Aria notice Haechan's eyes blinking rapidly, as if he's forcing himself not to cry in front of her. Then her eyes accidentally darted over his open messages.
Mama:
Sinabi ko sa papa mo ang balak mong pagshishift.
Mama:
Kayo ng dalawa magusap tutal hindi ka naman nakikinig sakin.
"Anong nangyayari, Chan?" She genuinely asked.
Umiling lang si Haechan, "Wala nga, Ri— Hindi mo pwedeng sabihin saking wala kasi hindi gagana sakin yang pagsisinungaling mo."
Haechan wanted everything to be fixed before the holidays so he wouldn't ruin everyone's joy that includes his family and friends especially Ria, but it seems like things a going a little out of his control and the way his problems spiral out of their schedules na dapat may solusyon na pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin niya mabigyan bigyan ng solusyon.
Haechan stood up and offered his hand to Ria which she confusedly accepted. "Tara."
"Bakit? Saan tayo pupunta?" Her forehead creases.
Haechan gave her his famous mischievous grin and vaguely answered, "Sa dulo ng mundo."
And took her away.
—
Haechan swiftly parked his car at a cliff where a clear overview of the city at night can be seen. Ria gasped, amazed by how beautiful the scene is before shifting her gaze at her best friend.
"Gago Bakit hindi mo sinabi na may ganitong lugar pala satin?!" She exclaimed hitting her best friend's arm excitedly.
Haechan flinched, rubbing his arm. "Syempre hindi ka naman nagtatanong."
Hé answered unseriously, basically asking to be hit on his arms again by Ria and so she did.
The both of them started talking about how their day went and other trivial things when a notification popped out of Haechan's phone so he proceed to unlock it to read.
Mama:
Donghyuck hindi bagay sayo ang medtech. Ituloy mo nalang ang mechanical engineering anak ha?
Ria was busy scrolling from her phone when she heard the boy beside her sighing heavily for a couple of times.
"So ano ng problema natin dyan?" She asked.
"Huh?"
"Kanina ka pa bumubugtong hininga kako. Anong problema natin dyan?"
"Wala wala." Haechan denied, shutting his phone off and placing it back to the pocket of his cargo shorts.
Ria shrugged her shoulders. "Okay, I won't force you. Basta you know when and where to call me kapag nahihirapan ka na kimkimin yan magisa at kailangan mo ng extra kamay na magbubuhat ng bigat."
Hechan stared blankly in front, a few more sighs before he decided to speak. "Iniisip kong magshift ng course, Ri."
"Mhmm.. anong course?" Ria placed her phone down her thighs, moving sideways as she rested her head at the car seat looking at her bestfriend.
"Course mo. Medtech." Haechan felt his heart thump at the lass' stare.
"Uhuh..." She uttered, signalling him to go on.
"Pero ayaw nila mama. Sayang raw yung dalawang taon. Ang layo pa raw ng engineering sa medtech, mahihirapan lang raw ako, hindi rin daw practical."
"Pero anong gusto mo talaga?" She asked.
Haechan glanced at her, "Medtech."
"Mhmm.."
"Kaya lang yun nga yung tingin nila mama...alam mo yun parang hindi raw bagay sakin?"
"Tingin ko mas importante kung saan ka sasaya." Ria's statement suddenly made Haechan stop from thinking, and stared at her.
"Kilala kita, kaya mong lusutan lahat, at kung mahirapan ka man makahanap ng daan alam mo namang nandito ako para samahan kang maligaw hanggang sa mahanap mo na yung landas na gusto mong puntahan. In other words, susuportahan kita, ano man yung maging desisyon mo."
"Alam mo kasi yung nangyari kay lola, narealize ko lang na ang hirap pala talagang walang doktor sa pamilya. First time ko non nakita si kuya Mark na ganon kabalisa, I've always seen him so sure of his next move but that night... halos hindi siya makagalaw, Ri..." Ria reached out to the older's hand.
"Tapos si Astra... halos hindi namin siya makausap. I never want to see her at that state ever again. And how Jeno tries to hold us together, you know how much he would do everything just to avoid heavy responsibilities, and seeing him voluntarily shouldering our problems just so kuya Mark would not fall apart..."
"Tapos si mama..." Haechan voice broke as tears begin to fall from his eyes. Ria reached to hug him, gently rubbing his back to comfort her best friend.
"Akala niya hindi ko naririnig yung mga hikbi niya sa gabi, o yung mga usapan nila Tita, pero kapag haharap siya samin na parang walang nangyari... nahihirapan ako para sakanila Ria"
God knows hard it is for Ria to see her best friend so down and broken. Haechan was the type to always smile and make everyone laugh with his own jokes so how long has he been keeping this? How long has he been pretending to be happy and strong for everyone else?
If only she noticed it earlier.
"Shh... it is not your responsibility to be strong and happy for everyone, Hyuck." She uttered. "You're human. You made everyone laugh with your jokes and all, but I honestly wish you would laugh harder for yourself. You can now put the weight down of being everyone's source of joy, hindi mo responsibilidad yon. There will be times na hindi ka masaya, and that's completely okay!"
Haechan pulled out from the hug as Ria proceed to cup his cheeks, wiping his tears with her thumbs.
"Hindi ikaw palagi ang source of strength and happiness, Pwede kang kumuha sa iba minsan, Mhmm?" He nodded.
"Pwede kang kumuha ng lakas sakin, Hyuck. Hindi kita bibitawan."
YOU ARE READING
Ride Home || l.haechan
Fanfiction[Misa de Gallo #3] A journey towards finding home and love in one person.
