Lead Me Not To You

Lead 8

Dalawang taon na ang nakalipas simula nung sumama ako kay Mama dito sa Canada.

"Hey, you sure you didn't need me to come with you?" Sabi ni Mama.

But now, I had to leave.

"It's okay, Ma. Malapit lang naman ang airport dito. May pasok pa kayo mamaya,"

Mukhang nalungkot naman sya pero ngumiti lang sya sakin.

"Isa pa, kasama ko naman po si Dustin," I smiled back at her.

"Alright, then.. Mag-iingat kayo ha?" Yayakapin nya sana ako pero medyo lumayo ako sa kanya.

My conscience hits me. All these years, she's been nice to me. But I still cannot force myself to act like I liked her until now. I know, I am selfish. But what can I do?

She paid for my studies here.

I owe her a lot.

It's just that.. I'm not ready to be her daughter yet.

"Kim? Let's go?"

Dustin has broken the silence.

I looked at him. Wow, he looks very.. handsome.

"Hmm? Baka naman magmukha akong alalay kapag tumabi ako sayo?" Taas-kilay kong sabi sa kanya.

"Ugh, shut up, Kimmy.." He said in a straight face.

Natawa na lang ako. He was pure Canadian with a blue eyes but--I mean, I taught him some of filipino words that's why he can understand.

"Uhm, sige po, una na kami.." Sabi ko na lang kay Mama tapos ay tumalikod na sa kanya.

But oh, I forgot to say another thing.

"Uhm, Ma?"

Nakayuko lang sya nun nung tinawag ko sya at biglang napatingin sakin.

"Hmm?" She asked.

"Thank you, for everything.. And thank you for allowing me to go back," I smiled.

I can see in her eyes that she was almost teary-eyed but she still managed to smile and nod at me as a response.

With that, I took my step outside the house.

Finally, I am going back home.

***

After 16 hours of long flight, nakarating na din kami sa NAIA.

"You okay?" Tanong ni Dustin nung mapansin atang pagod na ako.

"I can do this all day," I smirked. He just laughed.

Nag-book na lang kami ni Dustin ng car via app pauwi kila Lola. Maya-maya, dumating na din yung ni-book namin. Binuhat ni Dustin lahat ng bagahe namin at sumakay na kami sa loob.

Natatawa nga ako kasi ang gwapo ng kasama ko pero tagabuhat ko lang talaga sya eh. Joke!

Right, hindi ko pa nga pala napapakilala si Dustin.

Well, he stays with us in Canada. To make the story short, he was like an adopted son of my Mother and my Stepdad. But not legally, though. Hindi rin kasi sila magkaanak. Dustin was already 10 that time. We were on the same age, by the way. Sweet 18.

We were like a family for 2 years and he always treated me like her own sister. Minsan nga napaka-overprotective pa nya. But he's very nice and kind. Hindi ka magagalit sa kanya eh. Napakaamo pati ng mukha nya, parang walang gagawing masama.