Mended Broken Souls (✔️)

Chapter 51

Chapter 51

"Are you really sure with this, Anak? Alam kong hindi ka pa talaga handa..."

I shook my head to give her a denote that I am sure. I was just fixing my eyes on the road. We're already in her car while she begun to start the engine.

I didn't decide to text Caleb about my decision because I don't want to bother him at this moment.

Araw-araw akong nag-v-view sa myday niya sa instagram, at nakikitang reviewers ang mga 'yon, with the caption, 'reviewing...' 'Sana ma-choose ni Lord na makapasa. Good luck na lang talaga sa akin.'

Gaya ng kung paano siya kabahan noong naghihintay kami ng result sa mga nakapasa sa entrace exam ng VSU, alam kong ganoon din ang kaba niya ngayon kahit next month pa naman ang board exam niya. I always include him in my prayers every night.

Sa ngayon ay ayaw ko talaga muna siyang maabala dahil busy siya. He had already done beyond enough for me and for my Mom. He always spares his time to keep an eye on us even though he was busy.

I keep on fidgeting my fingers because they feel so cold. I am sure, yet I'm not totally ready. Fear begun to rose in me since earlier because of the possibilities that will welcome me on this day.

Ang mga taong nakaaalam sa isang buwan ko nang pagkawala sa buhay ko na alam kong papaulanan agad ako ng mga tanong. I don't know how to straightforwardly answer them with my honest answer... I don't know how to deal with them if ever.

"Ikaw, Ma, are you sure to accompany me in telling them the truth? Baka hindi ka pa rin handang may makaalam na ibang tao na may anak ka. What most of them know is you're single in life."

She fixed her eyes on me from the road, and I can see determination on her pair of hazel eyes.

"Since before that I wasn't still ready to tell you, I am already sure. I was ready to hear gossips about me. Ang hindi lang talaga ako handa rati ay ang sabihin sa 'yo ang totoo." Ibinalik niya ang pokus sa pagmamaneho.

I just nodded. The swift beating of my heart were hammering against my chest when I saw the familiar way of not that lengthy road towards the house that I used to live.

Mas lalo lang na dinaga ang dibdib ko ng kaba nang mamataan ang nakapalibot na mga kapitbahay namin na parang nag-uusap malapit lamang sa bahay. One of them even pointed her finger on the house.

I familiarized them. Sila ang mga tinaguriang chismosang kapitbahay namin. Minsan kasi ay napag-usapan ng kinalakihan kong mga magulang ang tungkol sa apat na iyon.

"Ako ang bahala sa mga reporter na iyan, Anak," my Mom said, and laughed.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya't natawa na lang din, trying myself to diminish the tension inside me.

Sabay kaming dalawang bumaba sa kotse. We were still far when their observant eyes quickly fixed on us. It feels like I just got scorched by scorching stares.

Hindi ko na lang itinuon ang mga mata sa kanila at itinuon lang doon sa bahay na nilayasan ko isang buwan na ang nakararaan. Myriad emotions quickly enveloped my heart as I felt the nostalgia of being here again after a month.

Shock promptly passed on their faces when we were already near, when they fixed their eyes on me as if I was a well-known celebrity who just visited them in a specially.

"Ashia?!" Lumapit agad sila sa 'kin at pinalibutan ako dahilan para walang magawa ang ina ko para protektahan ako sa mga reporter, aniya pa.

My eyes went dull.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang bumalik? Saan ka galing?"

"Tumira kayo nang magkasama ni Caleb, ano? Siguro nagbalikan na kayo dahil hindi naman pala kayo magpinsan. Ampon ka pala!"