"Let's go. Uuwi na tayo." Mahinang saad niya. "Miss ko na baby ko." Sambit niya bago sundutin yung tagiliran ko.
Sabay kaming napabitaw sa yakap at napatingin sa cellphone niya na may tumatawag.
"Yes, mom?" Agad niyang sagot. "Yes po," tiningnan niya ako. "Po?" Hinawakan niya yung kamay ko.
Ngumiti lang ako at pinakinggan yung mga sinasabi niya.
"Wala po bang pwedeng ibang sumundo?"
"Okay, okay, mom, I will." Nakita ko pa yung pag irap niya.
"Kailangan kong sunduin yung mga tita ko sa airport. Katatapos lang ng bakasyon nila sa San Francisco, ako daw gustong makita na susundo." Napabuntong hininga siya.
"It's fine," Mahina kong sabi.
Nakita ko ang pagsimangot niya.
"Don't worry, we have plenty of time." Dagdag ko pa.
"I want to go home with you." She pouted.
There are moments when Althea's eyes meet mine and I feel the weight of everything she doesn't say.
Her gaze lingers a fraction too long, not out of curiosity, but because there's something she's holding back. It's not the kind of longing you can easily put into words.
It's in the quiet tension between us, the space that stretches but never quite breaks. The way she looks at me isn't accidental.
I don't take it personally. I don't feel pushed aside or forgotten. I understand the need to put things in their rightful place, to sort out what's important, what can't be ignored.
"Sira! Sunudin mo na yan. I'll be fine here. Pababalikin ko na lang si Madison." Pag assure ko pa sa kaniya.
It seems like she's willing to turn down her mom's request just so she could be with me.
"You sure?" She asked. "Ihatid na lang muna kita," tumayo siya at hinawakan yung siko ko.
"Hindi na. I can handle myself, Althea. Pababalikin ko na lang si Madison." I smiled. "Mag iingat ka, ha?" Humalik ako sa pisngi niya.
Too bad, I am getting so excited to be with her but there are things that needs to get done.
"Tawagan mo muna si Madison." She insisted.
I did what she told me to do. After three rings, Mads answered it.
"Why?" She asked as she picks it up.
"Nakalabas ka na? Aalis si Althea..." Marahan kong sabi.
"I'm on the third floor, just checking out some makeup. Why?" Rinig ko ang pagtataka sa boses niya. Marahil ay napapaisip kung bakit hinahanap ko siya agad.
"Why? Where are you? I'll come to you." Pahabol niya nang hindi ako sumagot.
"Dito pa rin. Hintayin kita, bye, I love you." Nakangiti ako habang nakatingin kay Althea nang bitawan ang mga salitang 'yon.
"Yeah. I love you too."
I ended the call and looked at Althea again.
"See? You can go now." Sambit ko sa kaniya.
Muli ko siyang nginitian bago kumaway para maka alis na siya.
"Habit mo na 'yan, eh, 'no?" Sabi niya habang nakakunot ang noo at magkasalubong ang mga kilay.
Maang akong napatingin sa kanya.
I'm still trying to make sense of it.
I didn't say anything out of line, at least not that I can tell. It was a simple conversation, nothing more.
BINABASA MO ANG
I fell in love
Ficción GeneralHow can a few stolen moments ever be enough to last a lifetime? And if they are, would the ache they leave behind be worth it? This is a story of quiet love, heavy choices, and the kind of longing that never really lets go.
