Hate Is The New Love

EPILOGUE

"The end. That's how my parent's met each other. It sounds like it straight came out from movies right? " nakangiting wika ng batang nagkukwento sa harapan ng klase.

Tulala ang lahat matapos ang nakakalokang love story ng parents niya.

May iilang bata ang napaiyak bigla. Meron ding pumalakpak ng todo-todo. The teacher on the other hand is speechless. He thought the story would be cute and kid-friendly.

"D-did uncle Jake actually die? " tanong ng babaeng maikli ang buhok na kanina pa umiiyak. Sa lahat ng mag-aaral, siya ang pinaka-naapektuhan sa kwento.

The girl in front deeply sigh, "Yes. Very unfortunate. Uncle Jake seems like a good guy for me, well except for that part where he pretended to be yeoubi which is my father's nickname. " aniya.

"Then where are your parent's friends now? " the chubby kid asked, curious.

Kagat-kagat pa rin niya ang lollipop na ngayo'y kalahati nalang. She looked directly at the chubby kid and smile, "Still here on earth. " sagot niya. As usual hindi matino.

Madami pa sana ang mag ta-tanong ngunit biglang nag ring ang bell hudyat na dismissal na. Mas lalong lumaki ang ngiti ng batang babae.

"Bukas nalang mag-bahagi ng kwento ang iba. Inubos kasi ni Sakura ang oras natin ngunit hayaan niyo na, marami pa namang time bukas. Class dismissed. Naiintindihan ba mga bata? " anunsyo ng guro sa isang malambing na tono at tumango naman ang mga masunuring bata.

Naunang lumabas si Sakura, bitbit ang kulay itim niyang bag na nakasukbit sa balikat. Kahit grade one pa lamang ay nakitaan na ito ng kakaibang personalidad. Matigas ang ulo, hindi maunawaan ang personalidad, rebelde ngunit matalino at palaban.

Minsan napapaisip ang guro niya kung paano di-disiplinahin. Kung mag-isip kasi ay parang matanda. Imbes na siya ang pagagalitan, ikaw pa ang pagsasabihan niya.

"Hello my babyy Sakura! "

Paglabas ng building, bumungad sa kanya ang isang babae na may malawak na ngiti sa labi.

Pag lapit niya, malugod na niyakap ng babae si Sakura. "How's school my baby blossom? Gosh I missed you. " her mom asks, still hugging her like they've been parted from each other for ten years.

"Mom, this is kinda embarassing. " Sakura said in a monotonous tone while chewing her lollipop. Some of her schoolmates are staring at her.

Natawa ng bahagya si Cheon, sanay na siya sa ugali ng anak niyang nagmana kay Xiam. "Ikaw talaga, ayaw mong bini-baby ka ni mommy. Other kids enjoy it. " naka-pout niyang giit. May bahid ng pagtatampo sa boses.

But Sakura seems not having it, playfully rolling her eyes. "And I'm not one of those kids. Let's go already mom. " nauna pa itong sumakay sa kutse.

Napabuntong-hininga si Cheon ngunit hindi mawala ang ngiti sa labi. Bagama't hindi katulad ang anak na si Sakura sa ibang bata, mahal na mahal pa rin niya ito. No words can describe how much she loves her daughter.

"Where are we going again mom? " Sakura asks, sitting on the shotgun seat while staring at the window.

"To your uncle Jake. But we have to fetch your dad first. " she replied, eyes glued on the busy road.

*****

Seventeen years has already passed since the crazy incident happened. The night of chaos is still engraved in the deepest memory of them. No one forgot. No one can ever forgets how hellish that night was. But for the sake of living normally, they had to pretend like it was some sort of nightmare.