The River

IKAPITONG KABANATA

IKAPITONG KABANATA

"Happy 15th birthday, Avonlea and Issar." Sigaw ng mga magulang naming dalawa.

Nandito kami ngayon sa bahay ng mga Lavisores. My mom and Issar's parents decided to make our birthday celebration simple. We celebrated these special day with our parents only.

Kahit kami-kami lang ang nasa loob ng bahay ng mga Lavisores ay nangingibabaw pa rin ang saya ng bawat isa sa amin. For once, I let myself enjoy like I used to be when our family still isn't a mess.

"Happy birthday, Avonlea," I heard Issar whisper from behind me. I turned my head and looked up at him, his bright smile was the first thing my eyes saw.

"Yeah, likewise," I may already let him into my life but I still keep some distance between us.

Sure, I already opened up with him about my past but it was two years ago, and after that day, I didn't let my guard down again.

Pero kahit ganun ay wala akong pagsisisi na nakapa ko sa aking sarili. It was my first time sharing those hurtful memories to other person aside from my mom. And it really has a big impact, it helped me heal, hindi man mabilis ngunit paunti-unti nitong ginagaling ang sugat ng nakaraan sa tulong na rin ni Issar. After he heard my past, he never leave my side like he used to do the first time we've met. Whenever I go, he was there. Whenever I cried, he was the one who wiped my tears away.

Simula noong hinayaan ko na siyang papasokin sa buhay ko ay hindi niya ako binigo. Ang pangako niya noong araw na 'yon ay tinupad niya ng walang halong napipilitan lang siya.

Agad kong naatras sa gulat ang aking ulo nang may biglang lumitaw na isang maliit na paper bag sa aking harapan. Nalilito ko siyang tiningala patalikod na agad ko namang pinagsisihan. Ilang pulgada na lang ang layo ng mga mukha naming dalawa. Nakadungaw siya sa akin habang ang isang kamay na may hawak na maliit na paper bag ay hindi niya pa rin binababa, habang ang isa naman ay nakasuporta sa kanyang bigat, nakapwesto ito sa sandalan ng sofa.

Dahil sa posisyon naming dalawa ay kitang-kita ko kung paano mamula ang kanyang pisngi patungo sa kanyang tenga pababa sa kanyang leeg. Agad siyang nag-iwas tingin ngunit nakadungaw pa rin sa akin.

"A-Ano yan?" nauutal kong tanong, nararamdaman din ang sariling mamula dahil sa posisyon naming dalawa.

"R-Regalo," nauutal niya ring sagot, mas namula pa ang kanyang buong mukha.

Kunot ang noong umayos ako ng upo at tiningnan ang 'regalong' nakalahad pa rin sa aking harapan, "I don't need one," pilit kong pina-seryoso ang aking boses dahil ramdam ko ang tuwang bigla na lang namutawi sa aking puso.

Ramdam ko ang paggalaw niya mula sa aking likuran. And just a blink, nasa tabi ko na siya habang may malawak na ngiti sa mga labi.

"But I heard from tita Ava that you're into taking pictures these past few weeks."

"What?"

"Here. I brought you a new camera. Narinig ko rin kasi mula kay tita Ava na 'yung lumang camera niya ang ginagamit mo ngayon." Walang halong biro niyang sabi.

I looked at the paper bag in front of me. The said 'gift' - in which I assumed - were the 'camera' is - is a tempting offer. But I can't accept it if the money he used to buy the thing is from his parents. I can't accept it knowing that he used his parents money just because I was into taking pictures these days.

Ilang minuto lang akong nakatitig sa nakalahad niyang kamay na may hawak na paper bag. I want to tell him I don't need his gift but I can't just say it boldly. I might hurt his feelings. Hindi pa naman ako marunong manuyo ng nagtatampong tao.