Mended Broken Souls (✔️)

Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Hindi ko na lang binibigyang pansin ang naririnig kong usap-usapan mula sa mga kapitbahay tungkol sa pagiging anak ko ni mama. After the gossipers knew it exactly from my Mom, the news about us quickly spread like a wildfire.

I roamed my eyes around the huge campus of PNHS. It has almost its complete facilities compared to BNHS, my alma mater in High school. But seeing it again after three years of being away here, I can say that it has changed a lot.

"This school is my alma mater in high school, 'nak," usal ni Mama sa tabi ko habang nakahawak sa bisig ko.

Sinabi niyang ipakikila niya raw ako sa kaibigan niyang guro na siyang nakaaalam din tungkol sa pagkatao ko bilang anak niya. The teacher that she pertained about is her friend since high school. Nagkalayo sila when they reached fourth year high school kaya wala na raw siyang naging balak kaibiganin sa mga panahong 'yon. She was just her most trusted and genuine friend, and according to her, no one could ever replace her.

Isang linggo na rin ang lumipas mula nang humingi ng tawad ang kinalakihan kong ina sa pangalawang pagkakataon. I didn't tell that to my Mom because I noticed that she's busy, but despite of that, she still often spends her time with me, mostly every night.

Umuwi na rin kami sa bahay malayo sa mga kabahayan. I just stayed in my grandparent's mansion for a while because the gossips about me and my Mom are still fresh. Naiirita ako sa tuwing lumalabas at nakaririnig ng mga usapan tungkol sa amin na para bang ganoon na lang sila ka-interesado sa buhay ng may buhay.

"Si Papa po, hindi rito?" I asked, curving my lips for a smile because I really become interested when it comes to him, and to their love story... that tragically ended.

I wanted to hear the euphoric scenes that took place before the tragedy replaced and ruined it.

Umiling siya.

"He studied high school in FCIC. Doon ako pinilit na paaralin ng mga magulang ko dahil isang private school, but I chose to study here for three years. I have wanted to stay lowkey and simple. At saka, dito rin nag-aaral noon si Stella. Ayaw ko talagang mawalay sa kaniya."

Her best friend named Stella.

"Pero noong graduating na ako sa high school, sa FCIC na rin ako nag-aral dahil pinagalitan na ako nila Mama... at doon nga kami naging close ng Papa mo."

Naglilibot kami ngayon sa malaking plaza. The green and clean grasses that were neatly trimmed reminded me of the greeneries in FEU. Hindi ko pa pala na-open up sa kaniya ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon.

"Mabait si Stella, sobra. Everytime some of my classmates bully me before because I'm too pale raw, parang anemic na hindi maintindihan, she was always to the rescue. Palaban din 'yon, e, saka parang 'di babae kung kumilos. Sabi niya na siya raw ang lalaban para sa 'kin kung hindi ako lalaban. I was really too weak back then... I would cry over petty things. Hindi rin ako pumapatol sa mga nang-aapi sa 'kin dahil umiiyak lang ako nang palihim..." She chuckled nonchalantly, as if reminiscing that moment in her life was funny.

My forehead knitted.

"You should've fought! Why did you just let them do that? Mas maaapi ka talaga kapag hindi ka lumalaban, Mama." My brows met while bursting out my annoyance over it. It seems like I was on the scene during that time, preaching my feeble friend.

She chuckled and held my face. Her hand wandered on my brows that were meeting into each other. Nakaharap na ako sa kaniya ngayon, at tumigil din kami sa paglalakad.

"Chill, Anak. That was already in the past, okay? I remember how your father reacted the same way when I told him a story about my high school days that full of bullies. Magkamukha't magka-ugali talaga kayo." She beamed and pinched my cheeks that I promptly avoided.