How to Avoid Heartbreaks

27

I wasn't able to sleep again so I just lay on my bed with eyes wide open. Natatakot akong matulog dahil baka kung ano-ano na naman ang mapapanaginipan ko.

Biglang nag-ring ang cellphone ko na agad ko namang ikinabangon. Napangiti ako nang makitang si dad ang tumatawag.

"Hello dad!" I greeted, trying my best to sound okay.

"Your mom gave birth already."

Finally! Some good news.

"That's great, dad! Really!" I found myself smiling at the news. Excited na akong makita ang mga kapatid at baka ito rin ang kinakailangan kong gawin ngayon— ang makasama ang pamilya. "I'll go there as soon as possible, dad."

"London... uh..." dad trailed off, hesitating. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero bigla akong kinabahan. I just received a good news but something feels wrong.

"She didn't make it," he said in almost a whisper. "Your mama, London, she didn't make it."

At that moment, my world seemed to stop. I was rooted to the spot because of what I heard.

"T-that's impossible, dad," sabi ko at bahagyang natawa ngunit unti-unti nang lumuluha. Pinatay ko ang tawag at dali-daling nag-empake.

I will go to Minnesota right now and prove that dad was just kidding!

Hindi na ako nakapagbihis dahil sa sobrang pagmamadali. Tanging sweaters at sweatpants lang ang suot ko habang dala-dala ang isang maleta.

Ang una kong ginawa pagdating sa airport ay ang pagbili ng ticket. I got a flight an hour from now and the waiting feels longer than it should be.

I felt uneasy by just sitting and waiting so I decided to distract myself by roaming around the airport.

What did he mean by "she didn't make it"? Maybe she didn't make it to the hospital so she gave birth at our house?

I made up some excuses to calm myself. They were lame and unbelievable but they're enough to alleviate the anxiousness I'm feeling.

Finally, for what seems like forever, my flight was called. It wasn't that long since we ascended but I already found myself restless. I wanted to sleep but my discomforting thoughts and pounding heart stopped me from doing so.

"Excuse me, miss? Are you okay?" The guy beside me asked. "You've been fidgeting in your seat."

"Sorry!" I smiled awkwardly while rubbing my palms.

Nanatili ang seryoso niyang tingin habang nakataas ang isang kilay. "So... are you okay?"

"Yeah..." I gave him a small smile before leaning to my seat.

Pinikit ko ang mga mata at niyakap ang sarili. I then took some deep breaths, hoping it would help me calm down.

"Hey..." I opened my eyes when I felt someone tap me. "Wear this. You stopped fidgeting but started to shiver instead." He then took his overcoat off and handed it to me.

I smiled shyly and shook my head. "Thank you but you'd feel cold if you lend me that."

"My sweater's thicker than yours," aniya sabay kibit-balikat. "And I don't mind the cold."

He placed his coat on my lap which I then wore, making me feel warm. The fabric was soft and comfortable. Wearing it feels like being in someone's warm embrace.

Orion's face then popped in my head. He used to embrace me all the time, making me comfortable and at peace. But now, just thinking about him and what we used to do together feels like being stabbed in the chest. The nostalgia, instead of longing alone, is now laced with discomfort and pain.