Daraga Series #1: The Fire's Sanctuary

Chapter 16

"What happened?" I looked up lazily from his lips up to his eyes. Napakurap ako hindi maintindihan kung ano ba ang sinasabi niya. He asked me too many questions pero hindi ko na nasundan pagkatapos ng nangyari.

Ano bang pinagsasabi nito? Nagsalita naman siya pero para akong nabingi instead of trying to concentrate ay napababa ulit ang tingin ko sa labi niya.

"Lorianna!" inis na tawag niya kaya naman napaangat ako ng tingin sa galit niyang mata. Napawang ang labi ko dahil kanina pa pala siya nagsasalita ako naka-focus lang sa goal.

"Ha?" I asked and inis siyang napailing.

"I was asking you if you have a problem?" naroon pa ang konting inis sa mukha niya pero malumanay na ang tono ngayon.

"Ahh.. nag-away kasi kami ni Mommy.." maikling tugon ko, I thought it was enough but when I looked at him once again he looked like he was waiting for me to talk more. I contemplated if I'll tell it to him since I feel like he would say the same thing na sinabi ni Mommy. He also knew that I was not a good student.. I wasn't responsible, I don't work hard and I have bad grades.. I can't still decide yet but what he will say will have a great impact to me kaya naman kahit hindi ako komportable ay pinili kong sabihin na lang.

"She did not like that I took medtech for college.. sabi niya hindi ko naman kakayanin." I said, I tried to laugh it off dahil alam ko naman na tama naman si Mama atsaka feeling ko pagtatawanan niya rin ako sa naging desisyon ko pero.. hindi.

"Yes, it's really hard, but do you want it?" tanong niya hindi ako nilulubayan ng tingin, nawala ang ngiti na pilit ko ipinaskil sa labi.. do I really want it?

"Because if it's really what you want then you'll work hard for it.." he said.

"mahihirapan ka, but if it is what you really want then it will be a good fight."

Honestly.. I don't know. They all said that it was hard, this course is really hard.. pero hindi ko alam kung ano ba talagang gusto ko.. o kung meron ba. I don't have that dream course that they say.. I don't even have a dream job.

But the thought that my Dad will like me again, proud of me again.. that thought makes me really happy, that if ever I make him proud he will love me again the way he did before.

I don't have anything in mind, I don't have a specific course that I like then I will try this one.. susubukan ko.. maybe it will be worth it.

I smiled at him, "Mahirap.. pero susubukan ko." I said sounding so determined.

He smiled back, "Then you can tell her that.. that it's really what you want, and besides you have a dean's lister boyfriend now." Nanliit ang mata ko sa kanya, I tried to hide my smile but I just couldn't.

"Tayo na ba?" nawala ang ngisi at lumanay sa mata niya bumalik ang iritasyon niya at bahagyang nagulat pa.

"We kissed—"

"Ikaw naman yung nanghalik—" saad ko pero hindi niya ako pinatapos.

"You were gonna do it anyway! Ang bagal mo kasi kaya ako na gumawa.." I playfully rolled my eyes at what he said.

"And you said that that's one of your rules in life to never kiss first, bakit ngayon nauna ka?" I asked teasing him and he just sneered at me.

"eh ang bagal mo.." he said in a "duh" tone.

"and besides you really didn't notice that you always make yourself as an exemption.. dapat pala hindi ko nalang sinabi sayo para hindi ako napapahiya." pabulong lang iyong huli pero tawang tawa ako sa narinig. Kagaya na lang ng pet peeve niya na pagco-compliment na napaka-unreasonable, lagi niya naman ginagawa sa akin.