A Crossroad ✔

Chapter 44: Not Going Home

[Quin]

"Welcome to the family, hija... I'm so happy for the both of you." Ngiti ng daddy ni Raven. The way he smiled reminded me so much of the person right next to me. Thinking about it, Raven really does have foreign features... pero hindi ko rin naman alam kung saang parte ng mundo.

Well, it doesn't matter that much. He's a Filipino, that's it.

Tipid akong ngumiti pabalik sa mga magulang niyang nakatayo ngayon sa harap namin at tumango.

"Thank you." They aren't awkward to be with but I am! I don't know how to deal with them, okay? Nagka-boyfriend na ako't lahat-lahat pero hindi ko pa rin kayang makisama, lalo na sa pamilya ni Raven.

Akbay-akbay ako ng kumag kong kasintahan habang kausap ang mga magulang niya sa may dining area. The whole place is lit by three, crystal chandeliers on the ceiling and every amnesties scream great class and elegance. From polished and carved furniture's to glass windows, tables and steel chairs.

Moderno ang ambiance ng kanilang bahay at halata iyon sa kanilang mga kagamitan. I find it very lit and nice.

Alas-dose na rin ng gabi at kakatapos lang ng birthday celebration ni Raven. We saw the visitors off as they went inside their cars and rode home. Naging mahaba ang selebrasiyon sa dami ng bumati at nakipagkwentuhan. Kahit ako ay napagod.

Crowd dehydrates me.

"I wish you happiness. Anyway, Raven... I'm gonna borrow your girlfriend for a while. I know you'll mind but she won't." Napatingin ako sa mommy niya na nakatingin din pala sa akin. Okay... I guess this is always part of being here, right?

Raven tried to protest but his mom is too serious about taking me somewhere else. Wala na rin siyang nagawa nang kusa akong sumama sa mommy niya. She took me upstairs. Sa anyo at amoy pa lang ng kwartong pinasukan namin ay alam ko ng kay Raven 'to.

"Ayoko'ng magpaligoy-ligoy pa," diretso niyang saad nang humarap siya sa'kin. Napatigil din ako sa mahinang pagsunod dahil do'n.

"Please don't." Pormal siyang tumango sa sinabi ko. Naglakad siya patungo sa tabi ng malaking kama sa gitna ng silid at kinuha ang isang picture frame na may mukha ni Raven, katabi ng isang frame na may picture naming dalawa.

He looks years younger in the photo held by his mother, and the photo with me was when he took me in a famous beach resort. Humingi pa talaga siya ng pabor sa bangkero para kunan kami ng litrato sa kan'yang kamera. We were side by side in the boat, he cracked a witty joke that time and laughed at it himself.

I was looking at him seriously while he was laughing still. Yes. That was a creepy picture but... I like it.

"I love my son so much. Bata pa lang siya ay pinangako ko na ang suportahan siya sa lahat ng kan'yang magiging pangarap." Saglit niyang tinitigan ang litrato bago ako nilingon. Her eyes are serious as usual but I can definitely see beauty in them.

The beauty of a mother's eyes when they become concern.

"He loves you so much... And I know you feel the same way." She smiled faintly, like she remembered something painful somewhere. Nahigit ko tuloy ang hininga sa naging palaisipang emosiyong nakasalamin sa kan'yang mga mata.

"But your eyes... I feel like I'm looking at the old me. I valued my selfish dreams more than anything a long time ago." I felt myself sigh a little. Parang alam ko na kung saan papunta ang usapan namin.

"I love Ravoun but I loved my dreams more. It's not impossible for you to do the same thing like I did." She ushered me to sit down in the bed like her. I obliged.