Breathless (Book 1&2)

Harder to Breathe #23

Harder to Breathe #23
Cielo

Hindi ako nakapagsalita matapos marinig ang kwento ni Mama. That day, when Kuya was about to go back to UK, doon ko lang siya nakita ng ganun and Mom's story explains a lot. Kuya was like an empty shell. He wasn't talking, yes, he doesn't talk a lot pero iba, alam mong may kakaiba sa kanya. Para siyang walang naririnig, walang nakikita.

"I don't really know what to say," pag-amin ko kay Mama. She smiled at me before caressing my hair.

"No one actually know what to do and to say," sagot naman niya. "Your Dad and I tried to console your brother but you know, nothing worked at that time. Your Lola, she doesn't mean to hurt your Kuya, ang kanya lang, she wants your Kuya to keep moving forward."

"Knowing Lola, of course she would ask him to do that. Pero Ma," tanong ko. "Kailan mo pa alam ang tungkol kay Danica?"

"It was during the time na nagkakagulo ang Ate Chloe at Kuya Kol mo. Your Ate asked us to remain silent about it. We respected her. She rescued Danica. She helped her. Danica was an e-escort. She was involved in different underground activities before. It was your Ate who put an end to that," she paused. "They were half sisters at kahit pa hindi aminin ni Chloe, I know she cares for her, just like how she cares for you and your Kuya."

"Ma," tawag ko sa kanya.

"Yes bunso?"

"If ever dumating ang araw na magmahal ako at hindi niyo gusto yung taong mamahalin ko, would you ask me to leave that person and keep moving forward too?"

Mom didn't answer me right away. She looked down at kitang kita ko ang paglungkot ng mukha niya.

"C-Cielo, your Dad and I would never do that," she finally answered me. "You all know very well how fond I am to Noreen. Things just got complicated. Kahit pa suportahan ko ang Kuya mo that time, which I subtly did, Noreen was already a married woman. She married that man without us knowing, ano ang magagawa namin? Nang Kuya mo? I don't know how should I put it pero, Noreen made that decision. Marriage is something we highly respect,"

I let out a deep sigh after hearing what she said.

"Why? Is there something bothering you?" she asked again.

"Wala naman po, iniisip ko lang, parang may kulang," sagot ko.

"Kulang?"

"Hindi ko maipaliwanag, parang may kulang na may mali. I mean, knowing Ate Noreen, she would not came up with that decision kung walang malalim na dahilan. She loved Kuya, I'm sure of that,"

"I agree, lahat naman tayo nabigla. You know, when her mother refused your Dad's help before, kitang kita namin ang hinanakit, ang galit. We understand because we can't extend our help to them. All we can do that time is to offer them money na galing mismo sa bulsa natin. But the connection, the support, we can't give them that. Sobrang laking problema ang nangyari noon. We have bigger stake than them, we care for our people. We can't make decisions na makaka apekto sa ikabubuhay ng nakararami,"

"Ma, I have a question,"

"Ano iyon bunso?"

"If ever Ate Noreen didn't make that decision. If ever she didn't let go of Kuya. If ever they continued their relationship. Will you still accept her to be Kuya's wife? Despite their social standing?"

"Of course!" she answered immediately. "Your Dad and I will do." ngumiti ako matapos marinig iyon. "Tandaan mo, kahit sino pa basta mahal niyo, tatanggapin at mamahalin din namin."

📞
C-Mobile Telecom
Head Office
Taguig, Metro Manila

Noreen

"Hey! Noreen, are you with me?" doon ko naiangat ang tingin ko matapas sabihin sa akin ni Ron iyon. "Are you okay? Gusto mo bang magpahinga muna?" mabilis akong umiling.