OPERATION: Change HIM to a MAN

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Lyra's

Natatawa pa rin ako habang naaalala ko ang epic reaction ni Theo sa clinic. It's been a week since that incident. It's just a joke and an idea for my operation and I think it turned so well. I could really say that I have an effect on him. I just don't know what effect was that.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito sa bahay ko?" bungad na tanong sa akin ni Theo habang pababa siya ng hagdan.

"What? Am I not allowed to be here?" cool kong tanong sa kanya ngunit pagtaas ng kilay ang sinagot niya sa akin. "Bakit? Akala mo ba ikaw ang ipinunta ko rito? Sorry to say, but it's not you."

"At sino naman? As far as I could remember, ako lang nam---"

"Ate Lyra! Ang aga mo naman po!" Nabaling ang atensyon ko kay Reese na pinutol ang sinasabi ni Theo.

"Hi, Reese! So let's go?" yaya ko sa kapatid ni Theo.

"Wait a minute. Kailan pa kayo naging close? Aber? Reese, care to explain your brother what's going on right now?" I rolled my eyes. Ano bang problema ni Theo ngayon?

"Ano ba ang kailangang ipaliwanag ng bata sayo? It's not a big deal. Wala namang masama. Ano bang ipinagpuputok ng butse mo?" Naningkit ang mata ko. "Oh, alright. You can't accept the fact that I hurt your ego because you're not the reason why I'm here." 

"W-what? T-tumigil ka nga, L-lyra. K-ung ano-anong sinasabi mo." I could sense that I was right.

"I don't see any problem with that. It's fine if you wanted to join us. Nagyaya lang si Enzo at Reese na mag-stroll." Ngumiti ako sa kanya. "Just go to your room and change. We'll wait for you outside." Walang imik na pumunta si Theo sa kwarto niya. I'm enjoying the fact that Theo's been startled by my presence.

Matapos niyang magbihis ay umalis na kami at nagpuntang Timezone. The kids just love this place. And while they are busy playing, I sat on one of the benches there. Pero ang tanga din naman ng tadhana. I could see from where I was sitting is the guy that I still love with the girl I hate the most right now.

Nagulat naman ako ng takpan ng kung sino ang mata ko. "Don't look at them. You'll be having a bad sight. They're not worth of your beautiful and innocent eyes." Tinanggal din niya ang takip at hinawakan naman ako sa magkabila kong pisngi.

"T-theo...."

"Just look at me. Only me. I'm here for you. I'll be your shield from any aches you're feeling right now and for the next days, weeks, months and even years," sabi niya sa akin saka siya ngumiti. I nodded at him. I felt relief from what he just said. 

Nawala na sa isip ko ang nakita ko kanina dahil kay Theo. He made sure that I focused my attention on having fun with him and our own siblings. Nang makauwi kami ay gabi na kaya nagpaalam na siya sa akin at hinalikan ako sa pisngi. My face turned like a really red tomato but thank all saints because it's a bit dark.

"Lyra? Theo?"

Kinabahan ako sa boses ng tumawag sa akin. Iniiwasan ko siyang makaharap ulit dahil alam ko na kapag nakausap ko siyang muli ay madadagdagan ang kasalanan ko. Nagpapasalamat pa rin ako dahil ilang buwan ko na siyang hindi nakakasalamuha pero wala akong kawala ngayon. Kailangan ko siyang harapin.

"Dad? Mom?" nagtatakang tanong ni Theo. Humarap ako sa kanila at pekeng ngumiti. "Anong ginagawa ninyo rito?"

"Nagtanggap namin ang text ng kapatid mo na nandito kayo. Sumunod na rin kami para makapagliwaliw," paliwanag ni Tito. Humarap naman siya sa akin. "How are you, Lyra?" Saka siya ngumiti ng makahulugan.

Swear. It was as creepy as hell! Yung ngiting may tinatago. Palibhasa'y may kasunduan kaming dalawa na lalong nagpakaba sa akin.

I still composed myself. "I'm good, Tito. Kung sina Reese po ang hinahanap niyo ay nasa loob po ng Timezone," pag-iiba ko.

"Sige, hon. I'll just go check on the kids first. At Theo, please buy some snacks for all of us," sabi naman ni Tita at hinila na ang walang nagawang si Theo.

Now it's between me and Theo's father. Naupo siya sa tabi ko. I left out a sigh. This is not good. It really isn't.

"Lyra, iha, kakamustahin ko lang iyong napag-usapan natin. How's it going? Tinutuloy mo ba?" panimula ni Tito.

"Yes po. I've been doing everything on our deal. Hindi ko na rin po tatanggapin ang kahit anong ibibigay ninyo sa akin. Nagsisisi po akong pumayag sa deal na ito dahil alam kong masasaktan si Theo kapag nalaman niya ito pero wala akong magawa, pumayag ako at sobra ang pagsisisi ko." Napabuntong-hininga ako. "But I don't have any resentment with you po. You're still my parents' close friend and Theo's father."

"I'm sorry, iha, kung nadadamay ka rito. It's just that, we don't want my son to live alone when the time we leave this world. I want him to experience love and to be loved by someone special."

"I understand po, Tito. You just want what's better for your son and I admire you for that. Hindi ko lang po maatim na once na malaman niya ito ay magalit siya sa akin. He's my friend, my closest friend next to Mayel. I don't want to lose him," I sincerely said.

"You won't, Lyra. It's a promise. He won't leave you because of that matter. He loves you." Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Paano niya nasisigurado?

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Edited version of the story. Sorry to keep you waiting. Thanks for your time.

- Sairel