MIDDLE

xvii

I'm at this point in my life wherein I can wholeheartedly say that I'm really really happy. Kiefer is of course the main reason and everything else are also falling into its perfect place. My family is as supportive as ever which I am glad because they never had any single doubt on me. I am also trying to be open with people and as much as I can communicate with them, I will. But of course yung sa mga classmates ko lang or some friends of Kiefer, hindi naman yung random people sa street. And Kiefer, who is my not-so-puti happy pill, always puts a smile on my face that sometimes I feel like my face is gonna rip or something. Only Kiefer can do that.

But sometimes, when I'm getting ready to sleep, I find my self staring at the ceiling thinking of what might happen in our relationship. Sometimes naiisip ko na baka one day when he wakes up, bigla niya na lang maisip na hindi ako worth it or baka may iba na siya or worse di niya na ko mahal. But he's making me happy kaya I shrug everything off na lang. Pero it scares me, so much. Kasi there's a belief na when you're too much happy, meron yung kapalit. Something bad will happen or something that will make you sad. Hay. Here we go again with my anxieties.

But Kiefer never fails to remind me that I'm the only one he love and that he will never leave me. I, too, love him so much and I will never leave him also but you know sometimes meron talagang unnecessary thoughts na bigla bigla na lang papasok sa utak mo and it's so irritating. Buti na lang hindi na ko ganun ka-vulnerable to get affected by these thoughts. Kiefer protects me from everything but he never let me feel weak. Instead, he always motivates me to do better and to be strong at all costs.

"Potch! Breakfast is ready!" My mama shouted. Galing pa sa kitchen yun ah, lakas ng boses ni mama talaga.

I immediately made my way to the dining room because my tummy told me to do so. If there's one thing I would never skip, that's breakfast because as what they say, it's the important meal of the day.

I can already smell the pancakes kaya nagmadali na akong bumaba. I saw a familiar figure standing against me, talking to Mama. Why is he here kaya? This early?

"Good morning, Miks." He said the moment he saw me. Wait, ngayon lang nag-sink in sakin na I'm still wearing a pajama and a super thin sando tapos di pa ko nagsuklay. What the hell? Mukha akong high school student sa suot ko.

That's why I covered my clothes with my hands and umakyat ako kaagad to change para naman mukha akong presentable. Nagulat si Kiefer, based on his reaction. Sorry babe, I just had to.

So I changed my sando into a more decent shirt and paired it with a not-so-short shorts. I brushed my hair until I can finally see na okay na yung itsura ko. Bumaba na din ako right after ko magpalit and mag-ayos.

"Akala ko kung napano ka ng bata ka, magpapalit ka lang pala." My mom who's busy preparing the table uttered.

"Bakit hindi mo naman sinabi na dadating ka?" I asked Kiefer who's already sitting getting ready to eat na.

"Surprise?" He replied smiling.

"Also, you don't need to change your clothes, you're still beautiful no matter what." I think I blushed. Good morning naman to me.

"Mamaya na kayo maglandian, kain muna tayo!" My ever echosera mom said.

"Ma!" I glared at her and she just gave me a smile. Mama talaga.

We eat and eat and eat and it seems like Kiefer's enjoying my family's company. Actually they seem to get along lalo na sila ni Papa. They talk about random stuff like cars, basketball or even some action movies. And I can't help but be happy with what am I seeing right now. My parents plus Kiefer, hay they're everything to me.

"Tahimik ka ata potch?" My mom asked when she noticed that I'm not joining their conversation.

"Wala Ma, ang cute niyo lang kasi tignan." I smiled in amusement.