Cascading Waters

Chapter XXII

"You ready?" tanong ni Tyler, katabi ko ngayon sa eroplano.

Umirap ako sa kaniya at ngumisi. More than ready.

"Hell yeah," I answered. Tumawa ito sa tabi ko at ginulo ang buhok ko. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at inirapan ulit. Asshole.

My eyes searched for the familiar view I have been long missing and when I saw it, nilabas ko kaagad ang cellphone ko at kinuhanan ng picture ito kahit hindi naman masyadong klaro. The Manta Falls looked pretty even from up here.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"Home sweet home," bulong ko sa sarili.

With that, the memories came gushing in like fast liquid poured into a cup. Saying that that night changed my life is an understatement. It changed me a lot. The young, naïve, and innocent Mira Waverly Martin died the moment I stepped out of that last plane ride to Switzerland.

Five long years. Five years since I saw my "faithful" boyfriend kissing his past girl hungrily like it was the only thing he ever wanted to do all his life. Five years since I was almost raped by someone I trusted. Five years since that betrayal and struggle. Five years since I left the life I have learned to love.

I smirked. Seems like last month.

Remembering all of it now is nothing but bittersweet. Everything that happened made me realize what hell feels like and I will never ever put myself in that situation again. I have been nothing but kind and trusting yet I was stepped on. Not anymore. Not ever.

Niyugyog ako ni Tyler kaya naputol ang iniisip ko at minulat ang mga mata. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at hinampas ang yakap na unan sa mukha niya ng nakitang nakaharap ang cellphone nito sa mukha ko, halatang nagvi-video o picture.

"Fuck you, asshole."

I heard him laugh like mad that even when I'm annoyed, I still took the time to cover his mouth to not disturb the other passengers.

"Shut it, Tyler. You're annoying," I rolled my eyes.

He did and cleared his throat a bit before turning to me seriously with a ghost of smile on his face.

"Sure, babe," he replied before smirking like an asshole again.

I only rolled my eyes and turned my back at him to face the airplane window more.

I don't know who I like more– The careful Tyler or this asshole behind me, I don't know. Right after that night, Tyler never left my side and comforted me. He stopped going to school for a year like I did. Dumating kasi sa puntong kahit mawala lang ng ilang segundo si Tyler sa tabi ko ay umiiyak ako dahil na-trauma sa ginawa ni Luke sa akin.

If you think it was easy, it wasn't. I cried like mad in Bahiran that night but it was nothing compared to when I reached Switzerland. My reaction to the trauma didn't occur until I reached Switzerland and entered my room. The whole plane ride to Switzerland, I was in denial, angry, shameful, and sad all at once.

If I look back at it now, I would say it's crazy that I even reached Switzerland without taking my own life. I guess the only person who helped me get through it step by step was Tyler. He helped my hand and hugged me throughout the whole travel. He gave up school for me. He stayed in our house that my parents consider him my brother now which we laugh about now.

I went to therapy and even when my parents didn't know the reason why I had to do it, they were supportive and really trusted Tyler and I.

My parents never knew until last year. I asked Tyler to keep it for me and so he did all the assuring to my parents kaya nagtiwala silang magiging okay ulit ako. When they found out, they cried with me and were furious. Papa wanted to go back to the Philippines and look for Luke but he immediately relaxed after calling the Fabianos. I didn't tell them about Axel dahil hindi naman siguro importante na iyon.