First and Only

Chapter 16

SPG

Chapter 16

I went to school feeling tired.

Kakauwi ko lang galing Manila. It's been a week since mom went here in Mindoro and she spent three days here before going back to Manila. Nanatili ako doon ng ilang araw dahil ayaw ni mommy na bumalik ako dito.

And Miguel, I told him that my mom's home and I went to Manila for her pero hindi ko pa sinabi ang problema namin.

My problem, actually.

Susubukan ko munang ayusin yun. Maybe I can force her kahit sa New York man lang o Manchester or even Philadelphia. Kahit saan basta sa USA lang. I can visit Miguel at least once in two months or so.

"Anemone!" Isang malapad na ngiti mula kay Raya ang sumalubong sa akin ng makarating ako sa classroom namin. Isang tipid at pagod na ngiti lang ang isinukli ko sa kanya. "May problema ka ba?"

Umiling ako. "Kumusta?" Tanong ko.

"Ayos lang naman pero si Papa Miguel, miss na miss ka!" Kinikilig niyang sabi. "Nagsulat talaga ako ng notes para sayo. Ang sabi ni Miguel dumating daw ang mommy mo kaya ka absent, kumusta si tita?"

"Ah, she's okay." A lie. She is still depressed and crying every night. "Marami ba akong namiss na quizzes?"

The last thing in my mind right now is to fail this semester and to leave. Ilang buwan nalang at magsisimula na ang entrance exam sa Harvard at kampante naman akong makakapasok ako dahil maganda at mataas naman ang grado ko at marami din akong achievements at kung hindi naman papalarin, I'll still take an exam in MIT or some university near Miguel's.

"Dalawa lang. Sa Statistics at Biology lang. Alam mo naman ang prof natin doon, hindi nakukumpleto ang linggo nila kapag hindi tayo binibigyan ng tests." Nakangiti pa rin niyang sabi.

I hope I can smile that widely right now.

"Okay ka lang ba talaga?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya.

I smiled and nodded. "Namiss ko lang si Miguel."

"Asus! Ang landi mo na talaga!" She giggled. "Pero sure ka ba? Mukha kang natalo sa lotto teh!"

"Okay lang talaga." I said and gave her an assuring smile.

Hindi pa ako handang magkwento ngayon. I need to fix this first and arrange it back on track pero hindi ko alam kung saan ko sisimulan.

I have a handful of responsibilities here in Mindoro and my mom, my poor depressed mommy needs me there in Manila. Hindi ko alam kung sino na ang uunahin ko. 

Naramdaman kong nagvibrate ang phone ko kaya agad ko itong kinuha sa bulsa ko.

Miguel:

See you later, lovieee! Can't wait to see you!!

Panandaliang saya ang naramdaman ko. How can I leave him when he's like this? How can I go far away when I'm already used to seeing his face and hugging him and kissing him.

I can't. I just can't leave. Hindi ko kaya.

Natapos ang first and second class namin at agad akong nagpaalam kay Raya. Hindi kami sasabay ni Miguel sa kanya ngayon dahil gusto naming magdate.

I want that too. With him, alone.

I went to the parking lot and saw his car kaya agad akong pumasok bago pa may makakita sa akin.

He immediately wrapped his arms around my body as soon as I got inside. Namiss ko siya.

"I missed you so much!" Gigil niya akong hinalikan sa labi. I chuckled and kissed him back. "You look tired love..." Humiwalay siya sa yakap at hinaplos ang pisnge ko. "Nastress ka ba sa Manila?"