To Give In

Kabanata 2- Lied

Kabanata 2

"I personally want to go there." He answered.

It's 4pm at kasalukuyan kaming nakababad sa matinding init ng araw.

Marahan lang akong tumango, naiintindihan ang gustong mangyari ng kaniyang Ama.

Pinagmasdan ko kung gaano ka-komportable na nakapatong ang shades ni Miguel sa matangos niyang ilong. It's resting on the bulk bridge of his nose.

He's looking intently at the sea that's why I have access to his side angle. I can see his thick and long eyelashes.

Sinabi ni Miguel na kailangan na niyang asikasuhin ang kaniyang mga requirements para sa aplikasyon n'ya at admission test sa isang prestihiyoso at kilalang University sa States.

It's the oldest institution of higher learning in United States and one of the nation's most prestigious, he said. His father's looking up to him. Dahil sa pagiging magaling na estudyante nito, inaasahan ng kaniyang Ama ang paga-aral niya 'ron.

He wanted the best for his son, I guessed.

Kung si Miguel ang tatanungin ay gusto niya sanang kumuha ng kursong engineering and applied sciences or medicine, any courses will do, but then, his father is a well known fortunate wealthy businessman. Ilang beses na itong na-feature sa Forbes. Madalas kong makita iyon sakanilang malaking library.

Marahil ay natatakot siya na mabigo ang kaniyang Ama. Who wouldn't? Tito, Nicholas is exactly the realest reflections of Miguel, only that I've been with Miguel at mas mainit ang kaniyang pakikitungo sa akin. Si Tito Nicholas ay laging busy at seryoso. I think Miguel will be very much like him in time. Kapag natapos na siya at makasakay na si Tito sa trabaho.

His father wanted him to take business related course first, then engineering. Iyon ang laging sinasabi sa akin ni Miguel at ipinapaliwanag. He said, tho, his father studied Civil Engineering.

Sabi ni Tita Celestine ang Daddy daw ni Miguel ang Founder, CEO and chairman of S&S empire. He owns stakes in consumer goods, real estate companies, Philippine construction and mining. Lately, he even supervised a chain of more than fifty-five brands that includes Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Sephora. Wala akong gaanong alam sa mga ganoong bagay pero ang mansion at ang lawak ng lupa nila Miguel ang nagpapatunay na may pera sila.

Tila ba mabigat ang inaasahan sa kaniya ng Ama that's why he always works hard to make him proud. He's the only child that's why no one but him to inherit all of their riches, their business.

Ramdam ko ang kaba n'ya. Noon pa man, takot na siya na hindi masunod ang gusto ni Tito Nicholas.

Nakikinita ko ang kagustuhan nitong masundan ang kaniyang Ama.

Sabi pa niya, kailangan niyang paghandaan ng mabuti iyon. Kaya naman sinusulit niya ang araw na ito para makapa-relax.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Mabilis naman n'ya akong tinapunan ng tingin.

Now we are both sitting on the white sands of Sta. Ignacia's beach, under a tall palm tree. Nakasilong kami 'ron. Pinapanood ang magandang tanawin ng karagatan.

"So, hindi na tayo magkakasama lagi?" I can't help but to ask.

Niyakap ko ang aking mga tuhod. I'm wearing an under-armor rash guard and shorts while Miguel's only wearing trunks. Nakatuko ang mga kamay niya sa buhangin para suportahan ang sarili. His muscled biceps are flexing most of the time.

I'm aware that we don't hang out often like we used to, dahil busy siya sa pagiging grade-twelve student. But what he just said provided me a realization that it will be much lesser time for us. Kung noon ay nakakapag-kita pa kami. Baka ngayon hindi na.