THE LAST MISSION

CHAPTER 29

One of the hardest things to do is to move forward without all the answers you're looking for. Sometimes, we need to move on, not exactly knowing why, and be okay with that. Maybe the answers will come one day in the future, once you are ready to see them. I always choose to be okay even though I am not because no one will ever notice my pain.

It was hard to choose what to decide. To stay or to face my life. Tina was just a girl who didn't know anything, and Tanya was the girl who knew everything. Her life was scary and dangerous, but her life was also beautiful.

Gauis...

I smiled bitterly. Yeah, it was indeed beautiful.

I closed my eyes and looked at the starry night. I miss him... So much. I have forgotten him for two years. How can I forget the man who made my life so beautiful and peaceful? Is he okay? Is he fine without me? May nagpapasaya na ba sa kanya? I sighed heavily and smiled sadly.

What a fucked up life...

"Walang problema samin kung ano man ang magiging desisyon mo anak." Nanay smiled at me and kissed my head.

"I don't want to leave you."

Kaming dalawa lang ang nasa store dahil may pasok si Justin at Joly. May sariling bahay narin si Josh dahil may pamilya na ito. Ngumiti sya habang binibilang ang pera sa counter.

"Ano kaba, nandito lang ako kung bisitahin mo man ako dito."

I look down. Hesitating.

"Maayos na ang buhay namin dito. Huwag ka mag-alala. Welcome ka parin sa bahay natin."

I hugged her and kissed her head. Iove this woman so much. Naging mabuting Nanay sya sakin kahit hindi nya ako kadugo. I will do everything for this woman. My Nanay, my mother.

"Mahal na mahal kita, 'nak."

I cried and nodded. "I love you more." She chuckled, but she was also tearing up. She hugged me back.

The next day, I was cleaning the front yard and was surprised when I saw Zene outside. He is holding a bouquet. Our eyes met and he immediately fixed himself. He looks so clean habang ako ay parang hindi nakaligo ng limang buwan.

"Zene, what brought you here?"

He looked at me intently and gulped. My hair is kinda messy and I'm also sweaty dahil ilang oras akong babad sa init at medyo namumula ang balat ko. I smiled, embarrassed.

"I just wanna know if you're okay now."

I smiled. It's been three weeks  since I collapsed. Pinagbawalan muna sila ni Josh na bisitahin ako.

"Okay na ako. Thank you for asking."

Napakamut sya sa batok nya at ngumiti ng hilaw. Zene is a very fine man with a clean look, and he looks so formal; he is also a doctor in this province. No wonder a lot of people know him. Very different to–

I bit my lower lip and cleared my throat.

"Pasok ka." Binuksan ko ang gate at pinapasok sya sa bahay. Nasa kusina si Nanay nagluluto ng haponan.

"Uhm, para sayo pala." Nilahad nya sakin ang bulaklak. I accepted it and smiled. It's a pink rose. Ang ganda nya.

"Thank you."

Nagtagal si Zene sa bahay dahil rin kay Nanay. Sumabay narin sya naghaponan samin. Panay tukso ni Jolly sa kanya dahil parang manliligaw daw sya. Napailing nalang ako at hinayaan sila. Gabi na nakauwi si Zene mabuti nalang ay may sasakyan syang dala.