Mending Heartaches

Chapter 9

Tahimik ako habang pauwi ng bahay. I was busy thinking about many things. I was disappointed yes but what can I do?

My birthday is coming and now I'm almost sure that Lisander won't really come. He really changed, a lot.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone nang tumunog ito. Anne's name flashed at the caller's id.

"Hey, got your pumps already" I said right away.

"Oh ok thanks much, so any news about the prom?" tanong nito.

"He's coming..with Sorayah" I tried hiding my disappointment but I know she'll know for sure.

"You okay?" she asked hesitating.

"I should be" I heaved a sigh.

"Do you want me to come at your house?" biglang tanong nito at alam ko na kung bakit.

"No I'm okay and besides dad's maybe at home already."

"Okay anything else you need?" tanong nito.

"Wala na, you can hang up na" I answered.

"Hey you know that you got me right?" sincerity was etched on her voice. I smiled a little.

"Of course I know and that's why I love you" I softly said.

"See you tomorrow" I added.

"Okay bye. See you tomorrow best friend" she even made a kissing sound before hanging up.

I heaved a deep sigh after putting my phone down. I shouldn't feel like this, he didn't promise me anything for me to be this disappointed.

But I can't really stop the urging tears I'm trying to hold back since he told me that he's coming with Sorayah. It was disturbingly painful.

Too disturbing that I can't get rid of it even if I badly want to.

We reached home without even me noticing because of spacing out. Agad na akong bumaba pagkatapos.

Matapos bumaba sa sasakyan ay agad na akong pumasok sa loob ng bahay.

"Mi prinsesa!" Agad na bumungad pagpasok ko palang ng bahay ang nakangiting mukha ng daddy. He quickly enveloped me in a tight and warm hug. Malalim akong huminga. At least I have the best father and man for keeps here with me.

"What's with the sour mood my lady?" agad nitong napansin ang ekspresiyon ng mukha ko gaya ng inaasahan. He was my father after all.

"I'm happy that you're finally home daddy" I sincerely uttered.

"Dinner's ready but sadly your brother's still not here" sabay kaming nagtungo sa hapagkainan na ngayon ay puno ng iba't ibang klase ng mga pagkain.

"Maybe he's still doing something at the office" sabi ko bago na nagsimulang kumain.

"Dad?" nag-aalangan kong agaw sa atensiyon nito. He abruptly gave me all of his attention.

"Yes sweetheart?" malambing nitong tanong.

"Can we just have an intimate dinner instead of having a grand party on my coming birthday?" dahil sa sinabi ko ay dahan dahan nitong ibinaba ang hawak na mga kubyertos.

"Sweetheart what's wrong?" marahan ngunit mariin ang mga titig nito sa akin.
He's my dad after all and he'll surely know if something's wrong.

"I just want to celebrate it with you and kuya. Maybe an out of town will be good" sumubo ako ng pagkain para magkaroon ng rason na umiwas ng tingin dito.

"You know that I'm more than willing to change plans for you sweetheart but the thing here is that I definitely know that something's up, can't you share it with daddy?" marahan ang pagkakasabi nito.

"And what about your school? We'll surely be gone for days if we push through an out of town trip" he added.

"I know naman but can't we really dad?" I pleadingly eyed him.

"Of course we can, but think of it thoroughly since you still have time to, and by the time that you finalize your decision then I'll support you all the way, it's your day in the first place" he smiled at me and I also did back at him. I quickly stood up and went to where he's seated before embracing him tight.

"That's why I'm really sad about you turning into a legal woman, I want you to stay as my little princess longer" he exhaled heavily.

"Of course I will always be, daddy" I said and freed away from the hug.

We continued eating and I quickly got inside my room after.

Padapa akong humiga sa kama. I don't know if changing plans was the right thing to do. I definitely need to talk to Anne tomorrow.

***

"You really came up with that plan?" may kalakasan ang boses na tanong ni Anne matapos marinig ang mga sinabi ko.

"Is it his birthday? Why would you change plans because of him?" hindi makapaniwala ang mukha nito.

"I just.. you know I don't want anyone else other than him so why push with the party if he's not there? I would just probably spoil the fun. And going on an out of town trip seems a good idea so yeah." I shrugged at her before sipping on my iced coffee.

"You got some point there din naman" she said.

"And do you still want to attend the senior prom?" tanong nito matapos ang pananahimik.

"Alam mo namang gusto ko but how can I if I'm not even invited by someone from the seniors? Ikaw ba?" sagot ko dito.

"Well this certain River guy invited me pero kung hindi ka naman pupunta why would I?" umirap pa ito.

Kung makapagsalita ito ay parang kung sino lang si River at hindi namin kilala.

I roamed my eyes around the whole cafeteria. Hindi naman masiyadong maingay ngunit hindi din tahimik. Just typical cafeteria with few students talking about different things in wvery table.

"Anne, am I being too much?" I asked still eyeing the students around us.

"Too much? About what?" narinig kong tanong nito habang patuloy sa pagkain.

"You know taking everything for granted, like how I abruptly changed plans when everything didn't seem to go well with what I want not minding the other things that are already readied like my gown and so on." ngayon ay tiningnan ko na ito.

"No of course not, if those material things can't give you true happiness then why still go on right?" sabi nito.

It meant something else for me. What she said gave me other thoughts which I abruptly disregarded.

"I really don't know anymore" sabi ko bago nahagip ng mga mata ko ang isang pigura sa labas ng cafeteria na kita mula sa loob dahil sa glass walls nito.

It was none other than Slander Herrera. He was walking without even glancing at anything else but his phone. He was again wearing a black hoodie with his backpack on his right arm.

He was gaining all the attentions on the hallway he's walking. I was busy staring at him when he suddenly looked up and met my eyes through the glass walls of the cafeteria. It took me few seconds to realize that he caught me staring at him. I saw him raised his right eye brows and i immediately felt my cheeks turned hot before taking my gaze off of him.

Nakakahiya, napatigil pa talaga ito sa paglalakad. Ilang minuto pa bago ako pasimpleng tumingin ulit sa kinatatayuan nito ngunit wala na ito doon. Napabuntung-hininga na lamang ako.

"What Happened to you?" nabigla pa ako sa pagtatanong ni Anne kaya nagtataka itong tumitig sa akin.

"Wala" i said even moving my head sideways. Buti naman at hindi na ito nagtanong pa.

We stayed silent for a few minutes when I suddenly remembered something.

"Oh my God Anne!" I gasped incredibly loud. Agad kong tinakpan ang bibig nang mapalingon ang ibang nasa mapapit na table sa banda namin. Anne eyed me confusedly.

"There's someone who asked me pala! We can go to the prom together Anne" I bit my lip to surpress my wide smile. I can't believe I forgot it.

C.M.H