Tell Me How (Isla De Verde Series #3)

Chapter 13

My senior high years isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Mas madali parin ang highschool kung ikukumpara sa senior high dahil medyo na-doble ang ibang subjects dito at kung hindi naman ay mas naging mahirap lang ang lessons.

When I graduated from Grade 12, I still feel the same. A hole aching in my chest. Hindi na naman kasi um-attend si Mama para sabitan ako ng medalya. It's always Manang Lynn who would hang a medal on my neck.

Mapait akong napangiti matapos ang panandaliang pictorial sa stage.

"Congratulations, Feli! Ang galing-galing mo talaga, 'nak!" Natutuwang ani Manang Lynn. She looked so happy and proud of my achievements.

I hugged Manang Lynn. "Thank you again, Manang. Ikaw nalang lagi ang nandyan para sa'kin. Si Mama po kaya?" I could feel the tears brimming on the corner of my eyes.

"Hija..." I shook my head and wiped away my tears. Hindi dapat ako nalulungkot ngayon dahil graduation day ko bilang senior high student.

"A-Ayos lang po ako, Manang! Sanay na po ako..." I smiled but deep inside my heart is hurting so deep that I couldn't bear the pain anymore.

People says that if you're happy, hindi mo namamalayan ang mga oras na kusang lumilipas. What if you're sad? What if you're feeling empty?

Gumagawa ka na lamang ba ng mga bagay na may puwang sa puso mo? You're not living your life to the fullest. I'm existing. I'm half alive. Parang 'yong kalahati ko ay nakabaon na sa lupa at inaagnas na.

My phone beeped once again. Katatapos ko lamang maligo at kasalukuyan kong pinupunasan ang basang buhok gamit ang tuwalya. I sat on the edge of my bed and read the message who came from Agamemnon.

Agamemnon:

Feli, please. Let's talk. Did I do something wrong?

I smiled bitterly. Ever since we celebrated our graduation day when I was in high school, I started avoiding him just to forget. He really thought I wouldn't see him, huh?

Hindi lumilipas ang mga araw na kapag lalabas ako ng aming bahay at magtatapon ng basura ay makikita ko ang kotse niyang naka-park sa hindi kalayuan.

He even attempted to approach me but I always ignore him. I also tried to block him on my social media accounts but to no avail, he always has his ways on how to make things work. Lagi siyang nakakahanap ng paraan para mahagilap ako.

"Bwiset ka, alam mo 'yon? Here I am trying so hard to forget about you but you keep on getting close to me..."

Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kan'yang mensahe. Kalaunan ay pinatay ko ang phone ko nang tumawag na ito at hindi iyon pinansin.  I stared at my ceiling and heaved a deep sigh before going downstairs.

"Hija, I bought you a condo unit. That's what you asked your mother before, right?" ani Leonardo habang nasa hapag kaming lahat at sabay-sabay na kumakain.

Natigilan ako. He bought me a condo unit? I looked at him.

"Yes, Tito."

"I've heard that you're with high honor again when you graduated, huh?" Nagpunas ito ng bibig at ngumiti sa akin. "That's good. You deserved this condo unit as a gift. You did a great job!"

"Salamat po," I replied. Via rolled her eyes on me. Napatingin naman ako sa direksyon ni Mama at nakitang wala lamang itong pakialam sa narinig. She just continued eating her food as if what I've achieved is just nothing to her.

My heart ache but that's it. Gaya ng lagi kong ginagawa ay kinikimkim ko nalang sa sarili ko ang mga bagay na nararamdaman ko. 

Summer after senior highschool, I moved into my condo unit. Malawak akong napangiti dahil sa wakas ay hindi ko na kailangan pang magtiis sa iisang bahay kasama ang pamilya ni Mama.