A Diamond Between Us

CHAPTER 60

"Ako lang 'to."

Cute daw ako, eh, pero mukhang hindi naman. Mukha na ata akong gusgusin dito ngayon, ang sarap kasi talaga.

"I didn't understand what you said."

Muntik ko nang mabuga 'yong kinakain ko. Hindi nga pala siya nakakaintindi ng tagalog.

"Yeah! I forgot. Never mind." I chuckled.

"Speaking of..." napahinto ako sa pagkain ko. "My mom told me that my grandma, who is now in the Philippines, is now sick."

"What? Is she okay?"

Napailing siya.

"Not, really."

Tinikom ko na muna ang bibig ko para makinig sa sasabihin niya.

"Mom told me and my older sister that we need to move to the Philippines as soon as possible, so mom could take care of her mother. She has lived there permanently since Grandpa died when I was a kid." I make sure he feels that I'm interested in what he would say. "Anytime soon, we will move out of here."

"If that is the case, I think it is fine. Your grandma needs you there."

He nodded.

"Yeah, I'm just... afraid that, I couldn't adjust there since it was my first time living there for good."

I understand him. Dito siya lumaki maninibago talaga siya roon.

"You've already experienced staying there, right?" He nodded, "Then I'm sure you could easily adjust there."

Napakrus siya sa dibdib niya at tinitigan ako. "Where do you guys live there? I mean, your hometown?"

I raised my brows. "In Bulacan."

"Uhm... mom told me, they live in Taguig? If I'm not mistaken." Hindi pa siya sure roon.

"Ow! Nice, I love that place. Actually, you can enjoy the place there called BGC. That place is good and beautiful." He furrowed his brows. "Yes, BGC. I promise, if we've already finished studying here, I'll come with you there and let's... enjoy the place."

Ngumiti siya. "I can't wait for that to happen."

Napabuntong-hininga siya pagkatapos namin mag-usap.

I hope his grandma is okay. Doon na pala pinili ng lola niya manirahan pagkatapos mamatay ng lolo niya. Lolo niya kasi talaga ang may dugong pinoy sa kanila, siguro nandoon lahat ng alala ng lolo niya kaya roon pinili ng lola niya ang mamalagi.

Grabe iyon, 'no? May kaya pa lang gumawa noon para sa taong mahal nila. Unconditional love, for me, is a powerful kind of love. You love someone unconditionally. There are no more words to express how you feel towards someone. You just know that you love that person and they are enough.

That is how I felt about Mark. I love him so much that I am content just to be with him. I don't want anyone else, just him. Kahit na, may pagkakataon na napapaisip ako na paano siya? Iyong future niya? Lalo noong nabanggit niya na pangarap niya magkaanak, paano siya? Hindi ko naman mabibigay iyon.

Natatakot ako pero iniisip ko na lang na kaya namin gawan ng paraan iyong future namin. Pagpaplanuhan namin ng mabuti. Hindi kasi ako sigurado kung kaya ko pang magmahal ulit ng iba, kung hindi si Mark.

"I'll buy you an ice cream."

Pagpupumilit ko, kanina pa niya kasi ayaw magpalibre sa akin. Siya lang ang tao na nakilala kong ayaw sa libre.

"If you don't want ice cream, then maybe a snacks?" Tinawanan niya lang ako.

Naalala ko sa kaniya si Blare, napakapabebe. Kay Ada lang ako hindi nahihirapan sa mga ganitong sitwasyon.