Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin

Chapter 26: The True Story of "The Jerk"

"Merry Christmas, Anak!!"

My mom kissed me in the cheeks, as the clock alarmed which signaled the start of Christmas.

"Merry Christmas, Mommy!!"

We started to eat our Noche Buena, which our whole family cooked together. After eating, I decided to greet my friends so they would know that I remembered them for this day.

My text message was all set... Except me.

I roamed my contacts so I can send it to all in just one way. Group message, kumbaga. I saw Marlet's, but I managed to send one to her. What caught my attention... is her name.

"Baby Girl." I read it in a normal tone. No one heard that, I think, since the speakers around the house had been bursting because of the sound, adding the great bass of "Where Have You Been" of Rihanna, which was requested by my nieces and nephews in my cousins here in GenSan, where we planned a family reunion.

"Ge, ice cream oh." I looked up and saw my brother Ken giving me a cup of vanilla ice cream.

I took it. "Thanks." And sat on the sofa near me.

I held the ice cream on my right hand and my phone on the left. I looked at my phone. Sesendan ko ba sya? Like, what's the big deal if I did? If I don't?

"Ikaw ang pinangarap.

Ikaw ang hanap-hanap.

Ngunit bakit nagbago ang lahat?

Ang init ng pagmamahal parang naging salat?"

"KEN ILIPAT MO YUNG TUGTOG PASKONG PASKO!!"

Napatingin ako sa home theater namin at nagulat sa tugtog. Pang-asar lang?

"Pangako habambuhay...

Pangakong di magwawalay.

Ngunit ba't lumamig pagmamahal?

Parang di na ikaw sa Maykapal ang dinasal."

Napatingin ako sa cellphone ko at nakita ang pangalan nya. Ano nga pala ang nangyari kung bakit kami humantong sa ganito? Kung bakit AKO napasok sa ganito? Di ko sinasadyang saktan sya... Kasi may dahilan lahat ng yun.

"Anong nangari sa ating dalawa? 

Akala ko noon tayo ay iisa."

Matagal na panahon na rin yun halos... Its been 17 months siguro since that suyuan we used to have came to an end. But the feeling never stopped. Pinadama ko sa kanya kung gaano ko sya kamahal. I felt it either. But because of that secret, that mission.... Wala nang kami.

"Ako ba ang syang nagkulang, o ikaw ang di lumaban? 

Sa pagsubok sa ating pagmamahalan?"

Sa problemang yun, I know may kasalanan kaming dalawa. Kung nakinig lang sya sa akin, sa explanation ko, siguradong magiging maayos pa rin kami ngayon. Pero syempre, mas malaki ang kasalanan ko sa kanya. Pinaglaruan ko ang damdamin nya. Niloko ko sya. Nagpanggap ako. Alam kong pagsubok lang iyon, pero mas nauna syang sumuko.

"KEN ILIPAT M--"

"Mommy pabayaan mo muna mag-emote dun si Kuya."

"Anong nangyari sa ating dalawa?