Rav
I distanced myself to Imara Alessia. After the talk, everything sank in. All along, sarili ko pa rin pala ang iniisip ko. Akala ko may pag-asa pa, huli na pala.
My phone vibrated and it was Dad thats calling.
"I heard that you found your girl? Si Imara Alessia?"
"It was too late, Dad. I am so late."
"So, sumusuko ka na? Where are your guts, Ivar? You lovelife was long overdue. You need to man up!"
"You don't need to worry about me. I'm okay, Dad."
"Anak. Hindi na kami bumabata ng Mommy mo. I know it was my mistake dati na hadlangan ka sa gusto mo sa buhay. But now is different. I reflected on my past mistakes. I just want you to be happy now. If possible, kung mapapagpatuloy pa ang dating meron kayo."
"I guess it's impossible now, Dad. I hurt her so much. Ako yung may kasalanan kung bakit nasasaktan sya ngayon."
"Is that it? Susuko ka na lang?"
"You can say that, Dad."
"Well, if that's your decision. Wag kang uuwi ng bahay na hindi kasama si Imara Alessia."
"Are you pressuring me, Dad?"
"Yes."
"Dad. You know that she didn't want me anymore. Ayaw kong masaktan sya ulit ng dahil sa akin."
"I don't want to hear any excuses from you, Ivar. Go home and bring her home or pursue her hanggang sa makatapak ka na ulit dito sa bahay." He said and cut off the call.
But my decision is final. Maybe this is the time to let her go.
"Ganun na lang yun?" I looked at my side and saw Doc Cavin. Nandito kaming lahat sa beach resort. We built a small house para hindi na kami pabalik-balik sa hotel. I looked up the sky. The stars shines brighter now.
I used to wonder why so many people love to stare at the sky. Now I know why.
"Hindi ka nakarating sa point na to para lang sumuko." He added. I looked at him, confused.
"Give that to her. Alam kong walang laman ang ref ng kapatid ko." I looked at the plastics beside me. Groceries.
Ibinato nya rin sa akin ang susi ng sasakyan nya. How sweet.
Hindi na ako tumanggi pa at mabilis na tinungo ang bahay ni Imara Alessia. I stood in front of her door. I deeply sighed habang hawak sa kaliwang kamay ang dalawang supot. Kinakabahan ata ako kaya makailang beses kong napindot ang doorbell.
Bumungad naman sa akin ang nakabalot ng kumot na si Imara Alessia. This is my first time I saw her after what happened. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung ngingiti ba ako o ano. Pero base sa mukha ni Imara Alessia, hindi ata sya natutuwa sa naging reaction ko.
Sa sobrang taranta ko ay hindi ko na napag-isipan ang mga pinagsasabi ko sa kanya. Nanginginig na nga rin ang kamay at tuhod ko kaya ako na mismo ang nagpasok ng mga supot at dali-daling lumabas.
Wala pang 30 minutes ay nakabalik na ulit ako sa beach resort. I parked his car and sighed deeply. Napalingon naman ako nang makitang kumakatok si Doc Cavin. Nakakunot ang noo nya marahil ay nagtataka kung bakit nakabalik agad ako.
Nakarinig ako ng sermon kay Doc Cavin. Kung bakit raw hindi ko siniguro na kumain ang kapatid nya at kung anu-ano pa.
Pinagluto ko sya ng Adobo at bumalik sa bahay ni Imara Alessia. Kinakabahan pa rin ako kaya naman napagsungitan ko na naman sya. Nang niyaya nya akong kumain ay nagkusa agad akong tumayo at kumuha ng plato.
Inilabas ni Imara Alessia ang ginawa nyang Pickled Papaya. Nahirapan pa nga syang buksan ito pero para sa kanya gagawin ko ang lahat.
My heart melted nang makita kong pinagtabi nya ako. Halos maiyak pa nga ako habang sinusubo ang kanin at Adobo.
All I want to do is stare at her face all night. Kaya naman kahit juice na lang ang iniinom ko ay mas binagalan ko pa lalo.
She commented harshly on my juice, but it's okay. I can handle her tantrums. She even asked me if I wanted to take home my juice. Can I ask her to go home with me instead?
Rain or shine. Brown out or not. As long as I'm with Imara Alessia, I'll be contented.
We talked about us. About how I still love her. Just when the lights came back, Imara Alessia ran away from me. I laughed at her reaction. Cute.
Alas sais pa lang ng umaga pero kinakatok na ako sa pintuan ni Doc Cavin. He's been ordering me all day. He made me cook our breakfast, get his coffee and other things.
Ayaw ko namang suwayin sya. After all, kuya pa rin sya ni Imara Alessia. All I want to have was his blessings. Baka naman kasi mapag-isipan nyang karapat-dapat pala talaga ako sa kapatid nya.
Maya-maya pa ay tinawag na naman nya ako para utusang mag-igib ng tubig. Ipapapuno nya ang mga naglalakihang galon. Mahina pa naman ang tubig dito dahil hindi pa naaayos ang nagleak na tubo.
Halos isang oras na nang matapos ko ngang mapuno ang mga galon. Pawis na pawis ako nang makita kong nag-uusap si Doc Cavin at Imara Alessia.
I stared at her face. I remembered the first time I saw her, the first time she smiled at me and the very first time I saw her happy.
I called Doc Cavin kaya naman ay napalingon rin sya sa akin. She stared at me for a while. Ilang minuto pa ay nakikipagsagutan na naman ako kay Doc Cavin. I should make a good impression on him but I can't help na inisin sya.
Hinila ako ni Imara Alessia sa malapit na kubo sa unahan. I teased her kahit alam ko naman na magsusungit lang sya sa akin.
Just what they say, expect the unexpected. I was clearly holding on that thought. So when Imara Alessia answered that she misses me too, I grab the chance. I bravely asked her. And that's how I started to tease Doc Cavin by calling him Kuya.
