Miara's Mistakes: Part Two

(275) - September 23, 2020

Affected

Primo was pacing back and forth inside his bedroom when he heard a knock. Napatingin siya sa orasan at nakitang mag-a-alas diyes na.

He's been trying to sleep but couldn't. Hindi maalis sa isipan niya si Miara. Maayos na ang kalagayan nito at nagising na rin. Ngunit kahit ganoon ay gusto niyang siya ang nagbabantay kay Miara, naninigurado.

"Ahia? Are you awake?" It was his Mom. Pumasok ito sa loob at saka siya hinarap. "How's... Miara?"

Napasinghal si Primo at napaupo na lang sa paanan ng kama. Napahilamos siya ng mukha at gusto na lang sabunutan ang sariling buhok.

There's too much emotions and energy within him that it's making him crazy.

"I'm sorry, Ahia... I really am..." she sighed too before sitting beside him. Niyakap nito si Primo mula sa gilid at saka pinasandal ang lalaki sa balikat nito.

Kahit nagulat sa ginawa ng ina ay hinayaan na lang ito ni Primo. He's too tired to refuse his mother's attempts.

"I'm sorry for relying too much on you, Primo... I should be the one who's helping you and taking care of you... not the other way around—"

Primo shook his head and sat straight. He smiled at his Mom. He appreciates her concern but the whole affair of his parents are the least of his concerns now. Although it did tire him out, it's almost done. Ngunit si Miara naman ngayon...

"How can I help?"

He already has something in mind but he's not sure if she'll say yes to it.

"Anything, Ahia," pangumbinse pa nito. She also looks eager that he can't just decline her offer. "Let me make up to you."

Primo sighed and nodded. "Please do something about Cleo... I want to be heartless and take legal actions against her but damn... Miara doesn't want that!"

Napahilamos ulit si Primo sa sarilng mga palad. He and Miara already talked about this but she really doesn't want to get involved. Anito na ayaw niya talaga ng gulo at ayaw nang dalhin sa korte.

"She's too kind for her own good, huh?" Amusement was evident in his Mom's tone. Napatingin si Primo sa kaniya at nakitang nag-iisip ito. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."

Primo was taken aback by her response. They all know that Cleo is his Mom's favorite. Pati mga tiyahin niya ay alam ito.

His mother probably saw the surprised look on his face. Napangiti ito at napailing. "I'm sorry... Cleo told me that your breakup was a mutual decision, that she didn't really do anything... and I believed her, Ahia... I didn't even take the time to ask you and be there for you!"

"Mom..." tawag ni Primo sa ina ngunit tumayo na ito at tahimik na humagulgol. He sighed but stood up to hug her.

His mother is not the perfect one. May mga pagkakataon na siya mismo ay hindi na kaya ang mga ginagawa nito ngunit iniintindi niya pa rin. But now, he's also sure that she's trying to make it up. That the help she's offering is sincere.

"You don't have to solve my problems for me, Mom," he said assuringly. Mas humigpit naman ang yakap nito sa kaniya ngunit lalong humagulgol.

"I know, Ahia! I know... but I feel like the worse mother for not even realizing any of it! How your cousins seem to secretly despise her! How you became so... distant... and cold..."

Primo thought about her words for a while. He knows that after what happened with Cleo, he became cold and distant. Siya mismo ay alam na alam iyon. It's also the reason why he's scared that he'll do the same thing to Miara... act cold and distant because his family is on a rough situation.

Pero ngayon ay masasabi niya ring hindi na siya ganoon. If anything, he's becoming the opposite. And even better than the Primo he was before Cleo cheated.

"But you're no longer hurting now because of Cleo, right?"

Kinalas ng ina niya ang yakap para matitigan siya. She cupped his cheeks and pinched it slightly. He may be taller than her now but what she did made him feel like a little boy again.

Primo shook his head, making his mother smile despite the tears. "Good... I can see that too... she warmed you up, didn't she? You smile more often now, Ahia. Less strict with your siblings. More playful with your cousins."

Hearing those words from his mother feels like he swallowed something warm. It's comforting.

It's Miara, Mom. Her playfulness and warm energy is infectious. I got it all from her, Mom. And I like being like this too. He thought with a smile.

"Ah, you're smiling again!" She pointed out with a laugh. Nahihiyang nag-iwas ng tingin si Primo ngunit panay ang tukso ng ina niya.

"Don't worry, I'll be kind to her."

Primo smiled, feeling better after hearing that. Miara has a good relationship with his cousins and siblings already. Even with his aunties and uncles. It was only his mother that he's worried about because he also knows how difficult she can be.

"You don't have to go shopping with her... she doesn't have to be your favorite..." as long as she's nice to Miara, it's more than enough for him. "Just please... please don't give her a reason to leave."

Mabilis na tumango ang kaniyang ina at muli siyang niyakap. "I won't, Ahia... and I'm starting to like her now, knowing how much she affects you."

He wanted to deny it but there's no point. He, himself, knows how much he is affected by Miara. Anything about her affects him and makes him all energetic.

Instead of answering, he just smiled, making his Mom tease him even more.