P.R.N

20

It was a relief that Cole quietly followed me to his room. I was just holding his hand while walking. Nang makapasok kami sa kwarto niya ay dumeretso siya ng lakad sa kama niya at naupo sa dulo nito.

His head was down and he was massaging the back of his neck.

"C..." I called him.

Lumakad ako palapit sa kanya at tumayo sa harap niya.

"I messed up, Vienne... I'm sorry..."

Why is he apologizing?

"No, you didn't..." Lumapit ako at hinaplos ang buhok niya.

He was still looking at the ground.

"I lost control... I was..." He sighed. He was shaking. "You didn't have to see that. I'm sorry."

"But I did, and there's nothing to be sorry for."

Who am I to judge a pain that I have never experienced? I don't even know how long Cole's been holding up his shit together.

"You have to calm down and talk to Tita Karen."

He sighed. "Yeah..."

"Can you look at me?" I asked him.

He sighed before facing me. His eyes were still bloodshot and he was still on a verge of tears. I leaned to kiss his eyes.

"I'm sorry..." I muttered.

That was his cue.

My heart sank when Cole started breaking down. It was as if he was holding it for so long.

It must have been painful for him.

I settled on his lap and hugged him as he cry. I was never good with words. The only comfort I could give him was to hold him in my arms.

I don't know what words to say to lessen what he's feeling. I don't even know if there's a word that can lessen his pain— their pain.

"Why can't she just let him go?" He asked while crying. I was caressing his hair.

"I think we both know the answer to that, C."

Tita Karen loves Tito Collin. She's still hoping for that day that he'd change and man up for his family.

Tita Karen still wants a family.

Cole stayed inside my arms until he stopped crying. I made him look at me. I wiped his tears.

I leaned to kiss his eyes again.

"Are you calm enough to talk to Tita?" I asked.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and shook his head. Siniksik niya ang mukha niya sa gilid ng leeg ko.

"Thank you for being here..."

"Of course..." I answered. "Always."

"Are you tired?" I asked. His face was still buried on the side of my neck.

"Do you want to cuddle?" I asked again. He shook his head.

"Let's stay like this for a little while..." I nodded.

Our position lasted for another hour.

"Did you eat?" I asked.

"We were eating when he came." He answered.

"Why did he come?"

"He said he just wanted to have a meal with us." I felt how his jaw clenched. "I didn't say anything because I saw how my Mom looked at him."