First Rain Of Summer | COMPLETED

Twenty Six

THERESE'S POV

We arrived at the mall earlier than he scheduled and we're glad that there are no people waiting in line. The staff entertained us as we're the only people inside.

Xavier leaned closer and whispered, "This is making me nervous."

I chortled, "Don't be. Hindi naman 'to class recitation. Besides, you just have to pass your documents and they'll take your picture."

"Ganoon ba?"

"Yup, and good thing our school uniform looks formal kaya you're good." I smiled at him to assure him that there's nothing to be worried about.

Maybe I'm just sleep deprived but I swear, his eyes glistened.

"You know what, boys will go crazy for your smile."

"I know," I gently flipped my hair. "I'm pretty kaya."

He sighed, defeated and I have no idea why.

He's about to say something when the staff called his name. He stood up and deeply sighed. I waited for almost ten minutes for him at the waiting lounge and he's finally done.

"How was it?" I asked, then stood up. I'm ready to leave.

"Ayos lang, wala naman gaanong problem. I was able to provide all documents."

"Here," inabot ko ang kaniyang bag because he left it here with me, kinuha niya ito sa kamay ko. "I told you."

"Saan na tayo nito?" he asked as we walked towards the entrance of this space.

"Do you mind if I'll just shop for some dresses?"

Umiling ito, "Tara, I'll buy some clothes din, eh."

As we walked, we saw a family of three. They're happy even though I could tell, based on their clothes, that they're less fortunate. I'm not someone who casually judges people by their looks or how they dress. I usually don't give a crap, frankly, but this family caught my attention.

They are happy as their kid is holding a cup of ice cream while the parents are happily chatting. I could sense the kid, who I guess is only seven or eight years old, that he's content with what he had as of the moment. The way his eyes glistened because of happiness and the way he grasped his mother's hand.

He felt secure and happy. That's what I craved when I was a kid. I wanted to be secure and felt happiness by having only my parents.

"Have you ever thought of having a family?" a sudden question from Xavier.

I shook my head and sniggered. "Most of people would expect that when a child came from a broken family, she would definitely build a family, to perhaps, heal herself; or maybe, she'll do everything to protect the family she built. Sa ganoon paraan, hinding hindi mararanasan ng magiging anak niya ang naranasan niya."

I looked at him and he fixated on me.

"I think that's bullshit," I scoffed. "It's bullshit as you'll build a family for a reason that eventually might happen to you. It's selfish. I'd rather suffer alone than to bear a child and we'll suffer from the cruelty of this world. Ikaw?"

He smiled, "It's scary. I may want to be a good father and a husband but it scares me that I might end up just like my father. We were once happy, you know. Si Papa mabait at halos hindi masaktan si Mama but that changed when he lost his job."

Remember I said that I'm not interested in his life story? Well, I found myself attentively listening to him, as if it would lessen his burden.

"I swore that I don't want to get married and have a family. I'll just have myself, too. Fatherhood must be good but it scares me. I don't want to accidentally raise my voice at my kid and they'll despise me."