Stop Over [REVISING]

Four

Bloom.

Lourica

"Ano 'to?!" 

Gulat na napatingin ako sa biglaang sigaw. I looked up and saw my father with a livid expression. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa envelope na hawak niya.

"P-pa,"

Nangangamoy alak at sigarilyo. Ano pa nga bang bago sa ganuon?

"Magaaral ka?" Dahan-dahan akong tumango.

"Ang hirap na ng buhay magaaral ka pa?! Tama na ang pagi-illusion mo, Lourica. Wala ka ng pagasa, mamata--"

Nabitawan ko ang baso na hawak ko dahilan para mag echo sa bahay ang pagkahulog nito. Mabuti na lang talaga at stainless ang baso.

Agad na pinulot ko ito. "S-sorry." Mahinang sambit ko at inilapag iyon sa lababo.

"Kung nagtrabaho ka para naman may silbi ka sa pamilyang 'to at hindi panlalandi ang inaatupag mo, baka sakaling umasenso ka pa." I closed my eyes.

"Pagsasayang lang ng pera ang pagaaral ng isang bobong katulad mo. Walang kwenta."

Bumuga ako ng hangin at agad na naghilamos sa lababo. Okay, Lourica. It's okay. Lasing lang siya. He didn't mean it.

Inayos ko ang sarili ng marinig ang malakas na pagbukas sara ng pintuan ng bahay. I saw the university's invitation, crumpled. Kinuha ko ito at kaagad na ipinatong sa lamesa habang pilit na inuunat, baka sakaling bumalik ito sa dati.

I bit my lowerlip ng makitang nababasa ang papel. Napaupo na lang ako, sabay patong ng siko sa lamesa at takip ng mga palad sa mukha. Why am I crying? He didn't mean it. Lasing lang siya kaya nasabi niya ang mga bagay na yon.

Huminga ako ng malalim at muling naghilamos. Uminom din ako ng isang basong tubig bago kinuha ang invitation at inipit iyon sa isang libro.

Despite of his word, I continued doing what I wanted. Gusto kong magaral kaya ipinagpatuloy ko iyon. Pumasok ako sa eskwelahan, nagaral.

Only to received hurtful words and beating everytime I goes home. I don't even know if this house and family are worthy to be called home, because honestly, it's not. It will never be.

Aside from studying, I continued working at night just to support my family. Hindi ko alam kung paano sumasapat iyon sa amin. Sa araw araw na makakain nila mama at papa, pati baon at school expenses ni Kayler.

"Stress ka na naman?" Inilapag ni Braison ang dalawang makakapal na libro sa lamesa bago umupo sa upuan sa harap ko.

Braison has been my buddy since I entered college. He's the only friend where I can rely on, I guess? Since he's a third year college, natutulungan niya ako sa ibang subject.

We laugh a lot. When I say a lot, a lot. Walang dull moments na nangingibabaw kapag dalawa kaming magkasama. Walang awkward moments, it was like, everything happens naturally. It was all genuine, he got my back and I got his.

It's been three months since I met him and i'm still amazed how he blends on everything. I'm still amazed how his laugh sounds like, how his genuine smile looks like and how his eyes always telling me that it's fun to live..

On my nineteen years of existance I never felt this alive.

I smiled.

"Nasabi ko na ba sayong ang swerte ko sayo?" He faked choked and looks at me, lips parted and shocked.

"Yeah, you're faking it again." Then he laugh.

"Kahit di mo sabihin, alam ko naman na swerte mo sa'kin." I rolled my eyes.

"Lourica, you're actually a blessing to me." His face flushed, eyes on his book as he tries to avoid my gaze.

I smiled, letting the comfortable silence took over us. Hindi mahilig sa sweet words si Braison, and he can't even advice properly.

Yung tipong pag sinabi mong gusto mong mamatay ang sagot niya sayo ay sa paanong gusto mong mamatay, or something like that.

He may not good on making and telling advices, one thing is for sure, he surely knows how to make you smile and forget your problems because that's what I'm feeling right now, parang wala akong problema kapag kasama ko siya.

Nakakalimutan ko yung mga salita ni papa, yung iyak ni mama at mga gastusin sa bahay.

Aside from Kayler, he became my reason why I'm excited to wake up.

Until one day, Braison surprised me.

I was happy not until it happened. Braison introduced his three years girlfriend to me and I felt like, I was crushed and scattered and I can't breath but I needed to pretend like I was glad and happy because he freaking surprised me.

Hah! Life plays a tricks on me again. 

×