Lost on the Road (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 1

Kabanata 1

In a world of billions of people, a huge percentage of them do everything just to fit in. Whether with friends, in relationships, or in society. Makikisabay sa kung ano ang katanggap tanggap sa mundo, even if it feels wrong deep inside, even if it means sacrificing their true selves.

The need for acceptance sometimes outweighs the need for authenticity, and they end up living in the shadows of their own desires, constantly trying to match the image others expect from them.

I turned sideways in front of the mirror, staring at my two dimples on the lower back, where a butterfly's wings etched on my skin. It was subtle enough that you wouldn't notice it if I was just standing, but once I sat or bent over, the details became more apparent. Ang sabi ng tattoo artist, ang attractive raw nito dahil malalim ang venus holes ko. Mayroon din akong tattoo sa likod ng leeg, mas halata iyon, at malinaw pa sa akin kung paano ako pinagalitan nina Mama at Papa nang makita nila iyon.

My family is very conservative. Hindi naman nakakasakal ang pagiging strict nila, sakto lang para magawa ko pa rin ang mga gusto kong gawin sa buhay at makakarinig ng sermon nila kapag nakagawa ng kapalpakan.

Inabot ko ang aking bag kung saan nakaipit doon ang nag-iisang picture naming pamilya. I miss them so much, but there's nothing I can do about it. All I can do is let myself miss them, even though it hurts. Mas pinili ko ito, e. Mas pinili ko ang buhay ko ngayon.

"Let's go, Laure!" sigaw ni Harris mula sa labas ng kwarto.

Nagmadali ako sa pagsukbit ng bag sa balikat ko. We only had one big suitcase, just enough for a three-day trip. May isang bag pa siyang dala. Kinukuha ko iyon sa kaniya para ako na ang magbitbit pero hindi siya pumayag dahil mabigat daw iyon masiyado.

"Are you excited?" he asked.

I nodded, smiling. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko paakyat sa eroplano. Matagal na naming pinaplanong pumunta sa Batanes at ngayon lang talaga natuloy. Iniisip ko na agad ang mga gagawin namin doon. Masiyado akong invested sa kapapanood ng mga travel vlog sa Batanes kaya may mga ideya na ako sa lugar.

It's been a year since I left home and decided to live with Harris. Masama ang loob sa akin nina Mama at Papa noong umalis ako. I get it. It wasn't easy for them to accept my decision, especially when I chose a life they didn't approve of. But in the end, it was my choice.

Now that we're living under the same roof, I'm getting to know him in ways I never did before. We've seen each other's flaws, the things that used to be easy to overlook when we were just dating or spending time together in short bursts. They were right when they said that you truly get to know a person when you live with them.

We fought last night, but he apologized to me right away. Hindi ako nakuntento sa panunuyo niya kaya tipid lang ang sagot ko sa mga sinasabi niya.

I leaned back in my seat on the plane, staring out the window. I had been looking forward to this trip for months. The untouched beauty of Batanes, the simple life. A place far removed from the noise of the city. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, his fingers absentmindedly scrolling through his phone. He seemed preoccupied, his brow furrowed as he typed something on his phone, his fingers moving quickly over the screen.

I didn't want to overthink it. I had been doing that too much lately, reading into small things, second-guessing every word he said.

The flight attendants went down the aisle, and I snapped myself out of my thoughts, focusing on the flight. I had always wanted to visit Batanes, at narito na nga ako, on my way to one of the most beautiful places I had ever dreamed of. But no matter how much I tried to focus on that, I couldn't ignore the distance between us.