What is love?

Chapter 22

I tried to take Dawn's hands pero inalis niya kamay niya sakin under the table "uhm tito and dad can't we rest for a bit?" I asked not for me pero for Dawn's welfare "Richard my decision is final 5pm tomorrow we will fly magimpake na kayo at doon na kayo titira" dad said "tito baka sumunod nalang po ako" Dawn said calmly "why naman?" Dad asked "para po maka impake ako madami po kasi ako gamit and para kahit paano I can spend a little more time with mama kakauwi ko lang po last week diba" she said as if pleading

Naawa naman ako "oo nga dad and tito I think that will be good for her" i turned to Dawn and gave her a slight smile and so did she. The reception ended and we looked like an odd family doon sa resto dahil para kaming may sari sariling mundo tuwing nag uusap si dad and tito or si mom and tita or silang apat lang ang nag uusap si Dawn naman tahimik pero minsan nakikihalibulo buti nalang nandoon si Von na nag eaease up ng tension.

Natapos na kami kumain at tumayo na to leave "Pre" Von said dahil nahuli kami lumabas "I know lalaki sa lalaki ang usapan nato and ang gusto ko ay alagaan mo kapatid ko" sabi niya at umakbay sakin "I'll try my best" napatigil si Von sa sinabi ko "don't try Richard DO.IT di ko alam ano gagawin ko sayo if you hurt my ate" he warned tapos he patted my back ng malakas at nauna ng lumabas. I can't promise that Von pero I will try not to do a lot of damage sa kapatid mo kaya naisip ko magiging cold nalang ako sakanya para di siya gaano ma attach and masaktan.

We went home and dad congratulated me he told me that the real fight would start tomorrow but what he doesn't know the fight already started inside of me and I want to win, win so bad and prove him na I can make their city better than before para rin mapakawalan ko si Dawn ng maaga dahil they think she will be my guide, I will prove them na I can guide myself.

DAWN
It was an extremely bittersweet feeling nung umuwi kami nila mama, papa, and Von, I think they're genuinely happy for me pero how can I be?. Nakita ko si Von and Richard sa resto and I wondered what they were talking about. Speaking of Richard kapal talaga ng mukha niya na dalhin nga ang ex niya and sa harap pa namin walang hiya. I don't know how our lives will turn out together. Umakyat agad ako sa kwarto dahil sabi ko sakanila pagod na ako di ko napigilan I smoked a cigarette sa aking balkonahe, di ako mapakale dahil day after tomorrow magsasama na talaga kami ni Richard malayo pa sa pamilya ko even though I can call them anytime this is different. That thought gave me shivers kaya i hugged my self with my free hand.

I woke early the next day kaya I decided to do some laps sa pool "hija wow you're up early" mama said when i rested "yes ma I needed a cool down" i said smiling "anak are you scared?" She said and sat down sa edge ng pool with her feet dangling "ma honestly speaking yes" i faced her "my baby sabi nga namin nig papa mo we won't just marry you off to someone na we know will hurt you" she said and smiled faintly while stroking my hair "ma but he even brought his ex yesterday" i sadly said "alam mo I don't condone cheating pero I believe Richard can change for you" sabi niya "madam may tao po sa labas" manang Leng said "una na muna ako" she stood up

"Sana nga" isip ko and I did one more lap, after ko mag swimming ay nag breakfast kami ni mommy and I call Tine to meet up with her kasi I have to tell her na I'm leaving soon.

Tine and I met up in a coffe shop "WHAT!?!" napatayo pa siya "umupo ka Tine" i said while pulling her down kasi pinagtitinginan na kami "you're leaving?" "Oo eh dapat nga ngayon na" i said and took a bite from my cake "eh what happened bakit bukas pa?" "Kasi sabi ko I need more time to be with my family" she looked at me "di ka galit sa parents mo?" "Tbh Tine i don't know what go feel anymore" i faintly smiled