Reaching the Sky | ✓

7

It took us several minutes before I finally calmed down. He gently guided me inside their elevator leading us to the foyer.

I saw an elegant woman standing in the middle, based on her looks, she must be the same age with my mom. She was talking to a man, he has green eyes too. Maybe this is Wesley's dad.

Their gazes shifted and I was frozen on my ground when I caught their attention.

"Son, kanina ka pa ba?" Tanong sa kaniya ng kaniyang ama. Halatang banyaga pero nakakabilib na tuwid ang kaniyang Tagalog.

"Yes po, about an hour ago." Mr and Mrs Kennedy nodded before asking us to eat dinner. I was planning to decline but that would be rude so I awkwardly nodded.

"Sorry, I should've checked if their home." Wesley whispered. It wasn't his fault and he shouldn't be the one to adjust, this is their home.

"It's okay. . . I was just. . ." thinking kung ano kaya ang iniisip nila tungkol sa akin ngayon?

"Stop thinking negative. My parents are not judging you, we can lie if you want to. I can cover you up." How can he read me like that?

Umiling na lang ako, hindi naman kailangan magsinungaling. Mabuti nang magsabi kami ng totoo dahil ayaw ko rin naman siyang madamay sa gulo ng pamilya ko.

I thought the dinner would be a death sentence for me but it was the other way around. Masyadong mababait ang mga Kennedy. Nagulat pa nga si Lecturer Kennedy nang makita ako.

"Kumusta nga pala iyong band niyo, Wes? I heard you need to form a new one for the Nationals, right?" Tanong ng papa niya, nagpatuloy ako sa pagkain at nagkunwaring walang naririnig.

"We're good but for the latter, still no sign of changes Dad. We're having a hard time trying to form a new one."

"How about you Maurice hija, hindi ka ba kumakanta?" Muntik na akong mabilaukan dahil sa tanong niya. Pilit akong ngumiti bago umiling.

"But I heard you singing when I was on my internship sa dati mong school, right?" Lecturer Kennedy asked. I bit my lower lip before nodding.

"Kuya, she's not singing anymore and let's not bother her. She has her reasons." Wes just made the atmosphere more awkward.

Jokes on you Maurice, here comes the most exciting part. I sighed.

"I. . ." don't want this kind of conversation, please. . .

"I lost my passion to sing." I simply stated. They all nodded at me.

"You're too young to lose passion hija. But like how my son said, you had your reasons. Pero sana soon, makabawi ka." I hope too, Mr Kennedy.

"Sana nga po," bulong ko. I felt Wesley's hand on mine gently caressing the back of my palm with his thumb. I smiled, he's making me feel light despite my past being triggered.

"Inhale. . ." Saad niya pero hindi ko sinunod, may bikig sa lalamunan ko at nag-uunahan na naman sa alaala ko ang pangyayari nang gabing iyon.

"Maurice, huminga ka, please. . ." His other palm went to my back stroking it back and forth.

"Inhale," this time I followed him. I did everything he said until I finally calmed down and right then, I realized, I was in an unfamiliar embrace but her warmth reminds me of my mom.

Mrs. Kennedy was trying to calm the storms inside me and she succeeded.

"Calm down now anak, you're at the Kennedy residence, you're safe here. . . You're inside Mama Mandy's arms."