Sweetest Taste of Life

Chapter 15

Gumising akong namumugto ang mata. The happiness in my eyes flew away and the glow in my face died.

Life is really unfair. My life is miserable! How can they do that to me? To Jared? To his family? Pwede namang ako na lang ang kinausap nila noon. Baka mas tanggap ko pa. Jared was my only happiness but they took it away.

Pumunta ako sa living room dala-dala ang printed kong grades. I saw them three, they all look happy. It's maybe their favorite daughter did great again.

"Looks like masaya ang lahat. What happened?" I asked with a fake smile.

"Your Ate Serene already have her boyfriend. He's a business-minded person like your sister" Dad answered with joy in his voice.

I sarcastically smiled at them.

"Congrats Ate! Mom and Dad, sana hindi niyo rin pagbantaan ang boyfriend ni Ate gaya ng pagbabanta niyo kay Jared noon" I stated with a playful voice.

Alam kong naguguluhan si Ate sa sinabi ko. Wala siyang kaalam-alam sa ginawa ng mga magulang namin.

"What are you saying Little Sister?" she asked.

"Ano na naman ang problema mo Aya?" sunod na tanong ni Mom.

Ano? Magmaang maangan pa sila na wala silang alam? Bullsh*t!

"Anong sinasabi ko Ate? Putang*ina! hiyang-hiya ako sa ginawa nila kay Jared at sa pamilya niya." I cursed.

My Ate's face is filled with curiosity. Tumayo ako sa harap nila.

"Why did you do that? Nakakahiya ang ginawa niyo! Sinira niyo ang buhay nila. Natanggal si Jared sa mga scholars noon dahil sa inyo. At tangina! Dinamay niyo pa pati ang business na ikinabubuhay ng pamilya niya! Sinira niyo ang image ng business nila at Hinintay niyo pa na magkasakit ang Papa niya! Why? I don't understand why did you do that. Siya lang ang natatanging nagpapasaya sa akin noon dahil kayo, nagpapaka busy sa pag-ipon ng pera niyo! Hindi siya ang panira sa buhay ko dahil siya ang pumupuno sa pagmamahal na di niyo maibigay sa akin but tang*na! You took it away Mom! Dad! " I can't hold the pain anymore.

"Ano Ate? Nasurprise ka ba sa kagagawan nila?" I looked at Ate. Parang hindi pa rin magsync in sa utak niya ang sinasabi ko.

"AYA! Your manners! Wag kang makipag-usap ng bastos sa amin. Tumigil ka na! " sigaw ni Dad sa akin.

"Bakit? Dahil ayaw niyong malaman ng paborito nyong anak ang kaya niyong gawin?" I asked him na mataas ang boses.

"AYA! Don't talk to us like that! Where's your respect?!" sigaw ni Mom sa akin.

"Why? Am I not respecting you Mom and Dad? Lahat ng gusto niyo, sinusunod ko because I respect you. But how can I respect people who can ruin someone's life?" tanong ko pabalik.

"I don't need your money, I need your love" I said while holding my tears.

"Ni minsan, hindi ko naramdaman na mahal niyo ako. Si Ate lang! Parang siya lang ang anak niyo! Kasi sobrang galing niya at ako'y saktong magaling lang? Pasensya na kung mababa ang IQ level ko po. You're giving material things, pero lahat ng iyon, luluma ,masisira at mawawala. What about the intangibles like love, care, and time? You let me grow na malayo ang loob ko sa inyo." I cried in front of them.

Binigay ko kay Dad ang papel na hinahawakan ko, it's my grades. Walang ni isang nagtangkang magsalita.

"That's my grade. Surprised? Masaya na ba kayo ngayong mataas ang grades ko? Pinaghirapan ko yan at salamat na lang sa isang tao, tinulungan niya akong mahalin ang kursong kinuha ko na gusto niyo. Sapat na ba iyan? O kailangan ko pang kumayod hanggang sa maubos ako? Sana minsan lang maging proud naman kayo sa akin Mom, and Dad. Sana sabihan niyo rin ako na "We're so proud of you, Anak" gaya ng kay Ate Serene. " mangiyak-ngiyak kong saad.

"You never let me feel that I'm your daughter, and I can't feel that I belong in this family!" pagkatapos kong sabihin iyon, tumakbo na ako palabas.

I hate them! I hate my life! Pwede bang lamunin na lang ako ng lupa ngayon para matapos na?

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. I don't want to see their faces nor talk to them.

Dinala ako ng aking mga paa sa park malapit sa aming subdivision. Marami ang nagpupunta dito during weekends, pero ngayon, mangilan-ngilan lang.

My life is as dark as the sky right now. The little raindrops are falling like my tears.

Umupo ako sa duyan. Umulan ng malakas kaya ang mga masasayang taong naglalaro ay nagsitakbuhan at humanap ng mapagsisilungan. Pero ako? Hinayaan ko lang ang sarili kong mabasa ng ulan.

Naalala ko na sa ganitong oras rin, ng nakipaghiwalay si Jared, I feel so lost Crying under the rain. Now that I'm in pain again, dinadamayan na naman ako ng panahon.

I'm in the midst of reminiscing ng naramdaman kong walang bumubuhos na ulan sa akin. I looked up, and there, I saw those pair of chinky brown eyes. Sparsh is here. Nakita na naman niya ang weak point ko.

When I'm in pain, he's there. When I'm exhausted, he's there. When I'm lost, he's there.
When I'm happy, he's there.

I can define the unknown feelings I have for him now. It's Love.

"Stand Up my Lady, please. Ayokong magkasakit ka. " utos niya.

Tumayo ako at bigla ko siyang yinakap. Iiyak na naman sa mga bisig niya.

"Sparsh. You saw me crying again. It's so hard. Im Sorry I can't be strong. They are so unfair. I hate my life Sparsh! " saad ko habang umiiyak. Hinaplos lang niya ang likod ko para patahanin.

"What you're going through might feel unfair, but there's a reason for it" he said. Hindi ko na siya sinagot.

"Just cry and let all the pain come out in your heart. I'm here" he sweetly said.

"I'm always here to wipe your tears. You can always cry on me Shan. I'm willing to be your handkerchief" saad niya. I'm blessed I have Sparsh in my life. He's my angel always.

Binaba niya ang payong na hawak niya at sabay kaming nabasa ng ulan.

"Hey, bakit mo binaba? Malakas ang ulan. Mababasa ka" worried na tanong ko. What if he's sensitive?

"No worries. I'll join you get wet under the rain. I'm going to let you feel that I still love you at your weakest moment, Shanaya" and he kissed my forehead.

He's too sweet to let him suffer the pain of loving.

I looked at his face. He did the same and we stared at each other. Looking each others eyes.

I love memorizing and his face is what I want to memorize perfectly. He caressed my cheeks ang leaned closer to me, looking at my lips.

He leaned closer and closer until his soft lips landed on my lips. It's smooth and soft.

He kissed me gently, slowly. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at pinakiramdaman ko ang halik niya. I put my hands on his nape and felt myself kissing him back.

I kissed him with the tears in my eyes. Mahal ko siya pero ayokong maranasan niya ang naranasan ni Jared.