Broken Vessels

Kabanata 37

Kabanata 37

Reveal

"Anong nangyari sa'yo?" iyon agad ang bumungad sa akin ni Gab matapos kong tawagan si Tan.

"Ha?" Natatawa ako sa kaniya.

"Papunta na ako diyan, ha? Sinong umaway sa'yo?"

I'm very grateful I have Gab and Tan in my life. In the moments when I feel so alone and so small, I forget that I'm not really alone because, without fail, they show up. They rescued me. They remind me I'm still worth showing up for. But why do I always feel like this? Like the pain is pulling my soul deeper than it should? I don't want to be a burden to them. And as for Amare... he didn't talk to me after that. Maybe it's beneficial that he's keeping his distance. I don't want to hurt him more than I already have. I didn't want to let him go but I also know I can't force him to speak to me. The more I try to hold on, the more he might feel trapped. He always came to my rescue before, but this time, I want to set him free. I don't want to cause him both a burden and a heartbreak.

"Okay na ako, Gab. Huwag ka nang umuwi. Alam kong busy ka sa school mo," pilit kong sabi, tinatangkang pigilan siya.

"Nasa airport na ako. Pupunta na ako diyan."

"Ano? Ang bilis mo naman! Ilang oras lang ang nakalipas mula nang binaba ni Tan ang tawag, ah!" gulat kong sabi.

"You know I can't let you feel alone, Bee."

I fell silent. Guilt crept in slowly. There it is again—that feeling. That I'm a burden.

"Hintayin mo ako. Nasaan ka ba? Nasa school ka pa?"

"Yeah," I whispered, holding back my tears.

I've never felt this way before. I never really asked for help unless it was from my mother. But this? This is something new. It feels unfamiliar, yet strangely what I've always longed for.

Bandang hapon na nang dumating si Gab. He stood outside my university, waving happily while holding a paper bag—probably filled with my favorite snacks and ice cream. His way of saying, "I'm here, Bee. I see you."

Before I could stop them, the tears began forming again. I smiled sweetly, pausing in my steps, taking the moment in. Gab's presence felt like a soft breeze in the middle of a storm. He noticed the tears I tried to hide and slowly stepped closer. His smile softened.

"Don't cry, Bee. Baka sabihin ng mga tao mag-jowa tayo tapos pinapaiyak kita," he joked, voice light.

I chuckled, though my voice cracked. A single tear dropped.

I reached for the paper bag.

"Wow ha! Mas excited ka pa sa dala ko kaysa sa akin," he teased, pretending to be offended.

I let him say that, laughing softly.

He chuckled too, but his eyes turned gentle as he reached for my hand.

"Okay ka lang ba?"

I looked into his eyes. For a moment, I saw how not-okay I was. But I nodded—just a little. Not to convince him, but because somehow, even just a bit, it was true.

"Uuwi ka na ba? Gusto mo, labas muna tayo? Kakain tayo doon sa paborito mong restaurant. Don't worry, I won't ask anything you're not ready to say. I just want to make you okay."

He smiled and gently pulled me toward his car.

That's one thing about Gab—he never pushes, never demands. He stays, waits patiently at the corner, and quietly makes space for your pain. That's enough for me.