I clicked my tongue and tried my best to calm down and not overthink. Inangat ko ang tingin ko para hindi bumagsak yung luha ko, my make-up will be ruined and I didn't want that to happen. I already asked Jules but wala siyang news kay Brent and it's honestly pissing me off, kahit sila Tita Cindy and Tito Bong, hindi raw siya macontact. Everyone was getting worried, sabi niya training niya today and hahabol siya.
"Anak," Dad called me, he smiled softly and fixed my hair. "Start na tayo."
"Wala pa si Brent, Pa."
"Yung mga bisita mo baka gutom na, pwede naman ata si Kuya Bryce mo, or isa dun sa anak ni Bert." I sighed, wala naman akong magagawa. We were already an hour delayed, kawawa naman yung mga bisita ko.
Close friend ni Dad si Tito Bert and he has five sons, Dad quickly went out to talk to Tito Bert. Tita Cindy kissed my cheek and gave me a hug, apologizing over and over because his son, my boyfriend, couldn't attend my debut.
"You know Juan?" Dad said. Juan awkwardly waved and I faked a smile, hindi naman stranger si Juan sa akin. I think we were in the same age or older lang ako ng months? Basta nauna ako mag-aral kaya hindi ako naabutan ng k-12.
"Hi, I'm sorry." I watched my parents rush outside and tell the coordinator that I was ready. "Kung may girlfriend ka, sorry na agad,"
"Its no problem," he said. "Your boyfriend is a real asshole though."
I didn't say anything because he was right, it was an asshole move. One week palang naman yung classes niya and training, I'm sure hindi pa siya super busy at malayo pa yung UAAP season, he really had no excuse to miss my debut.
Juan gave me a smile that calmed me down and we walked out. Alam ko naman na my friends are talking about why Brent isn't my escort and I honestly was not in the mood to think about them. "Hey," Juan whispered.
"Bakit?" I asked, not looking at him.
"Gift mo na sa akin," he said, I tried my best not to frown dahil may camera and videographers. "Enjoy your night, minsan ka lang mag-eighteen." He smiled and helped me with my gown before going back to his table. And I did, I did enjoy my night. My dad cried and my parents gave me my own car.
Pero may kulang.
"Thank you," nakangiting sabi ko kay Jules, she smiled sadly and hugged me. "Okay lang, baka emergency naman diba?" I didn't know if I was telling her or if I was convincing myself.
"Si Betty," sabi niya, that made me frown. "Na-injure siya while playing volleyball, si Brent daw nagdala sa ospital."
"Ah." Wala na akong nasabi at ayokong magsalita ng masama. "Thank you, ingat ka." Jules nodded and hugged me again.
I wasn't the type of person that easily gets jealous, but it was my birthday and I am his girlfriend.
"Anak," My mom called me before I made my way upstairs.
"Yes ma?"
"College na yung baby ko," she said, wiping a tear. "Wala na akong baby sa bahay." I laughed, Dad also hugged us both. Cheesy.
"I love you po."
"But Elin, College ka na anak, bagong simula." I nodded, reading between the lines. "At hindi lahat ng luma dapat dinadala." She kissed my cheek and walked off to her room.
Dad kissed my temples. "We just want what's best for you, Elin."
As much as I tried my best to deny the fact that Brent and I were falling apart, tonight was the last straw. Buong summer halos hindi kami nagkita, busy siya sa basketball and I tried my hardest to keep up and be there. Pero parang siya na talaga yung lumalayo sa akin, at habang nag-iiba yung mundo niya, mag-isa akong nag-aadjust.
I stared at the ceiling after I watched Betty's Instagram story. Thank you, was written and it showed a picture of Brent laughing. Hindi ako masamang tao, I pray that she gets well soon. But sprain lang naman yun, bakit kailangang mamiss ni Brent yung debut ko? Girlfriend niya ako, kahit late siya okay lang naman eh. But he didn't go at all, and actions speaks louder that words.
I stood up and decided that I needed to talk to him. Treehouse please? I didn't wait for his response. Nagpatong lang ako ng hoodie and I sneaked out of our house.
I saw him waiting for me below the treehouse, hindi naman na kami kasya sa taas. Ngumiti ako, he looked tired.
"Hi." I said in a low voice.
"I'm sor–" I cut him off my putting my hand in his mouth.
I hugged him, the tightest hug that I can give. "Sayaw mo ako, wala yung 18th rose ko kanina," I joked. He nodded and I played the song from my phone that was meant to be for him kanina . My eyes were already glossy and I couldn't see him clearly, but we both knew that it was going to be the end.
"Happy Birthday," he whispered, his hands were on my waist.
"I love you, you know that right?" sumandal ako sa dibdib niya, he nodded.
"Mahal na mahal din naman kita," Sagot niya.
"Let's end this." I closed my eyes, I hoped that he would say no and try to fight for us.
"It's for the best, diba?" he answered. I didn't know that my heart could break even more.
"Maybe," I answered.
Brent kissed the top of my head and he didn't say anything. Hinayaan lang namin matapos ang kanta, at bukas, pag gising ko sa umaga, wala na kaming dalawa.
He didn't choose La salle, or basketball, He didn't choose Betty. He just didn't choose me. He closed his high school life, leaving me behind the door and maybe its best if I do the same.
The song ended, and so did we.
YOU ARE READING
Our Own Way
Fanfiction"My mom doesn't hate you, Arch. She hates that she's watching herself and tito Brent through us and she's scared that we'd end up the same way as they did." > In which Brent and Elin tried their best to make it work. But when the world doesn't want...
