Forcedly Yours [Completed]

Chapter 10

"Sosyal! May driver," pabirong sabi sa'kin ni Sonia habang papalabas kami ng ospital.

Natatawang umirap ako sa kanya. She's been saying the same thing over and over since she first saw Mang Tonio dropping me off almost a month ago.

"Ugh, I swear baka hindi ko din mapakinabangan ang kursong 'to pag-graduate natin," pagod ang boses na sabi niya habang minamasa-masahe ang balikat.

"Talagang hindi kasi kailangan pa nating pumasa ng boards," sagot ko.

Pabiro na umirap siya, "Well, duh. You know what I mean."

Ngumiti and bumati kami sa mga dalawang doctor na nakasalubong namin. Kapwa kaming naka-assign sa operation room sa unang bahagi ng semester. Rotation ang internship namin pero so far, pareho kaming nag-eenjoy sa OR.

"Tin, may sasabihin pala ako," sabi ni Sonia nang makalabas na kami ng hospital.

"Hmm?"

She bites her lip, looking at me as if considering her words. "Nakita mo na ba yung article-"

"Yeah," putol ko sa sasabihin niya.

"Tin-,"

Umiling ako at binigyan siya ng tipid na ngiti. "It's fine, Son."

Umungos siya. "No, it's not!" angal niya. "You should-"

"Ayan na si Mang Tonio," putol ko sa sasabihin niya. "See you sa school next week?"

She lets out an exasperated sigh before nodding and hugging me.

Agad na tumalikod ako at pumasok sa kotse.

"Hello, manong," bati ko.

"Good evening 'po ma'am," ganti niya bago nagsimulang mag-drive. "Sa bahay na 'po ang derecho natin?"

It has been almost a month since I last saw Leyton. He didn't even spend the night at the house after our fight in the pool area.

Kinabukasan ay nagsiratingan sina Manang Linda at Manang Elsie. Dumating naman pagka hapon si Maning Tonio, asaw ni Manang Elsie. Kapwa silang nasa trenta anyos habang si Manang Linda naman ay nasa kwarenta na. Matagal na raw sila sa pamilya nila Leyton na siya ring nagpapa-aral sa mga anak nila.

It has been just us since then.

Dumaan si Silver matapos ang isang linggo para kunin ang naiwang gamit niya bago siya bumalik ng France. She told me Leyton was staying at his penthouse and asked if I was okay. She gave me a sad smile and hugged me tight before she went to the airport. "Don't give up on him just yet." bulong niya pa sa'kin.

How can I give up on him when he gave up on me?

And it was entirely my fault. I was too proud and ashamed of my feelings for him and instead of confronting them, I took it out on him. Blamed him.

The house felt more complete when it was just the two of us. I sometimes imagine him watching me, too.

One week before my classes started, I began planting my vegetables before I got too busy. Para dilig at bungkal nalang ang gagawin ko.

Someone delivered several sacks of loam soil which is the best soil for planting. There were packets of vegetable seeds and gardening materials, too.

Alam ko na si Leyton ang nagpadala 'non at agad na pinigilan ko ang sarili na kiligin. He just probably thought he owed me or something.

Tinulungan ako ni Mang Tonio na gawin ang dalawang plant bed sa garden. Sa kasalukayan ay medyo tumubo na pareho ang kalabasa at talong ko. My cabbages looked healthy too. Pero inaalagan ko pa ang mga kamatis. I was also thinking of adding carrots and onion chives.