The Bitch Has Changed

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

"MAMA, PAANO KAPAG gusto ko ng girlfriend?"

Mahinhin ang pagtawa ni Mama na akala mo ay kinikilig at hindi man lang sineryoso ang aking sinabi. "Edi dalawa na ang anak kong babae," sagot nito tsaka tumalikod sa akin para ilagay sa oven ang ginagawa nitong cookies.

Isang linggo na ang nakararaan matapos ang send-off party para kay Clifford kung saan nalaman ni Lance ang lahat at nagkaayos kaming dalawa ni Scarlett. Clifford has already flown to London and in his most recent update to us, he is now processing all his school requirements for his application at the University of Oxford. Kwento pa nito sa akin, kapag natapos na niya ang Master's niya, baka isunod na rin niya ang pag-te-take ng International Development program doon kaya sobrang natuwa ako para sa kanya.

Sina Xavier at Symon, kahit na school break, ay sobrang busy pa rin sa STU kahit mag-ha-holiday na. Halos doon na nga yata tumira ang dalawang 'yun, eh. Nito ko na nga lang din nalaman na member pala ng Supreme Student Council ng STU si Xavier, kaya pala kapag busy siya, talagang hindi niya kami pinapansin kasi sobrang dami na niyang inaasikaso sa acads niya tapos isabay pa na student leader pa siya. Habang si Symon ay abala sa Student Council ng College of Liberal Arts.

Meanwhile, Scarlett and I already started dating and seeing each other. She has taken me to different places here in Metro Manila that I have never been into since we got here. Madalas din kaming tumambay sa condo nila dahil madalas din daw naman na wala siyang kasama roon at na-bo-bored lang din ito kapag mag-isa.

Whenever I think about our moments together, I can't help but smile. Parang automatic na nga ang ngiti ko kapag naiisip ko si Scarlett, eh. It's just sad that Lance is not with us. None of us were being contacted by Lance, kahit na paminsan-minsan ay kinukumusta namin ito.

"Ma, seryoso nga." Sabi ko sa kanya nang muli itong humarap sa akin.

Pinagtaasan ako ni Mama ng kilay kaya medyo kinabahan ako. Scarlett brought up this topic, about us coming out to our parents. She told me she's planning to tell her parents that she's in love with a girl, and since I told her that I'm not going to be scared anymore, I need to face my mother and tell her the truth.

"I only have one question," she said. I nodded at her and waited for her to continue. "Will you be happy?"

Walang pag-aatubili akong tumango. At nang makita ko ang ngiti ni Mama, doon na ako mistulang nabunutan ng tinik.

"Then if you will be happy, find a girlfriend or anything. I would not stop you, anak. Your happiness is my happiness, too."

Kaagad akong napayakap kay Mama dahil sa sinabi niya. My mom has witnessed how I have been broken from my past relationship and I know nothing hurts her more than seeing her daughter like that. After all, kaming dalawa na lamang ni mama ang magkasama, and I know she wants nothing but for us to be happy.

"WHAT DID YOU tell your mom?" Scarlett asked when she got back from their kitchen. She cooked us some fries to eat for our movie marathon. Katulad noong mga nakaraang araw na narito ako, wala na naman sina Xavier at Symon.

"I just told her that I want a girlfriend." I happily answered then grabbed some fries.

Naramdaman kong tumabi sa akin si Scarlett sa sofa kaya agad akong lumingon sa kanya. Nakakunot ang noo nito, ganito siya kapag gusto niyang ipa-explain sa akin ang mga sinasabi ko kasi ayaw niya ng isang tanong, isang sagot lang.

"Come on, really? That's all?"

I giggled when she started asking questions. She grabbed the remote control and turned the TV on. She browsed on some movies to watch and play it. When I sat closer to her, she wrapped her arm on my waist. Palagi pa rin akong kinikilig sa tuwing ginagawa niya ito.