Veera's POV
Nag-hihintay ako ngayon dito sa lobby. Hindi ko pa rin mapigil ang iyak ko. Kanina pa ako punas nang punas ng luha ko kaso parang hindi nauubos. Ang dami na ngang napapatingin sa akin. Pero anong gagawin ko? Eh sa nasasaktan ako eh. Tumungo na lang ako to hide my face from their judgemental stares.
"Veera?" Napa-angat ako ng tingin when I heard a familiar voice. Si Kuya Vince.
Tumakbo ako palapit sa kanya at sinalubong niya naman ako agad ng yakap. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili kong maiyak ulit when he enveloped me with his arms.
"Vee, anong nangyari? What's wrong? Tsaka asan sila Tita Tanya?" Sunod-sunod akong tinanong ni Kuya Vince but I wasn't able to answer dahil sa sobrang pag-iyak ko.
He sighed saka niya mas hinigpitan ang yakap sa akin. "It's okay, Vee. Just cry all you want. Nandito na ako. I'll stay with you."
Iyak pa rin ako nang iyak pero kahit paano, kumalma naman ako when I heard Kuya Vince's voice. There's something with his voice and his warm embrace na nakakapagpa-kalma sa akin.
Inalalayan ako ni Kuya Vince papunta sa kotse niya at pinapasok ako dun. Just like what he said, hinayaan niya lang akong umiyak. Tahimik lang siya pero hindi niya binibitawan ang kamay ko. He even pressed my hand in his face.
Kumalma na rin naman ako after a while. Hindi naman nabawasan ang sakit pero parang wala na talaga akong iiiyak ngayon and also, napapagod na rin ako. I guess it's time to rest my heart.
"How are you feeling now, Vee? Bakit ka ba umiiyak? Want to talk about it?" Malambing na tanong ni Kuya Vince. Kahit boses niya, napapakalma ako. And I don't know why he has this effect on me.
Magku-kwento na sana ako sa kanya when I remembered something.
"Ay shit!" I exclaimed kaya nagulat din sa akin si Kuya Vince.
"Why, Vee? What's wrong?"
"Nanay and Tatay are waiting for me, Kuya." Sagot ko sa kanya. "Hala, sht! I'm dead."
"What?!" He asked and just like me, nagpa-panic na rin siya. "Eh nasan ba sila?! Let's go. You won't like Tita Tanya when she's mad." He leaned on me para ikabit ang seatbelt ko.
I told him kung saang resto naghihintay sila Nanay then he immediately started the car at nag-drive. Sht talaga! Papagalitan ako ni Nanay nito!
◆◆◆
Nakarating naman kami si restaurant in no time. Buti na lang talaga mabilis mag-drive si Kuya Vince.
"Vee, what took you so long?" Nanay doesn't look mad naman but she doesn't look happy either.
Sasagot na sana ako kaso bigla siyang nag-salita ulit nang mapatingin siya sa likod ko.
"Oh, Vince, buti nakasama ka." She looks delighted nang makita niya si Kuya Vince. Bakit ganon? Nung nakita niya si Kuya Vince, parang hindi na siya galit? Ang daya eh. Palibhasa favorite niyang inaanak si Kuya eh. "I thought you have something to do?"
"Yes, Tita. And I'm sorry kung late po kami ni Vee. Inasikaso ko po kasi muna 'yung lakad ko bago ko sinundo si Vee." Paliwanag naman ni Kuya Vince. Mukha namang benta kay Nanay ang excuse niya.
"Sige na, let's eat?" Nanay said kaya naupo na kami.
I forced myself to act normal in front of them kahit na may sakit pa rin akong nararamdaman. Everyone is so happy for my sister because grumaduate siya as a summa cum laude and I don't want to ruin this moment.
"Ate, will you eat your cake?" Napansin ko na lang that I was spacing out when I heard Vane's voice.
I felt Kuya Vince's hand held mine. I looked at him and saw the concerned expression in his face. I smiled at him to let him know that I'm fine.
"Sige na, you can have it." Sabi ko kay Vane. "Pasalamat ka hindi ako matakaw ngayon."
"Yaaay!" Napangiti ako lalo when I saw how happy he is. Niyakap niya pa ako kaya mas lalo akong napangiti.
"Vince, kailan nga pala uwi nila Keith at Juliana?" Tanong ni Tatay kay Kuya Vince while we're eating.
"Ah, they'll be home next week Tito. In-extend po kasi nila ang vacation nila." He answered. "Seems like gusto pa nilang magkaroon ako ng kapatid."
Natawa naman sila Tatay sa sinabi niya. Loko rin talaga 'tong si Kuya Vince.
"If you want, pwede ka munang mag-stay sa bahay habang wala pa sila Keith." Tatay told him. "Para naman hindi ka mag-isa sa inyo."
"I'm fine, Tito. Dadalaw na lang po ako sa inyo and I'll cook for you 'pag may time." Sagot ulit ni Kuya Vince. Napa-ngiti naman si Tatay. Alam niya kasing masarap mag-luto si Kuya Vince kaya tuwang-tuwa siya.
"'Tay, can I stay kila Kuya Vince tonight?" They all looked at me nang magpaalam ako kay Tatay.
Alam ko naman kasing gusto akong makausap ni Kuya Vince and also, I want let all the pain out. At siya lang ang pwedeng makinig sa akin ngayon.
"Sure," Tatay agreed. "Samahan mo muna ang Kuya mo while he's alone."
I felt him squeezed my hand again and gave me the look that he gives me everytime that he's asking na mag-kwento sa kanya ng nararamdaman ko. I nodded and he gave me a sad smile.
Naghiwalay na kami after our dinner. Uuwi na ngayon sila Veronica sa bahay nila sa Tagaytay while Nanay and Tatay naman will go home na with the twins. At ako naman, sasama kay Kuya Vince.
"So, how are you feeling now, Vee?" He asked nang makapasok kami sa kotse niya. "Still sad? Or you feel better now?"
"I'm still sad but I feel better now." I replied. And I don't know why but we both laughed at what I said.
"Nakakabobo pala 'pag nasasaktan ka 'no?" I said in between our laughs and just like that, napa-tigil kami sa pagtawa.
Tinanggal ni Kuya Vince ang seat belt niya at ganon din ang ginawa niya sa akin.
"I'm pretty sure you really need my hug right now." He opened his arms kaya naman yumakap agad ako sa kanya.
Mas lalong bumuhos ang luha ko the moment he put his arms around me. "Ang sakit, Kuya. Sobra. Bakit ganon kadali sa kanya na bitawan ako?"
Iyak lang ako nang iyak. Nararamdaman ko naman ang mga braso niya while he's caressing my back.
"I knew it, Vee. Sabi ko na ba dahil 'to kay Liam." Sabi niya and hugged me tighter. "I won't tell you to stop crying kasi alam kong sobra kang nasasaktan ngayon but promise me that you'll tell me everything when you're ready, okay?"
Hindi ako makapag-salita so I just nodded. Hindi ko siya nakikita ngayon kasi naka-yakap pa rin ako sa kanya but I think satisfied naman siya sa response ko.
He sighed. "For now, umiyak ka muna ulit. Just cry in my arms all you want. I don't know kung anong magagawa ko to lessen your pain but I hope my hugs will make you feel better."
Hindi lang ako makapag-salita because I was crying hard but I really want to tell him that his embrace is all I need right now. His embrace makes me feel better, safe and loved. At 'yun lang ang kailangan ko ngayon.
◆◆◆
A/N: Here's a very short update for youuu 😉
BINABASA MO ANG
Vee and Vince (V series #3) (#Wattys2019) - COMPLETED
ChickLitV Series #3 Veera Marie Tuazon and Keith Vincent Villamor have been best friends since they were young. Fetus friends pa nga daw kasi hindi pa man sila pinapanganak, mag-best friends na rin ang mga magulang nila. Mag-best friends sila. 'Yun ang alam...