Fit the Puzzle (Azcona Cousins #3)

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Chapter 29

"It has nothing to do with you, Zian."

I snapped. "So you're doing it on purpose, is that what you meant?" I just couldn't calm down. Gusto ko nang malaman agad ang dahilan. I care for him as much as I care for his future career.

He sighed, sticking his palms on the facing edge of the table.

"Partly, yes. I told you before, right? I am just stuck in this situation. They have the worst and sky-high expectations of me. Among the three of us, I mostly endure the pressure... it's hard to keep everything in full-scale. And The profession which is waiting for me is useless. I don't think I want to practice it as I get older."

He didn't deny anything and it pained me. Kumirot ang puso ko para sa kanya.

"Ginagawa mo sa maling paraan, Iverson," his eyes bore into mine, carrying a bag of disappointment. A bitter smile crept on Iverson's lips.

"I only had one contingency plan, Zian, and that was to temporarily fail. As a result, my parents would not force me to enter any medical school. I can still find a decent job 一"

"Hindi 'yon ang punto ko... dinadamay mo rin ang ibang tao. I am also affected, Iverson. Your closest friends, your relatives, and your own family would think that I am condoning whatever you're doing... that I am allowing you to ruin your life."

Umigting ang panga niya. It is a rare scene to see him clenching his jaw.

"Ruin? I can't believe you."

"Ano ba dapat?"

He brushed his hair. Iverson looked stressed out as he tried to control himself. He now refrained from looking into my eyes.

Natatakot siyang mahuli ko ang kahinaan niya.

"Croozian Neriah, let's stop talking about this. You can't change my mind. I'll stick to my plan, please trust me on this."

I had a tough time swallowing. Dahan-dahan akong umuling at dumaloy sa'kin ang lungkot na 'di ko maibibigay ang hiling niya.

"Hindi ko kaya. It's a risky choice!" I resorted to yelling because I didn't want him to discover that I was torn. What if it didn't end well? Paano kung magiging sentro siya ng usapan ng mga Azcona? Paano kung tuluyan siyang pwersahin ng mga magulang niya na maging doktor kahit ayaw niya?

What if... what if his parents would suddenly disapprove of me?

Mahina siyang nagmura. I got hurt when he distanced himself to me, like I did something disheartening. With those few steps, I know that we are getting closer into chaos.

"It is part of redirecting myself, Zian!"

"You call it redirecting?! You could've dropped your program before it led to this!"

Iverson's face contorted. "God, of all people..."

"It would only lead you to nowhere! Please, stop what you're doing 一"

Nabitin ang dapat kong idudugtong nang bumukas ang pinto at sumulpot ang pigura ng pamilya ko, dala ang gulat at lito sa pagdating. Iverson and I both shut our lips and acted fine. I glanced shortly at Iverson then to my brother.

"Kuya, hanap ka niya... uhm, aakyat na ulit ako," peke akong ngumiti at pumanhik na agad sa taas.

Walang bahid ng pagtataka o gulat akong naramdaman na bigla kaming nawalan ng komunikasyon ni Iverson. Not completely, but it is now limited. There are no morning messages or incoming calls unlike before. I don't even anticipate a good hold with him after everything that happened. Nagkikita pa rin kami, binabati ko siya at minsan ding nginingitian 'pag nakikita ko siya.