BOUND TO YOU

19

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to the actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Credits to the owners of the photos I used. Characters mentioned in this story do not have anything to do with their personalities in real life. There might be grammatical and typo error, I don't proof read. (sometimes, lol)

TW: Mentions loss, death, adoption

Comments and votes are appreciated. Happy reading! :)

--Written by Vanilla--

**START**

Justin's

(PS: Long narrations ahead)

"Dito nalang ako. Thanks, Rafael." Jastine said coldly.

"Sure, ka ba? I can accompany you, Jas." Rafael panicked. Actually, he doesn't feel anything for Jastine anymore, pero bilang may pinagsamahan sila, he just wanted to comfort him. Lalo na ngayon na obviously, he's not okay.

But Jastine doesn't seem to hear anything, he walked straight without looking back at him; it was foggy in the area idagdag pang there were a lot of people passing by, kaya ilang saglit pa ang lumipas, halos hindi na niya makita si Jastine. He shrugged it off and drove back to Manila.

Niyakap ni Jastine ang sarili niya, the cold breeze of the wind is starting to creep all over his body, and he was only wearing a polo shirt. He continued walking, unsure where he was going. He simply carries a little sling bag with his wallet, keys, and cellphone in it. He was feeling emotional at the moment that his tears were falling uncontrollably, kaya naman patuloy din ang pagpupunas niya sa mga mata niya, hoping that no one would notice.

He considered staying the night at a hotel he noticed close by, but he froze when the receptionist asked him to provide some basic personal details on a form. His entire name was requested in the first line; that's when his hands became trembling. Hindi siya makapagsulat, then another surge of tears ran down his cheeks. 'Ano nga bang pangalan ko? ''Sino nga ba ako? ''May karapatan pa ba akong gamitin ang pangalan ko? ' Biglang tanong niya sa sarili.

He wrote down "Tine," the nickname that Kenneth used to call him.

But instead of continuing, he erased what he had written, he crumpled the paper and returned the ballpoint pen to the receptionist. "No na pala miss, sorry." he said and turned his back. He went out of the hotel, naglakad-lakad pa siya kahit walang patutunguhan, until he remembered that he had a place to stay. Kaya pinara na niya ang unang taxi na dumaan at nagpahatid sa address na alam niya.

It was Jastine's third day of staying at the rest house he secretly bought a year ago. He bought it for his parents; balak niya sanang iregalo sa silver wedding anniversary ng mga ito this year. Tagaytay will always be his favorite place; hindi niya alam kung bakit pero laging siyang at home sa lugar na iyon. Three days na din siyang puro deliver lang ang pagkain and he's starting to get consumed by loneliness. Namimiss na niya ang luto sa bahay nila. Maraming beses na gusto na niyang tawagan si Kenneth, ang parents niya, ang kuya Paoie niya, si Syl...but he is stopping himself though. Hindi niya pa kaya.

He was now at the veranda, sipping his hot milk.

The memories of his kuya Paoie from when they were young came flooding back; his brother was his guardian. Paolo was there to encourage and support him in anything he wanted to achieve, as well as to correct him when necessary. He has been a huge part of his life, thus it affects him deeply nang malaman na hindi niya pala ito kadugo.

Then an image of Josiah flashed in his sight. Nasasaktan siya para kay kuya Josiah niya. Josiah has been seeking answers all his life tungkol sa pagkatao niya without knowing that the family he was longing for was within his reach. Nasasaktan at nahihiya siya para kay Josiah dahil he had struggled growing up in an orphanage, pero siya, ito, lumaking nasusunod ang lahat ng gusto. Pakiramdam niya, inagawan niya ng buhay at pagkatao si Josiah.