Against All Odds | ✓

Chapter 24

Chapter 24.
 
 

"Tara na," aya ko kay Jaziel. Inaaya ko siyang sumakay sa may ferris wheel.
 
Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at ngumiti. He kissed my forehead before we went in line. Mabilis kaming nakasakay dahil kakaunti lang ang tao ngayon.
 
Nang makaupo ako ay kaagad siyang umupo sa tabi ko. I felt arms around my body, and he put his head above my head.
 
"I miss you so much," aniya habang umaandar na ang ferris wheel.
 
"I miss you too."
 
I feel his lips on my forehead. "Kung alam mo lang kung gaano ako katamad bumangon kasi hindi kita nakikita," pagkwento niya.
 
"Grabe ka naman. Paano kapag naghiwalay tayo niyan?" biro ko.
 
Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. "Who said that we are going to separate?"
 
I smiled. "Talagang dapat hindi dahil kaltok ka sa akin," sabi ko sa kaniya.
 
"Takot ko na lang na mawala ka sa 'kin," seryoso niyang saad.
 
Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. He interweaved our hands and kissed the knuckles of it. "Dalawang sem na lang. Hindi ka ba mags-stay doon?" tanong niya.
 
"Oo nga pala. I haven't told you yet about my plan. Naka-final na kasi na dito ako mag-aaral sa college. If you want, come with me. Mag-renta tayo ng apartment, tutulungan kita sa bayarin mo. Magtatrabaho ako para makatulong sa 'yo."
 
Mabilis siyang umiling-iling. "I don't want to, Chim. I want you to focus on your studies, not on my expenses. As of now, I don't want to leave my mother. Ako na lang ang meron siya." He heavily sighed. "LDR... Can we make it, right?"
 
"Maybe. P'wede naman kitang dalaw-dalawin doon, eh. Pahatid lang ako."
 
"Hmm... Matagal pa naman. Baka may iba pang paraan. Pero basta after graduation from college, gusto kong magkaroon ng negosyo."
 
"You can get tips from my mom. She got business expertise because she's graduated with that degree."
 
He nodded and smiled at me. "Pero alam mo ba minsan, natatakot akong tumanda. Parang kasi kapag nasa point na tayo ng adulting, ang daming adjustments. Maraming mawawala, though may darating naman. Pero nakakapagod iyong paulit-ulit mag-aadjust." Tumingin siya sa akin. "But I'm more afraid that in the future, you're not there."
 
I blinked my eyes. "What made you think that?"
 
He heavily sighed. "You're rich, Xachi. Samantalang ako kailangan ko pang magtrabaho para mabuhay. I'm just thinking na baka mapagod ka sa akin kakahintay na umangat ako sa buhay. I'm afraid that if that comes, you will leave me."
 
I cupped his face and kissed his lips. I looked into his eyes after I let go of his lips. "I'm not shallow, Jaziel. I can wait. I'm excited to see you reach your dreams. I'm excited to see you improve yourself. I'm always here, Jaziel. I will always support you, no matter what. Handa akong suportahan ka kahit saan. I love you so much."
 
He nodded slightly. "I love you more, Xachi. I don't want to lose you."
 
I hugged him. He cupped my face and kissed my lips.

It's like a fairytale dahil nasa tuktok kami at narinig ko ang mga fireworks sa paligid. Para akong lumulutang sa kaulapan habang nasa tabi si Jaziel. It was my dream... The kiss in ferris wheel.
 
After namin sa ferris wheel, ay dumiretso naman kami sa may pop the balloon. Kailangan mo lang putukin ang lobo gamit ang fake guns na nando'n. May prizes kung sino ang mas maraming ma-pop.
 
"Beat me, my dear," pang-aasar sa akin ni Jaziel.
 
Napanguso ako dahil ang galing niya! Ako nakakatatlo pa lang. Siya itong nakasampu na! Lahat nga ay natamaan niya.
 
"Paano ba 'yan? Ako ang panalo. What's the prize?" nakangisi niyang tanong sa akin.
 
"Hmm... What do you want?" tanong ko.
 
He whispered, "Kiss mo na lang ako. Iyong matagal."
 
Inirapan ko siya bago tawanan. Kinuha na niya ang teddy bear na nakuha niya, pero binigay niya lang din naman sa akin. After that, tumambay kami malapit sa may bench sa may gilid habang pinagmamasdan ang mga taong pumapasyal din dito.
 
Hinawakan niya ako sa palapulsuhan at dinala sa may likod ng puno. "Where's my prize?" he asked.
 
"Adik ka sa kiss," pang-aasar niya sa akin.
 
"Kiss mo lang naman. Baby, please give me a kiss."
 
I cupped his face and kissed him passionately. He responded immediately and guided my head to kiss me more. Tumagal iyon nang ilang segundo bago kami kumalas sa isa't isa.
 
"Ano? Sapat na ba?" I asked him teasingly. Pulang-pula siya at halos hindi makatingin sa akin.
 
Lumayo siya nang kaunti at tinatakpan ang kaniyang mukha. Natatawa ako dahil mukha siyang batang nahihiya sa akin.
 
"Xachi, binabaliw mo na talaga ako," aniya, pero hindi pa rin tumitingin sa akin.
 
"Pinagbibigyan lang naman kita. Ikaw pa 'tong galit," natatawa kong sabi.
 
"I'm not mad... I'm just shy. Layo ka muna. Papakalmahin ko lang sarili ko," aniya.
 
Marahan naman akong natawa at bumalik sa bench. Narinig ko ang paghinga niya nang malalim nang makalayo ako. Tawang-tawa pa rin ako.
 
Hinawakan ko ang aking mga labi, at pakiramdam ko ay nakadikit pa rin ang kaniyang mga labi sa akin. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapangiti. This is the best feeling ever. I don't want to stop this feeling.
 
Happy, contented, and free.
 
Pakiramdam ko ay binigyan ako ng kalayaan para mas maging masaya sa buhay. My parents gave me everything, but it's still different if it's from a guy you wouldn't expect to come into your life.
 
Jaziel proved to me that I can be happy with small things. He taught me to be grateful, no matter what it is.
 
I feel him sitting beside me. "What now? Are you okay already?" I asked him.
 
He nodded abruptly. "Okay na. Let's go home already. Gabi na rin," nakangiti niyang saad.
 
When we got home, sumabay kami kina mama para sa hapunan. Nakatulog ako kaagad nang makaayat ako because I'm happy. I feel ecstatic right now. It's like I'm lying in the clouds.
 
Kinaumagahan ay parang nagkakagulo sa baba, kaya napabangon ako. Kusot-kusot ko pa ang mga mata ko when I went downstairs.
 
I saw Daddy crying on the floor. Napatingin ako sa television at halos manlumo rin ako sa naging balita.
 
Chiro Alonzo was found dead in his cell. According to Sgt. Trajano, the former founder experienced a heart attack due to aging.
 
"K-kahit marami siyang ginawang kasalanan sa amin, Naya. I couldn't accept this easily," pag-iyak ni papa sa bisig ni mama.
 
"I know, Cheus. I know." Mama's also crying.
 
"Please call mom. I need to know her situation right now."

I looked at Jaziel who witnessed our grief. Kaagad siyang lumapit sa akin. Napayakap na lang ako sa kaniya at umiyak sa kaniyang dibdib.

I met my grandfather twice and after that, we never met again. Pero ang hindi ko makakalimutan ay ang sinabi niya noon sa akin. I was 8 that time at ngayon lang nag-sink in sa akin lahat.

"She's Chim?" tanong niya nang makita ako. I looked at my parents, confused. Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa matanda.

"You're my grandfather po?"

"Hmm... I told you don't come back here. I learned my lesson already and it's still a torture for me to see you, Chim..." He caressed my hair. "Be good, Chim okay? You will be a great person someday. I see in the future that you will meet a one man."

"Po?"

He shook his head. Inilapit niya ang kaniyang bibig sa aking tainga. "Once I die, tell your grandma that I love her so much. Tell her that I'm thankful that she gave me wonderful children. Tho, one of them died because of me. Tell her that no matter what happens, I will guide her. I love, love her so much."
 
After that day, our house felt dull for a week. Lalong-lalo na si mamita na halos hindi na namin makausap nang maayos. She loves papalo so much, kahit na marami raw itong nagawa sa kaniya. She never loved someone.
 
We understand what she feels, dahil si papalo lang naman ang minahal niya buong buhay niya. After two weeks, ay pinadala rin siya sa Australia para makapag-heal. Naroon siya kay tita Icha. Hindi nakauwi si tita Icha dahil hindi siya pinayagan.
 
Jaziel's right, it's scary to get old... You will experience lose of people around you unexpectedly.
 
 
 
 
 

 
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