MY FIRST BOYFRIEND

15. TRUTH

Nang matapos na ang conversation ng Nanay niya sa phone doon siya nagstart umiyak. She cry so hard and I felt so broken when I see her cry.  Okey lang kayang lapitan ko siya to comfort her.
I tried to move closer her and give to her my handkerchief. She look at me and smiled trying to tell me that shes okey but I know inside that shes not.
"It seems that you have a huge problem that you never tell us. I heard you talking to your Nanay. If it is okey with you to ask, anong nangyari sa Tatay mo?"
"Nakakulong siya, nong umalis kayo ng Pinas napagbintangan siyang napatay yung kaibigan niya."
I cant believe on what happened to his Father.
"Siya kasi yung tinuturo dahil bago nangyari yun nag-away sila ng kaibigan niyang yun dahil sa pera. Ang sabi ni Tatay di naman daw siya, mukhang malaking tao raw ang nagpapatay don kaya siya ang ginigiit, kaya siya ang friniframe up. Ang sakit lang kasi porket ba hindi kami mayaman kaya na kaming tapaktapakan ng mga taong yun." And the she cried so hard again.
I gently hugged her and make a tap on her back.
"Ang sama naman pala ng nangyari sa pamilya mo. " I realized how stupid I am. I hate my parents in getting separated and felt that Iam the unluckiest person on earth because I have a broken family not realizing that there are people who are in poorer situation but still manage to live their life with a smile. Like Belya, all this time akala ko happy pero behind that smile is shes looking for justice for her father. How positive and optimistic she is.
"Nahihiya ako sayo." I told her, "I brought you here yun pala..."
"Okey lang yun. Kailangan mo rin naman ng kasama." She told me.
"Im sorry, naging mean ako sayo kasi naging bitter ako sa separation ng parents ko yun pala, mas grabe pa pala yung situation ng family mo."
"Sabi ni Lolo, ang buhay ay parang roller coaster. There are ups and downs, wag daw akong magaalala kasi parang sa roller coaster thrill daw kasi yun ng buhay natin. Ang importante kahit natatakot ka, kahit hilong hilo ka na wag na wag kang dapat bibitaw. At laking dapat happy lang, choose to be happy at wag kang magigive up sa mga pangarap mo."
"Aside sa Tatay mo, what are your dreams? Wait, dream mo pa bang maging artista."
Then she laughed. Even if there are still tears in her eyes she still laughed.
"Gusto mo pa ring maging artista noh?"
"Gusto ko lang magpasaya ng mga tao. Narealize ko kasi nong nangyari ito sa family namin naisip ko malamang may sampung tao sa mundong ito na kaparehas ko ng problema tapos hindi niya alam ang gagawin niya, sobrang lungkot kasi niya at least kapag napasaya ko siya, naentertain ko siya malilimutan niya ng kaunti ang problema niya, makakamove on siya makakahanap siya ng pagasa sa buhay."
"Gets ko na kaya ka naging si Bibang Kusinera sa you tube."
She smiled at me.
I look at charming face. How lucky Iam for I have a friend like her. A friend we always choose to be happy kahit mahirap ang buhay.
"Thank you."
"Thank you? Para saan?"
"For making me realize how must I lived my life."
It seems that she is clueless in what I mean.
"And for being there, for taking good care of me."
"Ahhhh..."
"Oops English yun, dapat may penalty ako."
"Ano ka ba? Wala naman si Kuya Jj. Passed na yun."
"I want a truth punishment."
"Hoy ano  ka ba okey lang sabi eh."
"Just ask anything you want to ask me. I will answer you with full honesty."
"Wala naman ako..."
I hold her hand, "Alam ko, since I arrived here in the Philippines marami kang gustong tanungin sa akin. Grab the opportunity Belya, tayo lang dalawa dito. Ask me."
Napayuko si Belya at napabuntong hininga.
"The first question that you want to ask me when we first met."
"Naalala mo pa ba ako?" She asked me.
"Yes of course."
"Yun. Yun lang naman ang gusto kong tanungin."
"I know its not only that. Keep on asking, you are now free to ask."
"N-na..." yumuko siya, "Naalala mo ba kung an ako sa buhay mo noong five years ka pa lang."
"Yes. You are my first girlfriend. My first love."
She blushed and maslalo niya akong di matignan.
"I remember every moments I have with you." I added.
"Grabe pala. Kunwari ka lang pala na hindi mo alam."
"And I remember also have we almost kissed each other when we are playing taguan, kung di lang tayo na boom noon ng pinsan ko."
I put my hand in her chin so she can look at my eyes directly.
"Eh ikaw ba naaalala mo yun?"
"Huh?"
I smiled and started to move my face near to her. I reach for her lips and sealed it with a kiss.