A Flower With Seven Thorns

CHAPTER 62: THE LIGHT

Dedicated to: ThisSuicidalGirl

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"Five! Four! Three! Two! One! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!" kasabay ng sabay-sabay naming sigawan ang pagputok ng mga firecrackers na sinindihan ni Alex. Walang tigil na sigawan at talunun ang ginawa namin habang umaalingawngaw sa paligid ang mga paputok.

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto, ng di na masyadong maingay ang mga paputok ay isa-isa na kaming bumalik sa loob ng bahay ni Cas.

"We're so happy that you got to celebrate New Year with other people other than Ren, baby. Sorry kung di ka pa rin namin makakasama ngayong bagong taon." parehong nakangiti sina mom and dad sa screen ng phone ko ng nakapasok na kaming lahat.

I chuckled, "Yeah. Di nga rin ako makapaniwalang nakakasama ko ulit magbagong taon sina Nana at Fausto. And you got nothing to worry about. You never missed a New Year during my childhood days... with Kuya." ngumiti ako ng konti na may halong pait habang naaalala ang mga masasayang mga oras ng nakaraan. I see to it that my parents won't notice.

"We miss him too. But don't ruin your fun over there. We sent gifts for you and Ren. Bukas siguro darating na yun. Until we finish our projects here, hope you can hold on with the gifts we're sending every New Year." ani ni dad.

"Nah. Wag na kayong mag-alala dyan. Seeing you both safe and your faces on my screen, di naman ako nakakaramdamdam ng lumbay. Besides, I'm enjoying every single day of my life with them." sort of. Kung di lang dahil sa kagagahan ko talaga nun. I won't be worrying that I will be betraying them pretty soon.

"Alright. Can you show them to us para makabati na rin kami?" umikot ako para makita ng parents ko ang lahat sa screen nila.

"Guys!" medyo malakas kong pagtawag na agad din naman nila tinugunan.

Once my mom greeted them, everyone uproared. Yung tipong parang idol nilang artista nakikita nila sa screen ng phone ko na bumabati sa kanila ng Happy New Year! Ren, Nana and Fausto also greeted mom and dad with a smile. Pinakilala ko na din si Alex bilang bagong on-training-butler ng household namin na soon magiging assistant ko na, and he slightly bowed down his head and smiled. Mom and dad aren't really strict with picking butlers as long as they can survive training and initiations. Konting biruan pa bago nagpaalam na ang mga magulang ko.

I headed into the kitchen ng bahay ni Cas to get some non-alcoholic drink. Tapos biglang umalingawngaw sa speaker ang mga kanta ng DR. I was staring at the sink habang nagsisink in sakin ang mga kanta nila. Wala pang boses ng babae. Purong DR lang talaga. Hindi pa ko nakikisawsaw sa mga kanta nila. And then I hear them, sumasabay sila sa kanta nila. I felt out of place. I am not in their picture. I'm just an outcast.

Again, I'm thinking. Why, Czera? Paano to nangyari lahat? Why did you gave in to your emotion that easily and never used your brain? Why did you decided for a temporary aid for your broken heart?

I slowly turned around, and watched the smiles on their faces, how they wave their hands, their laughters. Pretty soon, Czera, you're going to destroy those.

Then lumipat yung tingin ko kay Soul. He's doing fine now, na para bang wala syang pinagdaanan na hirap kahapon. He's joining with the others. I don't know if he already got rid of his trauma or sadyang nakakalimutan lang talaga nya ang mga paghihirap nya pag kasama nya ang DR. Sina Cas naman at asawa nya, sina Nana, Fausto, Alex at Ren, nakikipagtuwaan na rin sa kanila. Though Fausto and Alex are oblivious to their surroundings just how a butler do his role.