Last chapter
"This is the last dinner we'll spend together." Mom said with a distinct sadness in her voice. "Are you sure you want to leave?"
"Opo, sigurado na po ako." Tisoy answered before looking at me. I gave him a glare and averted my attention to my plate.
"We've taken care of you for many years. Parang anak na rin ang turing namin sa'yo. Basta kapag may kailangan ka huwag kang mahihiyang lumapit sa amin. We're here for you. Always remember that." Mom said, forcing a smile.
"Oo naman po, tita." Tisoy smiled back at her.
"Bibisita ka dito, ha?" Dad said.
Tisoy nodded at him. I could feel the sorrow hanging in there as I silently ate my dinner. I tried to ignore it but it felt really heavy. I had to stand from my seat as they chatted and I knew I had to leave. Wala rin naman akong gana kumain. I couldn't focus on my food cause all I could feel was the heaviness in my chest and the feel of my heart dropping to the pit of my stomach.
"O, Mallory. Tapos ka na?" Dad asked.
"Yeah..." Tipid na sagot ko. "I'm going to my room. Marami pa akong kailangan tapusin."
"Hindi ba makakapaghintayan yan? Tisoy's leaving tomorrow." Mom said.
"Then let him leave. The door's open for him." I sarcastically smirked. "Kung gusto niyang umalis, paalisin niyo na siya. We don't need him here."
"Mallory..." Mahinang awat ni mom.
"Why should we care if he wants to leave? Hindi niya na tayo kailangan kaya aalis na siya. Hindi din natin siya kailangan."
"Enough, Mallory!" Dad said in an authorative voice.
I threw a sharp look at Tisoy, he was looking at me when I looked at him but his eyes quickly lowered. I suddenly felt a pang in my chest. I hated him now as much as I loved him before but God, I knew I was going to miss him.
"I'm going to my room." Sabi ko bago tumalikod mula sa kanila.
I went to my room and threw my body on the bed. I didn't know how long I'd been staring absently at the ceiling. My mind wandered elsewhere.
Finally, mawawala na din siya sa buhay ko. Hindi ko na siya makikita. I didn't know what would hurt more, seeing the man who broke my heart everyday or not seeing him at all. I did my best to keep my eyes dry but nothing I do could dull the ache in my chest.
Don't cry, Mallory. I repeated over and over in my head like a mantra.
Namalayan ko lang na nakatulog na pala ako nang magising ako sa katok sa pinto. It was already morning. The sun was shining through the window in my room. I just wanted to sleep... that was what I intended to do the whole day.
I didn't want to see him go.
I grabbed a pillow and covered my face with it, trying to go back to dream land. I groaned when I heard the knock again. For Christ's sake, it was a Sunday... at ito ang araw na aalis na si Tisoy. Couldn't they just leave me alone?
"Go away!" I shouted to whoever it was.
"Mallory..." Dumilat ako nang marinig ko ang boses niya. "Mal, I just want to say goodbye to you."
I felt a new ache enter the hollow in the pit of my stomach. I found myself sitting up and hugging my knees to my chest. So this was it. He really was going to leave.
"I know you don't want to see me." Patuloy niya. "Gusto ko lang magpaalam sa'yo at humingi ng tawad. I'm sorry. I know I've hurt you and that's not what I wanted to happen. I'm hurting to but this is the right thing to do. Mallory, if you're listening please don't ever think that all the things that happened to us was just nothing to me. I treasure every moment I had with you."
