Hooked [Fin]

Thirty-three

"Hindi mo ba talaga siya pupuntahan?"

Mula sa pagkakahiga, tinignan ni Elisha ang kanyang Mama na ngayo'y umupo sa tabi niya. She shifted her position and laid her head on her mother's lap. She siges when her mom started stroking her hair. Calix loves to do that to her..

"Tumawag nanaman sa'kin sina Ailee. Hinahanap ka daw ni Calix." Nanatili siyang tahimik. It's been one week since she discovered Calix's departure. She felt betrayed and cheated. He promised to her and then he just had to blew it, again.

She heard her mom sighed and made her sat up. "Anak, intindihin mo si Calix. This his dream, are you not happy for him?"

"I am.." she answered and looked down. "Pero.. two years iyon, Ma. Iiwan nanaman niya ako." Nagsimula nanamang kumibot ang mga labi niya.

Hinawakan ng Mama niya ang kanyang mukha. "Hindi ba't para namang nagiging selfish ka anak?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "What are you saying?"

Huminga ng malalim ang Mama niya at sinuklay nito ang buhok niya. "You're holding him from his dream, anak. Alam mo bang muntik niya ng tanggihan ang offer? He was willing to pay para lang hindi ka magalit."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa nalaman. He what? Ginawa ni Calix iyon sakanya? Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng guilt. Here she was, ignoring and avoiding Calix's attempts to talk to her for a week while he was about to throw his dreams away? What kind of a person is she?

"Pero naisip niya na baka sisihin mo ang sarili mo sa gagawin niya kaya hindi niya rin itinuloy," her mother continued. Surprisingly, she felt relieved. Calix knew her really well. Baka madala niya sa hukay ang kusensyang hindi nito itinuloy ang offer sa US.

"I know you're afraid, anak. But that's normal."

She tilted her head to the side as she raked her hair. "What?"

Her mom gave her a small smile as if she knows what she's feeling. "Alam mo ba na iniwan ko din ang Papa mo noon kahit na alam ko na mahal niya ako? I broke your Papa's heart that time but he respected my decision. I was a wreck that time, anak."

"Ma.." she called when she notoced her mother's eyes welling up. Hindi pa niya nakikita ang Mama niya na umiyak. She is a strong woman. Ayaw na ayaw nitong magpakita ng kahinaan sakanila ni Mella.

"Nagpapasalamat ako sa Papa mo dahil hinintay niya ako. Hinintay niya na makabalik ako sakanya. He waited for me patiently, and despite the distance we had, he still loved me from afar. That's love, anak. Walang distansya, walang pinipiling lugar o tao, dahil kapag nagmahal ka, wala ka dapat hayaang may pumigil sa'yo."

What her mother said struck her. Oh my God! What did have she done? She acted a spoiled brat when in fact sa kanilang dalawa ni Calix, ito ang mas nahihirapan. He has his family thay he will leave behind, wala itong pamilya at close friends doon sa US samantalang siya nandito ang lahat para umalalay sakanya. He just needed her support pero ipinagkait pa niya. She really messed up.

"You know if you'll go now, you might be able to catch him." nakangiting pukaw sakanya ng Mama niya.

---

Wala ng pakealam si Elisha ang mga reklamo ng mga taong nabubunggo niya. Shit! She needs to find Calix. Dahil sa kakamadali niya kanina, naiwanan pala niya ang phone sa bahay. She just sped out of her room with her wallet and took a cab. Minsan talaga ang tanga niya.

Her breath hitched when she saw her friends. Kumaway si Calix sa mga ito at tumalikod na. No! She was running when she shouted his name. Lahat ata ng mga tao ay napatingin sakanya pero wala siyang pakealam. She just wanted Calix's attention. Lumingon ito sakanya at automatikong ngumiti ito. Tumalon siya rito para mayakap, mabuti nalang maagap ito at nasalo siya. Nabitawan pa nga nito ang bag.