How To Love And Be Loved

Chapter 27

#HTLABLPromise

"Baka naman ninakaw mo to ha?" Sabi ni Jessa. Maski siya hindi makapaniwala sa regalo sakin ni Lian.

"Ano ba! Bat naman ako magnanakaw." Sagot ko sakanya.

"Joke lang. Pero seryoso sayo na talaga to?" Tanong niya at tumango naman ako.

"Grabe, ang swerte mo talaga diyan kay Lian ah." Dagdag pa niya. Umupo naman ako sa kama at tinitigan ang bag. Hindi naman ako masaya dahil sa bag, masaya ko kasi nakikita ko yung effort niya para lang mapasaya ako.

"Sobrang swerte ko sakanya. Hindi lang dahil dyan kundi mas pinapasaya niya pa yung buhay ko." Sagot ko sakanya at napangiti.

"I'm so happy for you, friend!" Sabay yakap niya sakin.

"And thank you kasi ikaw lagi ang nagbibigay ng lakas sakin." Sabi ko sakanya.

"Ano ba wag ka ngang ganyan, naiiyak ako!"

"Baliw." Natatawang sabi ko sakanya.

"Ang daming magagandang nangyayari ngayon."

"Bakit naman?" Tanong ko sakanya.

"Bukod sa maayos na ang trabaho ni Dad, nakuha na ulit namin yung business namin." Kwento niya.

"Congrats! Buti naman, para hindi na kita nakikitang nahihirapan sa pagta-trabaho." Sagot ko.

"Congrats satin!!!" Sigaw niya at natawa naman ako.

---

8 am na ng makarating ako sa shop. Dumiretso agad ako sa table ko at may bouquet ng flowers na nakapatong dun, kinuha ko ang card at binasa ito.

Every morning is beautiful with you.

- Lian

I'm smiling like an idiot here. Pinapakilig nanaman niya ako.

"Wow! May manliligaw ka Ma'am?" Tanong sakin ni Rhea. Nginitian ko lang siya at umupo na.

I'm still not ready to talk about things between me and Lian to other people except for my friends. Siguro kasi gusto ko muna ng tahimik kami, basta masaya. We'll get there naman eh. For now, gusto ko kami lang muna.

I wonder where he is. Kinuha ko agad ang phone ko at tinext siya.

To: Lian Gomez

Where are you?

From: Lian Gomez

On the way. May dinaanan lang. :)

Hindi na ko nag reply dahil for sure nagda-drive yun. Safety first.

I finished the wedding dress na nga pala. Ipapakita ko na lang yung sketch sa client kung may gusto pa siya ipa-adjust.

"Rhea, pakitawagan naman si Miss Cruz sabihin mo okay na yung sketch ng wedding dress niya." Utos ko kay Rhea.

"Yes Ma'am." Sagot niya.

"Ma'am, pupunta nalang daw siya dito ng 2pm." Sabi sakin ni Rhea. Tumango lang ako at bumalik na sa trabaho.

Nagulat naman ako ng may biglang bumulong sa likod ko. "Hi." He said.

"Hello." Sagot ko sakanya.

"Busy?"

"Medyo." Ngumiti naman ako sakanya.

"Lunch later. Akyat lang ako sa taas." Paalam niya sakin.

"Okay." Sagot ko.

3 months ng wala ni ma'am Theresa, I wonder kung anong pinagkakaabalahan niya. Minsan nga iniisip ko kung may balak pa kaya siya bumalik.

---

"Mag o-overtime ako mamaya." I told him. Lunch break ngayon kaya nasa Molito kami to roam around tapos narin naman kami kumain kaya nagiikot nalang kami.

"Why?"

"Ang dami ko pang tatapusin eh. August na next month, mahirap mag aral at mag trabaho." Sagot ko. Ito talaga ang problema ko tuwing pasukan, mahirap talaga pag sabayin.

"I'll help you." He said and I smiled at him.

"Do you want me to call Mom?" Tanong niya.

"No, it's okay. Pero can I ask kung anong pinagkakaabalahan niya ngayon?"

"Hindi ko rin alam... I think she's with her family." Walang ganang sagot niya sakin. Ganito talaga siya pag tungkol sa Mama niya, ni wala pa nga siyang nakukwento sakin sa relasyon nila ng Mama niya. But I'm still thankful na nag open siya saakin noon, ayoko naman na pilitin ko siya sabihin sakin lahat, mas gusto ko yung siya mismo ang mag sisimulang mag kwento.

"Pakilala kita kay Tita?" I asked and smiled at him. I think wala naman na akong dapat ipangamba, I'm 20 nasa tamang edad na ako.

"Sure." He answered.

"I'm sorry if I can't introduce you to Lola, she's not really that nice." Dagdag pa niya.

"I understand." Sagot ko sakanya.

"Oh, I forgot to ask you.. I checked some documents about you kanina sa office, you're 11 when you graduated grade school, right? Yet you still finished highschool at 16?" He asked.

"I was sent to my Uncle in Davao when I was 12, Pinagaral naman nila ko pero nagkasakit si Uncle that time so I need to stop para makabawas sa expenses. And when summer came they contact Tita Daisy para kunin ako at mapag-aral sa Cavite. That's why umulit ako ng first year." I answered. I didn't really enjoyed my childhood days but it's okay. Sa mundong to ang kailangan mo naman talaga palagi pag intindi at pagtitiis.

"Where's your Mom?" He asked.

"Didn't I tell you?" I looked at him.

"Nope." Sagot niya.

"She left us." I said.

"Like what my Father did to me?"

"No. Nakasama ko siya. I once had a happy family. But she left us. I'm only 10 years old that time, hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla nalang siya nawala." I answered.

"Galit ka ba sakanya?" He asked and I shook my head.

"I love her. I knew she had a reason." I answered and smiled at him.

"Let's not talk about my life." Dagdag ko pa.

Hinila ko siya pero nanatili parin siyang nakatayo at nakatitig sakin.

"Why?" I asked.

"I promise I'll never leave you. I promise to take care of you and love you even if it hurts. As long as you're mine or even if you're no longer mine, I will always be here for you."

"You're one of the strongest woman I know." He said and caressed my face, were both looking at each others eyes. I can see sincerity from his eyes. What did I do to have someone like him?

"And I promise to stay whatever happens." I said and he hugged me.

Some people think I'm really that strong because I survived without my parents, that despite of what Mom did to us I never planted any hatred in my heart. But no, there are times that I just wanted to give up and be weak for once.

Pero sa buhay ganun naman talaga. You have to go through the worst to get the best, and this is my best, he is my best.