Smile, Selena [Completed]

Chapter 5

Binuksan niya ang pintuan at nagulat pagkakita niya sakin. Tinuro ko naman sakanya ang unit ko, which is just behind me.

"Didn't know we're neighbors", sagot niya.

"Well, i'm sure you didn't too", dagdag pa niya.

He knows me very much. How did he manage to know it? Could he be....

Tinignan ko si Edward.

"Come in. I'm all alone", sabi niya tsaka pinapasok ako kaya pumasok naman ako sa unit niya. Malaki ang unit niya almost the same as me but there are a few differences. Like the wallpapers. Lahat ng wallpapers niya ay dark blue at pati ang kisame ay itim. Ang carpet rin niya ay plain dark brown. May dalawang kwarto rin ang unit niya at sa gitna ng dalawang kwarto sa tingin ko ay ang bathroom at comfort room. Ang sofa rin ay dark grey na may tatlong unan with the same color. Ang ibang furnitures rin. It's either black or dark brown. Kapansin pansin ang pagkadilim ng unit niya..... Hindi dahil walang ilaw kundi dahil sa mga kulay ng mga gamit. It's obvious. His attitude, mood, his whole life is reflected by the colors of his home. Plain dark.

"Sorry for disturbing. I hope you don't mind. I'm just really desperate for someone to talk to.... May ginagawa ka?", nahiya ako sa ginagawa ako. I mean, this is his home. Why did i just barge in?!

"Nope. I'm all alone too so a company would help. Besides, i barely do anything. I just finished eating. You want anything to eat or drink?", tanong niya kaya umiling ako at naupo na lang sa sofa niya. Maya maya'y sinamahan niya rin ako.

"I was right that you don't live here, right?"

"Yeah.... You were right", you were always right.

"So, is there a reason why you're here? Probably like running away from home?"

He knows me too well. I don't know what's happening but i'm not gonna ask myself what's wrong when everything feels right.

"You're right. Again. But i didn't run away. I think i'm being kicked out?", sabi ko tsaka tinignan siya. Confuse and interest is written in his expression.

"Is it because of that text message?", tanon niya. Bumuntong hininga ako at tumango. When he saw my phone earlier, he saw the text message on my phone. That's why he knows.

Tumango na lang ako bilang sagot.

Pero may nakita ako. Nakita ko sa gilid ng TV ang isang picture frame.

"I shouldn't", pinigilan ko ang sarili kong alamin ang tungkol dun. Pero maya maya'y kinuha niya ito at binigay sakin. Tinanggap ko naman.

"It's okay. You shared a lot with me. Guess i should make it fair", sabi niya. Ang nasa picture frame ay isang babae na sa tingin ko ay mga 4 years old kasama ang isa pang babae na mga nasa 25 na tapos hawak nung nakakatandang babae ang kamay ng isang lalaking mga 1 year old pa lang. Guess the kid is him. Pero may mali. Tatlo lang sila... Does that mean...

"You probably know who that kid is. And yeah, that's me", sabi niya na tinutukoy yung batang lalaki.

"The one holding my hand is my Mom. She still....loves me when we took that picture. But that's ten years ago. That was when i was a year old. That time, Dad was already having an affair with another woman. That's why he's not around", paliwanag niya kaya tumango ako. Sinabi na niya sakin kanina na nangaliwa ang ama niya noong isang taong gulang siya. Sinabi niyang pinagpalit ang ina niya sa isang mayaman na babae. Hindi naman daw mahirap ang ina niya pero sadyang naghahanap lang daw talaga ng mas maraming pera ang ama niya noon. And i thought, his dad and my mom are the same but our dad is different. Si Daddy ay iniwan kami kasi masyadong busy si Mommy at ang Daddy niya naman ay iniwan sila para makahanap ng pakakasalang babae na maraming pera. Kaya nga ang Mommy ngayon ni Edward ay naging workaholic gaya ni mom. Para daw mapatunayan ng Mommy niya na hindi siya dapat ipinagpalit nang Daddy nila noon. Pero sa sobrang gusto ng Mommy niya na yumaman sila, napabayaan na sila. Kaya... Madilim na ang buhay niya ngayon.

Tinuro ko naman yung isa pang babae.

"That's Edelyn. She's 4 years older than me. She lives with my Mom but left when she got married. She and her husband together with their daughter is on America now. We talk any time we can. She's also the one giving me money. She still cares for Mom though. While i don't. Edelyn keeps on telling me to forgive Mom but how can i do that when Mom barely even care if i forgive her or not. Nothing's gonna change"

"Oh i see.... Sorry for making you tell that story", sabi ko at binalik na lang ang picture frame sa dati nitong kinalagyan.

"Nah, it's fine. But i wanna ask you something", sabi niya kaya tinignan ko siya.

"Ano yun?"

"You don't have any sisters or brothers?", sabi niya kaya umiling ako pero naalala ko ang nakita ko kanina sa sala.

"Nope. I mean not yet. But i think i'll have a little step brother or sister now. I better ready myself", i tried to sound sarcastic but my voice broke. I immediately wiped away the tears that fell down..

"I saw my Mom earlier with a guy. I think she's finally having an affair now. Well, she never really loved my Dad so, it's not impossible right?", hindi ko na napigilan at napahagulhol na ako. I can't help but cry.

Then all of a sudden, i felt warm. I feel so comfortable as if i belonged here. I feel so comfortable in his arms. He hugged me and that's the only thing i remembered before everything turned black.

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