Walking back Home (Martensen Series #2)

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

That was the first time that I saw Dashmon. His tall, athletic frame gives him a striking presence; his hair is cut in a relaxed, slightly messy style, shorter on the sides but longer on top, allowing soft, dark strands to fall over his forehead in just the right way. His features stand out even more. 

I think he is probably six feet tall.

Hindi lang iyon ang huling beses na pagkikita naming dalawa ni Dashmon. I have found out that he was also my schoolmate. Matagal na rin daw niya akong napapansin sa tuwing dumadaan ako sa bahay nila. We are actually neighbors. Siya ang unang naging kaibigan ko rito sa States.

My heart was happy a little bit. Knowing that there is one person with whom I can talk about some little things. Lalong-lalo na ngayon na hindi pa rin kami nagkakasundo ni Mommy. Sa bahay pa rin naman ako umuuwi, s’yempre. Pero, hindi pa rin kami nag-uusap ni Mommy. Hindi ko rin ma-contact si Leister sa Pilipinas dahil kinuha ni Mommy ang phone ko, even my laptop! She is that hard to me! Nakakagamit lamang ako ng aking laptop sa tuwing may projects na kailangan gawin para sa school, nandiyan naman siya at binabantayan ako.

I am so worried about these past few days. Gustong-gusto ko nang makausap si Leister at ipaalam sa kaniya ang mga nangyari. Panigurado akong nag-aalala na ‘yun sa akin. Ilang araw na kasi ang lumipas simula noong bawiin ni Mommy ang phone ko at ang laptop. Kaya, wala akong ibang kasama ngayon at kausap kung hindi si Dashmon… na naging kaibigan ko rin kalaunan.

I am really trying my best to find ways on how to contact Leister. Lahat nang mga plano ko ay sumasablay!

Napabuntong hininga ako at wala nang magawa nang lumipas na naman ang halos isang buwan! Kahit kailan hindi siya nawala sa isipan ko, kahit sa puso ko. Araw-araw, sinubukan kong maging matatag para sa aming dalawa.

Alam ko, hindi ako kayang tiniisin ni Leister. Mahal na mahal ako nun.

Lies. Lies. Lies.

Iyon ang inakala ko. Iyon ang inakala nang pusong nagmamahal. A young Celestine would think that that kind of love is genuine and eternal. While I was looking back on those shattered memories, my heart was in rage and furious! Nang dahil sa galit ko ay hiniling ko na sana hindi ko na siya makita pang muli!

Na sapat na sa akin ang mamuhay na wala siya! What he did to me is a reflection of the pain that he had caused! Pinaglaban ko siya sa sarili kong ina tapos malalaman kong…

I closed my eyes again as I tried my best to be calm. Wala si Dashmon ngayon dahil may inasikaso sa kanila. He went back home to China to settle the problems with his family. He is half Chinese-Filipino-American. Sa China siya lumaki pero rito siya nag-aral sa Amerika. Dashmon was there for me throughout these years. Siya ang naging sandalan ko sa lahat. He comforted me when he heard the news about Leister’s breaking up the connection with me. Siya lang ang nariyan sa tabi ko.

I admit, I don’t have feelings for Dashmon when he courted me. Pero, sino ba naman ako para tanggihan ang isang tulad niya? He is kind, genuine, and family oriented man. Kung tutuusin, nasa kaniya na ang lahat. I was in pain; I was in darkness when he embraced me wholeheartedly with my imperfections. Ganoon ako kamahal ni Dashmon.

He proposed to me one fine evening at an expensive restaurant, together with my mother. Aaminin ko rin, nagdalawang-isip rin ako noong ginawa iyon ni Dashmon. I was going to say no, because I am not yet ready for it. But when I looked at Mom, I knew already what the answer would be that she wanted to hear. 

I said yes…

I was supposed to say no… not just because I’m not ready for it, but because I have received a call from someone. Sinubukan ko nang kalimutan si Leister, ginawa ko na ang lahat para hindi ko na siya maisip. Nilublob ko ang sarili sa pag-aaral at sa iba pang mga bagay. Nagulat ako nang tinawagan ako ng isang babaeng hindi ko naman kilala. Out of curiosity, I answered her calls.