Mirae

Kapitulo 13

Kapitulo 13

Young Adulthood

When adult Cyra gets to know a person more, she begins to have more things to comment on. It was natural for others, not just her because when you get to know someone more, their unlikable traits or principles show. After all, familiarity often does breed contempt.

"Diel, stop doing that," she utters to the man beside her.

It was the graduation day of Adiel. Nauna ang graduation ni Cyra, kaya nasa Pilipinas na siya nang magtapos ang nobyo niya. Their families were together in a restaurant in Makati right now along with some relatives of the Torres family.

Adiel had his fist tapping on the table while waiting for the food. He was hungry.

"It's a bit distracting. Please, stop doing that," dagdag ni Cyra.

"Okay," salita ng lalaki bago ibaba ang kamay sa hita nito.

Cyra continued conversing with Adiel's cousin who was on the opposite side of the table. But Adiel continued his tapping on his lap. His girlfriend had to put her hand on his just for him to stop. Nilaro na lang ni Adiel ang kamay ng nobya.

Sometimes, Cyra thinks her boyfriend is still a kid. Masiyado kasi itong magaslaw kung gumalaw. Minsan din, hindi nito napepreno ang bibig, kaya kung ano-ano ang nasasabi sa ibang tao. She tried to lecture him once about being more cautious about what he did and said, but it was like he was only listening—not understanding. So, she tells him to stop when she notices he's being too rowdy. Consistent scolding could be the key to stopping unlikable habits.

Or maybe it was just the nature of men, to be a nuisance sometimes. Cyra wasn't too sure anymore.

They ate when the food came. Soft jazz music played within the restaurant, making eaters feel cozy. The people around Cyra and Adiel were mostly families too or a bunch of grownups eating after work. Cyra's family was near Adiel's parents. Paola couldn't make it today because she was sick.

"Do you want more pork?" Adiel whispered to his girl.

"No, I'm full na," sagot ng babae.

"But you barely ate anything."

"Well, diet ako."

"Lagi ka na lang diet. You're practically starving yourself na."

Adiel looked away after saying that. He wasn't a huge fan of Cyra's diet thing. Ever since someone called Cyra 'a little big' during college, the woman began to cut her carbs and eat more protein. Adiel thought it was going to pass, but she kept on eating while being cautious of her weight despite being in a perfectly healthy size. They had got into a fight once about this because when Adiel video-called her while she was still in the UK, the woman had become thin as if she was in a thinning contest.

However, Cyra thinks what she is doing is fine. Hindi naman na siya umulit sa isang beses lang kakain ng isang araw—how she hated that. She still eats thrice a day, maybe even four. But she just chooses what she eats. Hindi madaling kalimutan ang narinig niya dahil para sa kaniya, looks mattered in this world. And, it wasn't as if she didn't believe Adiel when he said she was healthy; it was that she didn't believe anyone when it came to her weight or size. Dapat makita at maramdaman niya mismo na tama lang ang katawan niya.

"I ate nga, Diel," katuwiran ni Cyra.

"I was the one who put food on your plate, Cyra, I know you ate less than half of what I ate," he replied.

"No, kumuha pa ako no'ng nag-CR ka."

Adiel eyed her. "Talaga?"

"Oo nga."