That Summer When She Cried

That Summer When All That Mattered Was Him

He did what he could and he gave me what I needed. He removed my skin and allowed me to be who I am. He made me fall for the very first time.

-Tanya

--

Enrollment Day.

Kakagaling lang namin sa UST para magenroll for the new school year. Sa totoo lang, ako lang naman ang nagenroll since matagal nya ng inasikaso yung kanya. Having his own connections, we were done in an hour.

I paid for what I could and when I got my final schedule, we headed straight home to pick up Luke. Jeric handed me a check yesterday amounting to Luke's tuition fee para ipangbayad sa private school where I got him enrolled. That day, we had to buy his school uniform na provided ng school nila.

It was Jeric and I's agreement for me to pay him back in twelve months' time. It would be very tough, considering that I have my own tuition to pay for. Gusto ko ng lumubog sa kahihiyan sa ginagawa ko pero alam ko kakayanin ko.

Luke was ready when we got home and Jeric opened the car door for the two of us. Inuna nya si Luke and made sure that he was on seatbelt habang nasa likod.

"Why are you restraining me?!" reklamo nito.

"Luke Andrew, behave please. That's for your safety," I said quietly.

"But I can't move Mom! It's too tight! I don't want this," I heard him again.

"I don't ever want to hear you making any complain that way, okay?! Was he strangling you? He wasn't, right?!" I shouted in frustration. "If I hear you say another word, just get out of my life! Are we clear?!"

"Why are you shutting me out?!" Luke answered back.

"Because I'm getting tired of all your whims and you don't seem to appre - "

"Tanya!" Jeric stopped me from saying another word. He didn't shout but his tone was commanding.

I saw that Luke was about to cry but he was stopping himself from doing so. That's Luke. He has too much pride kapag napapagalitan.

Jeric was still outside the car and was beside Luke, fixing his seatbelt. "That was too much. You didn't have to say that nor shout at him that way."

I took a deep breath and I saw Luke's eyes getting watery. I suddenly felt guilty. Ilang araw na akong wala sa mood. Dinadaan ko lang sa make up lahat ng eyebags at stress na nararamdaman ko. And you get complains from someone you're doing your best for.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly without looking at him. "I didn't mean what I said."

He was quiet. I heard Jeric ask if he was okay and some silent sobs as an answer. He went to the driver's seat and off we went to his school. We still weren't in talking terms pagbaba ng sasakyan and for the first time, sumabay si Luke maglakad kay Jeric, holding his hand. He remained quiet while I was fitting his uniform and Jeric was getting his school items.

"Is it too tight?"

No answer. Nagtatampo pa din.

"Mommy's sorry. I'm just tired and I have so many things to think about. If there's a reason why I'm still sane, it's you and Tito Jeric," I told him and fixed his collar.

"Do you love him?" he asked with sobs being held back.

Sigh. "He loves the two of us."

"Are you leaving me?" His eyes were watery. "Is he taking you away from me?"

"I'm not taking your Mom away from you. She's still yours," someone answered from my back. He stooped and partly sat to level himself with us. "Some girl out there was eyeing you, Luke. She looks as pretty as your mom."