Under The Cherry Blossom Tree

Chapter 14 - Fluttering heart

Chander POV

Growing up with a soft heart as a man has gotten me into trouble...

"Bakla!! Ahh bakla!" I was my classmates' laughingstock just because of how feminine I am...

"Bakla, salot ka sa lipunan!" I was their punching bag...

I always felt like prey...

I always hid...

However, they always knew where I was hiding...

I was bullied...

If I cried, they'd call me gay even more...

If I winced in pain, they'd think I'm weak...

I was prey...

"Itigil nyo yan!! Isusumbong ko kayo sa tatay kong pulis!!"

Then the hunters of those hunters saved me...

She made my bullies run away....

"Ayos ka lang? Halika, itatayo kita!" Then I saw her, she stood in front of me, and as I looked up at her, the dazzling light of the sun met my eyes.

She reached out to me ever so kindly, with a bright smile on her face and a sweet personality.

Her ever so kind mother treated the wounds I got from my bullies.

"Okay ka lang?" I shook my head.

"Hayaan mo, hindi ka na nila guguluhin, tinakot ko na sila.... Ako nga pala si Cyra, anong pangalan mo?"

"Chander...."

And my life became peaceful...

I was always eating alone in our classroom...

I was always walking home alone...

I was always alone...

But when she reached for my hand and held it so gently and softly....

I never felt alone anymore...

She became the closest to me...

I cried for the first time when I heard we had to live in Japan.

I cried onto her shoulder as I hugged her tight; she comforted me with such brightness and softness...

"Babalik ako... Pangako... At pagbalik ko, papakasalan kita para hindi na tayo magkalayo... Pinky promise"

"Pinky promise.... Wag kana umiyak, hindi bagay sa'yo"

It was a silly promise that we made, and she probably forgot about it now...

She told me to be strong...

But why did she look at me like that after seeing me being the hunter that I wanted...

"Practice dismissed. See you guys in ten days and enjoy your Christmas!!" A month had passed, yet I still can't forget the look she gave me.

Disgust?

Surprised?

She watched me with a face I couldn't read...

"Chander..." It's him...