. I was staring at him as tears slowly forming in his eyes. "Kahit ilang beses ko pang dapat ipatunay sa iyo kung gaano kita kamahal ay hindi ako susuko."

"Noah..."

"Nothing in this world can make me any happier but with you. You don't know how miserable my life was when you left. And now that I finally found you, iiwan mo ulit ako? Via that's unfair!"

Agad akong lumapit sa kanya saka siya niyakap. He was taken aback by my action.

"I'm sorry," I said, almost a whisper. "I'm sorry if you have to experience that and I'm sorry if you have to deal with it again. But I have no choice."

"Why can't I go with you?" he asked.

"You can't. Hindi basta-bastang nagpapasok ang the Grounds ng kahit sino. Especially you. Your family's background and mine was not acceptable." Kumalas ako sa pagkayakap saka siya hinarap. "Just wait for me until I come back."

"How much longer will I have to wait?"

"Hindi ako sigurado. I'll be back before you knew it." I wiped the single tear that escaped his eyes. "Wait for me."

"What was that about?" tanong ni Anna paglabas ko ng building na may nanunuksong tingin.

"Nagpapaaalam lang ako," simpleng sagot ko. Sinilip ko yung nasa loob ng kotse kung nasaan si Cato naghihintay. Well, it's now or never.

"Paalam pero may I FVCKING LOVE YOU! Ganun?" tumaas-baba yung kilay niya.

"Ano ba 'yang pinagsasasabi mo d'yan? Parte yun ng paalam."

"Sos! Artista? Ang showbiz ng sagot mo a! Pero seryoso na, hindi ka sumagot sa I love you niya?" tanong niya. "Have you moved on already?"

I sighed. "Ewan. I'm not sure if I have."

"Pero hindi ka magkakaganyan kung nakamove on ka na," sabi niya.

She's right. I wouldn't act like this if I have. Aish! Ewan! Naguguluhan na talaga ako sa sarili ko!

Biglang bumusina yung sasakyan na nagpabalik sa akin sa katinuan. The windows rolled open as Cato's head peeked out.

"Hindi pa ba tayo aalis?" tanong niya.

"Ito na!" sigaw ni Anna.

Umupo na ako aa shotgun seat habang nasa backseat naman si Anna mag-isa. Naglagay ako ng seatbelt bago pinaandar ni Cato yung sasakyan.

"Ihanda niyo yung sarili niyo. Makakatikim kayo ng malutong sermon mula sa mga magulang niyo," pagsisindak ni Anna.

"Hinanda ko na yung mental at emotional health ko. Pero hindi ako alam kung sapat ba ito," sabi ni Cato na sinundan ng buntong-hininga.

"Hindi naman kayo sasaktan nun. Baka grounded lang," dagdag pa ni Anna.

"Okay na 'yun. Deserve ko naman."

Nilingon ko si Cato saka ngumiti. "Dalawa naman tayo malalagot kaya sama-sama natin yung haharapin."

"The way you said it mas kinakabahan pa ako," sagot ni Cato.

Napuno ng tawanan yung sasakyan. Tawa now, lagot later. Para kaming pumunta sa isang party na lagpas curfew na umuwi. Paniguradong hindi lang sermon ang matatanggap namin. Siguro mas malala pa. But I'm sure they won't do things that can harm us. They are our parents after all.

At the corner of my eye, I saw a vehicle coming from my right, rapidly approaching our direction.

"CATO WATCH OUT!"

It was too late. Binangga nung papalapit na sasakyan yung sinasakyan namin at agad kaming tumilapon.