Chapter 41
“It's already closing time. We didn't notice the time,” Ms. Bubbles chuckled softly, then looked into her wrist watch. “Don’t go home yet now, Fiorella, we'll have dinner.”
Dinner na? Hindi ko inaasahan na aabutin ng gabi ang pag-uusap namin ni Ms. Bubbles tungkol sa mga nakalipas na dalawang taon.
“Thank you po, pero hindi na po ata ako makakasama,” mahina kong sabi.
“Do you have plans?”
“Wala naman po… masyado ko na po kasi kayong naabala.”
She shook, “No, it was nice to have you here. I had a great time talking with you.”
“Ako rin po,” I beamed. “It was nice to hear your wisdom words, and how it comforted me. Thank you so muc—”
My body froze momentarily when she hugged me. She gently tapped my back.
“Ms. Bubbles?”
“I was the one who should be thankful,” she said softly and lowly; it made me smile. “Thank you for keeping forward despite everything that happened to you.”
My smile slowly faltered upon hearing what she told me. My tongue tangled up; no words tried to form into my mouth.
“Be a baker, Fiorella,” she added, letting go with my embrace. She looked at me with weightless eyes. “I'm always proud of you.”
I nodded, smiling.
I barely remembered how I gave my best just to hear the word proud, because it comforts me and rewards me for the thing I did. And to make them proud, I used to have a lot of dreams written in my mind, that if someone could read it aloud, they would probably be happy and proud.
But because of the pains and everything happened, I set aside the dreams I had without hesitation. I abandoned everything…. that's why in my 30s, I have achieved nothing… yet I lose everything.
Akala ko noon, tuluyan na akong napag-iwanan ng mundo dahil pinili kong huminto sa pagtakbo para lang huminga. At wala na ang bibilib pa sa akin o maniniwala.
Pero mali ako.
Mayroon pa rin pala talaga ang magsasabi sa akin kung gaano sila ka-proud kahit na walang-wala na ako. Unti-unti ko na ring tinanggap na hindi ako nahuhuli dahil wala naman ako sa paligsahan.
I thanked Ms. Bubbles who's driving us into the nearest Korean Restaurant. When we entered, we just ordered sampgyeopsal—a Korean barbecue, and some alcohol for drinks.
Si Luis at Lito ang nagluluto habang tumutulong ako sa paggupit ng mga karne. Si Lia naman ang umaambag sa ingay sa lamesa namin. Si Ms. Bubbles at Lori ay parehong nakikinig at nakikisabay. Wala si Lovely dahil matagal na pala siyang tinanggal.
“Kumusta ka na? Gusto ko lang malaman ang ganap mo,” si Lori nang masaktuhan na busy ang kasama ko na kausap si Ms. Bubbles. “Iyong totoo. Ulol ‘pag peke.”
“I'm fine,” mahina kong sabi, uminom sa baso ng alak. “I am slowly healing. Day by day, masasabi kong umaayos naman ako.”
I poured her glass with soju. She just looked at me with a soft gaze.
“Hindi maiiwasan ang maging malungkot pero hindi ko rin hinahayaan na balutin ako nito n sobra,” I continued. “Nakakahiya man, pero madalas ang pag-iyak ko. Pero kahit gano'n kasi… aaminin ko na gumagaan ang pakiramdam ko. Kahit papaano unti-unting naglalaho ang sakit at bigat na meron ako.”
She held my hands, caressing it gently with her thumbs. “Masaya akong marinig lahat ng sinabi mo,” she said sweetly. “Okay na… okay na sa akin na marinig kang magkwento. Ayoko nang sirain pa ang gabi mo at paiyakin ka.”
BINABASA MO ANG
Light Under The Glooms (MPS#2) | ✓
RomansaMALA-PRINSESA SERIES #2 Fiorella Elein Rivera, a woman who is the epitome of kindness, was once called a light because of her soft and pure heart. With her past trauma, her inner light began to dim. Despite her scarred heart, she continued to pursue...
