He's My Cousin!

[Ch.59] Tying Up Loose Ends (Part 1)

[Ch. 59] Tying Up Loose Ends (Part 1)
// Ayanna's Point of View

I probably ended one of the truest friendships anyone could have in a lifetime the moment I decided to shut Jiro out. But that was the consequence I had to pay. Ayaw ko nang saktan pa siya. I didn't want to drag him with my issues anymore. He never deserved this.

Alam ko na dapat ay magalit ako sa kaniya. He didn't tell me that one thing that would have changed so many mistakes two years ago, but I couldn't make myself hate him. Nagbabadya pa lang ang pamumuo ng galit sa dibdib ko ay agad nawawala iyon sa tuwing naalala ko ang mga ginawa niya para sa akin. A single mistake could never equate for the refuge and the friendship he had given me. That, I'd never forget.

I was lost in my thoughts as I was on my way home, few blocks from our street, when I heard a familiar voice calling my name. Sa iilang saglit ay akala ko nahihibang na ako at kung ano-ano ang naririnig ko ngunit nang lumingon ako ako ay makita ko siya roon... Si Paolo.

Tinignan ko siya at nanlumo ako. Alam kong sobrang hirap ng pinagdaanan niya at sa tuwing naalala ko na pinagdaanan niya iyon nang mag-isa ay mas lalo akong nanlulumo. I wish I was there. I might not have made things better for him, but I definitely would not have made things harder for him. I didn't hold on enough when he tried to push me away.

Hinintay kong lumapit siya sa akin dahil nanghihina ang mga tuhod ko. The sight of him makes me weak.

"Aya," he said with a small smile. Napalunok ako. Why was he like this? Mas lalo lang sumisikip ang dibdib ko. Mas okay pa kung magalit siya sa akin o 'di kaya ay sumbatan niya ako at ipaalala lahat ng beses na hindi ako nakinig sa kaniya, lahat ng pagkakataong tinalikuran ko siya... but no, this guy was smiling at me like I was the biggest relief he had for years.

"A-anong ginagawa mo rito? Alam ba ni Tita na nandito ka?" I said, worrying. Iginiya ko siya sa malapit na bench at naupo kami roon.

Umiling siya. "Aalis din ako agad," he said. "Today's the day we'd meet my mom, my real mom. Si Tita Lorraine." I saw him smile a bit as he said her name. In that moment, I wanted to hug him tight, but I didn't. Malapit siya kay Tita Lorraine at isang araw ay bigla na lang niya nalaman na ito ang tunay niya ina. How devastating it could have been for him? Gaano kalakas na sampal iyon para sa kanila, na nariyan sila't magkasama ngunit pinagkaitan sila ng katotohanan? Napapikit na lang ako upang pigilan ang sarili ko. How could Tita Lorraine handle it? Ano na lang ang sasabihin ni Don Fortunato 'pag nalaman niyang may anak sa pagkadalaga ang asawa niya? Matatanggap ba niya si Paolo? Everything was a lie for him. And this lie has tarnished this family I used to love so dearly.

"W-will you be all right?" I asked him. "I wish I could be there for you, but..." Gusto kong punan ang mga naging pagkukulang ko sa kaniya. Gusto kong makabawi. Ngunit alam kong malabong mangari iyon sa sitwasiyon ngayon. Our family wouldn't let me stay by his side. This stolen moment of ours was so much for a reward... hearing his voice, seeing him right in front of me.

"I'd be okay." He looked away and said, "pero natatakot ako. Natatakot akong harapin si Tita Lorraine. What would I even call her? Ma? Mom? Tita? I don't even know if she'd even accept me."

I held the top of his hand, kaya napatingin siya sa akin. "If there's one person who'd understand you perfectly, it would be Tita Lorraine. Above anyone else, she'd know... she'd feel what you've gone through. She'd be shocked, sure, but there's no way she wouldn't accept you."

"Thank you," he squeezed my hand. "But there's one reason I went all the way here."

Napakunot ang noo ko. "Ano 'yun?"

"Can you relinquish everything for me?"

"Paolo..."

"Aya," his voice is low. "Can you relinquish everything for me? Can we escape this together? Pwede ba nating tuparin ang mga pangarap natin nang tayong dalawa lang? Nang walang magdidikta sa atin kung ano ang tama at mali."