Cliche (Candy Stories #5)

Chapter 10: I won't give you heartbreaks

TCWDM: Medyo hilo ko kasi antok na, but I tried my best to edit this before posting. Baka may natira pa ring errors so ~ kayo na bahala. Also, please be gentle with Aurora. Correct her if you want but don't call her names. Kagatin ko kayo. :<

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Second year, Culinary Arts
August, last week
STU

"Mommy, sure kang I don't need to go with you? What happened po ba?" tanong ko kay Mommy habang mahigpit ang hawak sa phone ko.

Nakatingin sa 'kin si Cal, naghihintay rin ng balita. Dad said that Mom wasn't feeling well. Pupunta raw sa ospital pero ayaw pasama. He's still at work and she urged him not to leave early. Si Kuya Rius, nasa work din. Nasa university naman ako kasi required. But I could leave anytime because it's foundation week naman.

"No need, Princess. Just enjoy there. You're watching something interesting, 'di ba?" may tukso ang boses na sabi niya.

Sumulyap ako kay Maxwell na nasa Eating Contest. He was on his 15th plate of spicy noodles, maybe trying to break his own record from last year. Wala namang nag-a-attempt na talunin siya talaga. Those who were joining were just to count how many plates they could eat. Nagbibigay na ng runner-up prizes ang Game Master para interesting pa rin ang contest.

Everyone was cheering on him. Panay ang 'Boy Manok' nila dahil may hawak uli siyang grilled chicken.

"Mas importante ka kaysa sa foundation week, Mommy," naka-pout na sabi ko. "I'll go with you na talaga. Ilang araw ka nang may something, eh. Baka it's bad. Nasa'n ka na po ba? Hahabol ako sa 'yo."

"It's just headache, anak. Worst, migraine. And I'm already in the car for the check-up. You and your dad are worrying over nothing."

But it's not over nothing. Hindi sakitin si Mommy, pero 'pag nagkakasakit siya, bagsak talaga siya. She'd be weak for days. Mamumutla nang matagal.

"Babalitaan kita mamaya 'pag pauwi na ako, okay?" dagdag niya pa. "Enjoy ka diyan."

"But Mommy..." I was still intent to whine even though I know that I could never change her mind once she settled on a decision. Hindi si Mommy 'yong klase na mabilis mabago ang isip. And matigas din ang ulo niya minsan.

"Enjoy kayo ni Calyx diyan, anak. Give me good news later, okay? Ibababa ko na. I love you."

"I love you po. Ingat po. Promise to tell me the result agad."

"I promise."

The other line clicked and the call ended. Nakasimangot ako nang tumingin kay Calyx.

"She doesn't want me to go with her," ani ko. "Dito na lang daw talaga tayo."

Nagkibit-balikat si Cal. "Hindi mo naman mapipilit si Tita."

"I know." Nagbuntonghininga ako at nagbalik ng tingin kay Maxwell. I was almost startled dahil nakatingin din pala siya sa 'kin. Ang bilis ko tuloy napaso at napatingin sa ibang bagay.

"He's going to win it. Ewan diyan sa taong 'yan. May tambakan ng pagkain sa tiyan," komento ni Calyx.

I know Maxwell's going to win. I didn't doubt it. Gusto ko lang talaga siyang panooring kumain ng spicy noodles, gaya last year. This is one of the moments na walang magja-judge sa 'kin kahit tumingin ako sa kanya, dahil maraming nakatingin sa kanya. I was using the crowd as a forest so I wouldn't stand out. Para walang mag-iisip na mapagsamantala ako.

Nagbuntonghininga uli ako nang maalala si Mommy. Last time, mabigat ang katawan niya, pero okay lang daw siya. And then, ilang araw nang sumasakit ang ulo niya. 'Tapos, ngayon siya magpapatingin kung kailan walang puwedeng sumama sa kanya. Kahit si Manang Thelma, wala. Nasa bakasyon sa probinsya nila.