Growing up dominating the household, Diamond Alvaro finds no solution rather than get away to reduce the pressure she's having around her mother, leaving her sister all behind.
If only she was as mighty and smart as everyone paints her to be, she wo...
Oops! Ang larawang ito ay hindi sumusunod sa aming mga alituntunin sa nilalaman. Upang magpatuloy sa pag-publish, subukan itong alisin o mag-upload ng bago.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! Call the fire department, my mom is inside the house!" Yandra was screaming so loud that even the cry of panic that our neighbors had had faded in my ears.
The fire had already managed to eat our modern-styled house when Yandra and I came home from school. I could feel my heartbeat race as I watched the house burn to ashes, Yandra's cry filled my ears in the background and I could feel the urge to run inside the house burn inside me but my feet just won't move.
The crowds moved so fast in front of me, running here and there and I stood there like a damn fool thinking of what might be going on inside my Mom's head as the fire destroyed the whole house and took away her hope.
"Adam?"
She must be so terrified. My Mom's heart has always been fragile, she can't even go on with her day without taking her prescriptions. I want to go there, run and be with her so I could hug her and calm her storms away so why don't this fucking feet move on its own?! Although the fire was hot, she must have felt so cold being there alone in the dark—in the chaos, knowing no one's there to save her.
No, no... I can save her, I know I can save her.
"Adam?"
Once the happenstance sank inside me, my instinct immediately kicked in and I found myself running toward the blazing fire, no thoughts clouding my mind. The only thing I knew at that time was I wanted to save her like how she always does to me but then a huge, ear-deafening spurt of fire exploded right in front of my eyes and yet another cry broke out from the community.
"Where is the fcking fire department?! My mom is dying inside..." Yandra's voice cracked in hysteria as her fist crumbled the hem of my shirt. "Where is Dad? I, I don't know what to do, Adam... I don't wanna lose Mom..."
My chest became heavier as I watched her crumble on the ground, tears can't stop flowing from her swollen eyes. I blinked before swallowing the lump on my throat then I squatted next to her. I didn't know if it would help comfort her but gently, I wrapped my arms around her.
When the fire department managed to stop the fire, my Dad was still nowhere to be found. I already called him countless times but got no answer. Maybe that's the reason I tried putting the blame on him, in the first place, he was not there to save neither of us from reality.
In the present, I discovered that I did that to hide the fact that all this time, I'm blaming myself for what happened and the only escape I found was tricking myself that my father, and not myself, was the one to blame.
"Forgive yourself."
From the marble gravestone, my regard shifted to the voice that retrieved me back from old memories. Chuckling, I caressed her soft medium-length hair and tucked the stray hairs that were covering her face in the back of her left ear.
"I already did, love. The best thing I did," I said, making her crack a soft smile.
"That's probably the best advice I can give you as well. If it helps me, I think it'll help you too."
"It sure did," I said, giving my mom a last glance. "We need to go, Mom. We'll come back soon, don't worry and I love you so much."
I dropped off Diamond first at Kai Shen's place before driving to Makati where The Hurricane's studio is located. The last song of the album I wrote will be recorded today and they said that I needed to be there with them.
Nang makarating ako roon, naroon na ang buong banda. Hindi ko tuloy naiwasan ang kantsawan nila pero nagsimula rin naman din kami 'agad nang dumating ang manager ng grupo.
"Hindi ba busy ka? Paano mo nagawang magproduce ng ganito karaming kanta? 'Di ka na ba natutulog?" sarkastikong tanong ni Marianne, iyong band manager.
"I am perfectly fine, Marianne. I wrote the album two years ago."
"E'di bakit ngayon lang, akala ko ba 'di ka na nagsusulat?"
"I wrote the album for my girl and at the moment, I don't even know if she wants the world to know how much I love her." I was watching the band at the recording booth as I replied.
Napalingon lang ako sa kanya nang bigla niya akong sikuhin, nanunukso pa ang mga mata habang taas-baba ang kilay sa akin na ikinatawa ko naman.
"Hindi ko alam na romantic ka pala! No'ng una nga kitang nakita, feeling ko player ka eh kasi alam mo na... Mayaman at gwapo saka mahangin din. Kung hindi ka lang magaling magsulat, baka araw-araw kitang bina-bash!"
I scoffed then turned the mic on so the band inside the recording booth could hear me.
"Li Wei, off-the-beat ka. Sundan mo lang si Wane, huwag kang magmadali."
The day was almost over when I got home at Diamond's condo—actually, I moved in since we agreed that it will be better to finally live together since we've already talked about getting married.
Kung sa condo unit ko kasi ay mapapalayo siya masiyado ng sobra sa ospital kaya kahit na mahigit apat na oras ang kailangan kong imaneho mula sa Quezon hanggang sa San Lazaro, nagdesisyon akong doon na lang.
Mas malapit din kasi roon ang bahay nina River kaya maaari siyang pumunta nalang doon kapag nalulungkot siyang mag-isa sa condo. Emerald was just too far away so we only get to see her twice a month and I am pretty sure that she's busy with her own life right now.
Like all of us.
Mahimbing na ang tulog ni Diamond nang madatnan ko siya sa loob ng kwarto. Pagod siguro siya dahil sa party na dinaluhan niya kanina sa bahay ni Kai Shen kaya hangga't maaari ay dahan-dahan akong humiga sa bakanteng pwesto sa tabi niya, maingat na maingat para 'di siya magising.
Normally, I would have showered first but I just felt so tired that night so I just took my jacket off and lay next to her before kissing her hair.
"I love you," I breathed.
When she didn't reply, I smiled to myself and pulled her in further to me so I could feel her warmth. Her hands immediately searched for mine then she kissed it gently, whispering.
"Welcome home..." She sounded so tired so I hushed her and let her know that she didn't need to say a word.
Her warmth is all I needed. If she's tired, I want her to know that she can hold me and just rest. I want to make her feel safe, her haven where she can be at peace. I want that.
And I longed for nothing but her happiness.
Pumikit ako at inilapit ang labi ko sa teinga niya.
"Will you marry me?" I whispered, making her turn to me, her eyes were slightly open.
"How many times will you keep asking that?"
"Forever. So, will you marry me?" I gazed at her eyes.
"Yes, silly, I will."
"How many times will you keep answering that?"
She cupped my face and kissed me gently and I couldn't help but kiss back. I always intend to not kiss her back to know if I have the power to but she's just irresistibly gorgeous and being loved by her is so magical.
"Forever."
Oops! Ang larawang ito ay hindi sumusunod sa aming mga alituntunin sa nilalaman. Upang magpatuloy sa pag-publish, subukan itong alisin o mag-upload ng bago.
