The Opposites THE NEXT CHAPTER

27: A YEAR LATER

CLEO RAMIREZ

It has been a year and I can't say that everything is perfect but I'm doing pretty well. My studies have been good although I found it quite hard at first. They teach very differently at nahirapan ako doon. Pero habang tumatagal ako dito natunan kong mag-adapt and I almost got used to it already. It's November and I got a few more semesters to go pero alam kong makakaya koto. Sabi ni Mom I should take a little break for a while at pupunta raw kami bukas sa beach para makapag-relax ng konti. She says she has a surprise for me which I really haven't figured out what yet. Hindi niya kasi gustong sabihin kahit tanong ng tanong pa ako. Hays. 

THE  NEXT DAY***

Nandito na kami ngayon sa isang beach somewhere in California. I'm not familiar with the places yet that's why I don't know where we are hehe. I kind of rely on Mom.

We were in the middle of having breakfast under the shade of a wide umbrella, hindi ko pa alam kung anong tawag diyan kaya yun yung tawag ko dun.

It was such a peaceful morning, just me and Mom and the ocean breeze. 

Out of nowhere, someone suddenly spoke.

"Is this seat taken?" 

Napaangat yung tingin ko sa taong nagsabi non.

Nakasuot ito ng white tshirt, black 'n blue board shorts and dark sunglasses covered his eyes.

"Oh, Rian, great you're here!" Mom said cheerfully.

"Rian?!" halos napasigaw ako.

"Surprise?" tinanggal nito ang sunglasses niya at ngumisi.

"What are you doing here?" I asked I was just so curious. This was more than a coincidence.

"Your Mom called me. Told me you were in the U.S."

Tinignan ko si Mom na agad na napangisi at umiwas ng tingin. 

"Mom." 

"What?" she replied, pretending to be innocent.

I sighed.

"Where did you find his number?" I asked, imposible namang meron siyang number ni Rian ehh.

"Your phone." she giggled.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako sa dalawang 'to. Hays. But it was good to see someone I really know.

"Looks like Cleo's not glad to see me Auntie." Said Rian, looking at Mom. Napailing naman si Mom. They're simply making fun of me. Mom talaga. 

"Ehh di ka pa ba uupo?" pagtataray ko kay Rian pero siyempre joke lang!

"I know you're glad to see me Cleo." ngumisi siya at umupo sa tabi ko.

"Pffftt." I rolled my eyes at him at napangiti rin sa huli. It's nice to get a visit from him. So this is my surprise huh?

A while later, the three of us, Mom, Rian and I went for a stroll around the beach. It was also almost sunset and the view was just wonderful. Kahit kailan hindi mo makikita ang ganitong view pag nasa loob ng bahay kalang. Ang ganda talaga...The cool breeze from the ocean touched my face as we walked on the sand.

"So, Cleo..." Rian trailed off as he walked beside me."

"Oh ano?" hindi na ako tumingin sa kanya at nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad.

"I have work now." Said Rian.

'"Edi congrats."

"Ito naman ang taray. Kaninang umaga ka pa ha?"

"Joke lang!" napatawa ako at ngumisi sa kanya.

"Anong klaseng trabaho iyan?" dagdag ko.

"Secret." simpleng sabi nito. Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at tinignan siya ng masama .

"Eh bakit mo pa binanggit?" pagtataray ko sa kanya.

"Wala lang." ngumisi ito.

"Alam mo, nakakabwiset ka!" tinalikuran ko siya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Narinig ko ang mahina na pagtawa niya.

"Ehh kamusta kayo nung babaeng yun?" tanong ko.

"Sino?"

"Siyempre yung gusto mo! Ito naman..." binibigyan talaga ako ng rason ng isang 'to para tumaray. Hays Rian.

"Oh, her." 

"Anyare?" tanong ko dito.

"She's still confused. That's all I could say."

"Oh, okay."

"I'm glad your mom called me to let me know that you're here." Said Rian.

"Yeah, right," I replied but then, I realized something. If Mom called Rian to let him know I was already here...she could've possibly called him too. 

Agad akong napatakbo papunta kay Mom na nasa unahan naming naglalakad. 

"Mom?" I said as I walked beside her. 

"Yes, anak?" 

"You didn't let him know I was here, did you?" I asked.

"Who?" 

"Blas?" I said as we stopped walking by the shore.

"Oh, I didn't tell him Cleo, don't worry." she smiled at me. 

I sighed. I was so relieved to hear that. Hindi ko alam kung ano yung gagawin ko pag bigla siyang magpapakita ulit. I know years had passed, I just don't want to face him. Hindi ko alam kung paano akong mag-react, o kung maging mabait ba ako sa kanya. And of course, Chloe. I don't want to see them both. I think it would tear me apart. At alam kong hanggang ngayon sila pa yun. Gusto yung Mom ni Blas si Chloe ehh, ano ba naman yung hindi mo magugustuhan as babaeng yun eh halos perfect na siya. Di nga lang mabait. It's so frustrating to think that, but I'd rather not. At kung iisipin, nung nag-break kami ni Blas, nandun agad si Chloe. They didn't waste much time after all.

I just hope he never finds out that I'm already here.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Cleo?"

"Promise me you won't tell Blas that I'm already here."

"I promise anak." 

She smiled at me and so I smiled back. I hope she keeps that promise.

**************

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