Free From The Cage

Chapter 10

Is your mom keep pressuring you again?" Cris asked me the moment we sit.

"Yep, but, I don't have any other choice, last year, she keeps on pushing me to meet up with tita Giselle and her husband, even until now. She is also determine to have my OJT in their company. It will be next year, I do hope mom will still change her mind."

"Two years has passed already Ice and you still keep telling me that 'i do hope mom will still change her mind' dialogue of yours. Although she didn't tell you that topic again but her actions prove that she will still pursue that marriage. What do you think?" I didn't reply to what she said and she sighed.

"Hindi masamang tumanggi paminsan minsan Ice. We should not live on others expectation, if you continue to follow them, then, you'll be forever in the cage. Sometimes, the only way to get us out from the cage is to stand up for ourselves and let not others prison us. If you really want to fly away from the cage, then stop following your master's command."

"I can't do that." I replied in a small voice.

"Ice, it will still depend on you if you still want to prison yourself with that past. Maybe your father set that arrangement but I think tito will understand you, as far as I know, he's always after your happiness."

I didn't answer her. I just continue to look at the cup of coffee in front of me.

"Ice. Don't be hard on yourself." That serious atmosphere was disturbed by my phone, it keeps on ringing and as Cris glance on the name that pops out on the phone screen.

" It's Rav." But I didn't answer the phone. "Ice, if you will continue with your belief, then you'll hurt yourself in the process. If that's the case, please stay away from Rav. Don't let yourself fall for him more. You know that you can't be together." I felt my heart ache with that truth and that's the truth that I always ignore.

"I don't know what are you saying." pagtanggi ko pa. How did she know that? I really tried so hard to keep this feelings I have for him.

"The way you look at him is different from the way you look at Jeff, and that's the time I conclude that you're harboring feelings for him. I didn't mind it at first, but I think you're falling for him more. Please don't hurt yourself. Hanggang maaga pa, stay away from him. "

"I can't."

"Is there any problem, Ice?" My face turns pale the moment I hear his voice.

"Did you hear anything?"

"May dapat ba kong marinig?" Rav looks at us suspiciously.

"Wala naman."

"Don't mind us. It's a girls talk. Anyway, I'll go first Ice, I still need to go home early today. Please consider the things I said to you, okay? " She hugs me and bid her farewell.

" What's with the two of you? Huh?"

"Wala."

"Okay. Why are you both serious a while ago?"

"It's nothing, okay?"

"Okay. By the way, let's go to the newly open ice cream parlor near your condo unit."

"I think , i'll pass this time, I still need to go home in our house."

"Oh, okay. Take care. "

" Thanks. Una nako."

"Okay. "

'Ice, if you will continue with your belief, then you'll hurt yourself in the process. If that's the case, please stay away from Rav. Don't let yourself fall for him more. You know that you can't be together.' This words from Cris keeps coming back in to my mind.

"Aishhhh."

Before I go to the house, I went first to the playground that is inside our subdivision. I think 10 minutes have passed nung may maramdaman akong umupo sa katabing swing.  I didn't mind it and just continue to do my thing.

"Long time no see." That voice, is it him? It's been two years since the last time I heard his voice.

"Yeah. I didn't see you for a long time."

"Yes. I've been living in states for the past two years. How are you? You still go here if things are not going right. "

"You can say that."

"I guess you're still the same like you are in the past years."

"Maybe, it's not easy to change the things that you used to do. It's hard for me to change my paths, but I'm still hoping I'll be better. "

"You're brave enough to face all those things." He paused for a while. " I didn't expect to see you here. Who would have thought that I'll see you here in that state of yours again. Bakit palagi kong nasasaktuhan?" Then the both of us laugh.

"Still, thank you so much for being with me in times like this."

"You're welcome even though I know it's just purely coincidence." Then, I smiled.

"So, why are you here?"

"I just visit our family friend, my mom keeps insisting me to come here before my flight. "

"Oh, you're going back in the States? If that's the case, please take care. I hope we'll meet again in the future, but by that time, I want to be the one who'll comfort you." He smiled sincerely with my retort.

"If that's what make your heart at ease, then I hope to that also."

"Hmmm. I need to go, thank you so much. Take care."

"Ice, bakit ngayon ka lang?" My mom asked me.

"I did something important in the school."

"You should have come earlier."

"Why?"

"Hayaan mo na Kiera, maybe it's not the right time for them to meet." Tita Giselle console my mother

"So, he's here a while ago? I thought he's abroad."

"Yes, he just settle some business here but he'll be back there soon. Sayang lang at hindi kayo nagkita."

It's true that I haven't seen him even his picture. I just don't want to be pressure knowing that man is the one who I will be married with in the future.

Even they want me to see his pictures,i still didn't want. I just give them a small smile for their concern. Anyway, mabuti na lang pala tumambay muna ako sa playground, atleast some thing good happen. I remembered him again, bakit nga kaya kung kailan ko kailangan ng kausap tska sya dumarating? What a coincidence.