One Summer in Bicol ✔

Kabanata 25

New Start

Bedroom eyes, long black wavy hair, thin pink lips and mysterious aura.

Hinayaan kong tumama ang kamay ko sa mukha nyang misteryoso. He looks serious yet happy. How I miss those eyes, nose, lips and everything about him.

"I miss you," I whispered.

I remember when I wake up after their encounter, I saw myself inside a room with white and blue surroundings. Worried face of my mom welcomed me.

"Kumusta ang nararamdaman mo, A?"

"What happened?"

"Nasa hospital ka ngayon. Bukas luluwas na tayo sa Manila dahil mas maganda ang facilities doon."

Tumango bilang sagot. She said na bumyahe sya nang malamang hindi kami natuloy umuwi ni Chris dahil unalis ako. I don't know what happened next nang mawalan ako ng malay ng gabing iyon. The last thing I remember ay nasaksak si Jacob. I looked around the room pero walang ibang nandoon kundi kami ni Mama.

"Where is Chris, ma? Si Jacob po?"

Napabuntong hininga si Mama. "Chris is in San Isidro. Kinuha nya ang mga gamit nyo. Bukas babyahe na tayo. While Jacob..."

Hindi naituloy ni mama ang sasabihin nya. I saw pain and glitch of anger in her eyes.

"Bakit mo ginawa 'yun, A?" she started crying and it affects me that much.

"He asked me to," I honestly said.

"Who?"

"Papa."

"He did?"

Tumango ako. "Yes, Ma. He pushed me to go here in Bicol. Sabi nya he will file annulment kapag sumunod ako."

"At naniwala ka sa kanya?"

Umiling ako. "I know he won't do that. But what pushes me to do what he said is the fact that my own father wants me gone."

Nag-uunahan nang tumulo ang mga luha sa mata namin ni Mama. We are crying our hearts out because pain became unbearable. This is the first time I cried in front of her and I know how sad it is to see your loved one cry.

Nang kumalma ay hinawakan ni Mama ang kamay ko. No one interrupt us as we have a heart to heart talk. One thing I never expect to happen.

"Tell me, A, gusto mo bang maghiwalay na kami ng Papa mo?"

Tumango ako.

"Alam mo ba kung bakit ako nagpakasal sa kanya?" malungkot nyang tanong.

Naguguluhan man ay sumagot ako. Sinabi ko sa kanya ang mga nalalaman ko tungkol sa naging arranged marriage nila.

"Jacob told you the right story but not my point of view," she started. I became more confused because based on her eyes, she's happy and in pain at the same time. "Ginusto ko 'yun, A. Ginusto kong maikasal sa papa mo."

Umupo ako mula sa pagkakahiga para mas mapakinggan si Mama.

"Pero hindi ba, mahal mo ang papa ni Jacob? Sumama ako kay Jacob, Ma, kasi ayaw kong maging katulad mo. Ayaw kong maulit ang lahat sa'yo. I wanted to run away from the reality and create my own reality," sabi ko.

Nagulat si Mama sa sinabi ko. Kumunot ang noo nya. "You think ganoon ako kababaw, A?" bakas ang pagkairita sa boses nya.

"I'm sorry... I just hate what I see between you and Papa," nakayuko kong sabi.

"We were just the same, A." she hold my chin and made me face her. "We chose the convenience."

"What do you mean, Ma?"