"Seb ko, ayos ka lang? May aattend ba ng iyo? Gusto mo si Mommy Alvina na lang? Si Kuya Callum na lang papaattendin mo sa kin." nag aalala na tanong sa akin ni Alexa.
I smiled at my cousin but I hoped it reached my eyes. "Hindi na! Sure naman akong a-attend si Mommy at si Daddy!" I even chuckled after I said that.
Whom am I lying to? Niloloko ko lang ang sarili ko. My Dad already said he won't attend the meeting. When he said it, he meant it. My Mom will definitely not be there, as if she will accompany me. I only have myself this time. I don't need help from everyone. I don't need their sympathetic look. I don't need them. I can handle myself.
"Are you sure? This meeting is important, seb." tanong niya ulit at tumango ako.
I saw Nathan throwing glances at me.
"What?" I said as I rolled my eyes on Nathan.
"Nothing, you looked like an idiot, Ayat." sabi nya sa akin.
Ayat again?! Ano ba ang ibig sabihin non?!
"I know I look like an idiot. You didn't have to say it multiple times." iritadong sabi ko sa kanya.
Nathan just sighed deeply but I can still see his silly smiles while looking at me. "Moya lyubov is pissed off." natatawa na sabi ni Nathan napairap naman ako sa sinabi nya.
Sinasabi niya?
But why do I feel like this? Even though I was so pissed at him, why do I like always seeing him? Why do I always feel butterflies in my stomach every time I see him? My gosh! Nathan Limuelle Alvarez!
"Ysabelle, do you need my company?" tanong ko kay Ysabelle na kanina pa tahimik para naman mawala ang inis ko kay Limuelle.
She just shook her head while looking at the ground. Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo, something isn't right. I signaled Cassandra and the others to go into their respective classrooms to announce everything. To my shock, Nathan stayed with us! Pumunta kami sa ilalim ng puno ay umupo sa isang bench doon.
"Tell me what happened, love." tanong ko sa kanya habang umupo sa harap niya at hinawakan ang kamay. Her hands were cold like ice at hindi ang papunta sa faculty ang dahilan non.
"Is there anything bothering you?" Alexa said.
"Tell us what happened, Ysabelle. We will listen." sabi naman ni Gabrienne habang nakatayo.
Ysabelle didn't say anything but she did cry, a cue that she's experiencing something these past few days. Her heart was heavy and I understood it. Like dark clouds, we should cry when everything feels too heavy. Truth to be held, even if it hurts, we should face the fact that there are things we can't do alone. Yes, our parents told us that we should always be strong, but it's also okay to ask for help.
"Gusto mo bang mag open up sa amin? We won't judge you." nag aalala na tanong ko sa kanya. She shook her head as her tears kept falling from her eyes. I stood up from my position and hugged Ysabelle. I don't care if my blouse will get wet, what matters most is my friend's feelings. I can't stand her crying, it makes me feel weak.
"VP! Pwede magpabili ng tubig?" sabi ni Alexa kay Nathan habang marahang hinahagod ang likod ni Ysabelle.
Tumango si Nathan at inabot ni Alexa ang pera. Pagkakuha ng pera ay mabilis na tumakbo si Nathan papuntang canteen.
"Shhh. Love, if you don't want to open up, it's okay. We won't force you, okay?" mahinahong sabi ko sa kanya.
"I... I can't... do this anymore..." halos pabulong na sagot nya sa akin.
I hugged her tighter, this time Ysabelle hugged me back.
"Sina... Mama at Papa... they are planning to... divorce." humahagulgol na sabi nya sa akin.
BINABASA MO ANG
Under the Shades of Sky
Teen FictionFor every eldest child of the family, for those who struggled to ask for help, you don't have to carry the weight of the world alone; you're human too, it's okay to seek support. She was once raised in a loving home - supportive parents, loving sist...
