It's Always Been You | ✅

6: Life

            

"OH, ANO NG GANAP SAYO?" She asked as they sat in the outside seating a quiet coffee shop.

When she woke up ay nag-umagahan lang sila with family and ipinagpaalam siya ni Marcus kung pwede siyang isama sa pamamasyal today and like before ay pumayag naman ang Mama ang Papa niya. Excited na excited siya kasi makakasama niya si Marcus for the majority of the day, naligo lang siya at nagsuot ng simpleng blouse at jeans hindi na din siya masyadong nag-ayos kasi baka isipin naman ni Marcus na ang OA niya. Natawa na nga lang siya na paglabas niya ng kwarto ay bagong paligo na din si Marcus, ang boyscout talaga nito, may dalang damit just in case.

Everyone was so excited na makita uli si Marcus except maybe his youngest sister Eloise na 3 years old pa lang noong umalis ito kaso syempre being prince of being charming ay humaling na humaling na agad ang bunso niyang kapatid dito. Iba talaga yung feeling naparang bumalik ka sa panahon noon when every single thing is just so comfortable. She loved having Marcus around and him being around her family lalo na at nakikita niya naman na at home ang lalaki sa kanila. This is the best that she can contribute to the guy's happiness.

"A lot has changed over the course of four years," he smiled bitterly, andoon nanaman yung malungkot nitong mga mata. "You've met my mom before diba?"

"Yeah, ang bait niya nga eh lalo na yung sisters mo." She recalled the time she met them, ang accomodating ng mother ni Marcus, she was so kind and she cooked really well. Yung mga kapatid naman nito ay mababait din. He's the only boy kaya madaming evident responsibilities sa kanya lalo na at alam niyang nasa America ang Papa nito doing business. He is a good brother to her two older sisters and one younger sister. "How are they?"

"My parents divorced about three years ago," parang binagsakan siya ng isang katerbang bato. It was a big news kasi hindi niya alam na nagkaroon na pala ng problema ang mga magulang nito. Marcus treasured his family so much. "My sisters are okay, Ate Rachel and Ate Megan are both married and with kids. Belle just graduated college."

"Ang dami ngang nangyari." She sighed, hinihiling niya na sana andun siya para dito.

"This is the first time na may nakaalam nun outside family. Akala lang nila ay they are working on several different projects and businesses. Their marriage just wasn't working at all." Hindi niya alam kung paano aaluin ang lalaki. "I never wanted this position, hindi ko gustong maging tauhan ng Dad. This is the curse for being a rich man's only son."

"Wag na yun ang isipin mo, you have a good life."

"Ang gusto ko is yung buhay na meron ang pamilya mo, simple lang pero masaya kayo. I have this messed up life. Pansin mo naman siguro na kahit noon pa ay gusto ko kapag nasa inyo ako. I like that feeling of home." Bumuntong hininga ito.

"You have us, treat us as family." She smiled.

"Mula noong pumunta ako sa States, my father has been expecting so much of me. Wala akong ginawang tama kaya I looked for validation in my relationships, one after the other. Akala ko I found my peace with Sandra pero we weren't on the same page." Ang daming mga babae nun, ni isa ba sa kanila hindi kayang iparamdam yung comfort at yung feeling of home kay Marcus? Swerte nga sila kasi nakikita sila ni Marcus that way eh. Swerte sila na nagkaroon sila ng chance na mahalin si Marcus.

"You deserve better, okay?" hinawakan niya ang kamay nito, hopefully he will not think of this beyond her comforting him. "Sige lang, kwento ka lang. makikinig ako hanggang maubos yang mga tinatago mo. Kilala kita, akala mo macho na walang paki sa mundo pero you care for everything and you always have pent up disappointments."

"Bakit ikaw nakukuha mo?" he asked.

Duh! Kasi ako mahal talaga kita at kita ko lahat ng tinatago mo kasi kaya kitang basahin. Simple.