You are the Reason

Chapter 18

Days passed like a whirlwind. Ganoon yata kapag masaya ka. There are times when Glaiza and I spend our days together. May mga pagkakataon ring hindi. Katulad na lamang ngayon.

It is 1st of November and we're both with our families. She's in Valenzuela with her family and I'm here, in Caloocan, stuck with my sister.

"I told you, he's just my friend, ate." Pagdiriin niya nang tanungin ko tungkol sa ibinalita sa akin ni Daddy.

"Mom told me about it too! You came home drunk with that guy. Ang sabi raw ng mga kasambahay, buhat-buhat ka non!" Muli kong pagbibigay riin sa kanina pa sinasabi.

She's just twenty-three. I'm three years older than her. At sa tanang buhay ko, hindi ko nagawang ipakita kina mommy ang ganoong side ng sarili ko.

"You have a girlfriend and I'm not commenting any about it! What's wrong with going out with a friend?" Parang nauubusan ng pasensya na sabi niya.

She has a point though. Besides, hindi na siya bata. But still... h'wag sanang masanay na ipinapakita 'yon sa magulang namin.

"I told you already. She's not yet my girlfriend." Umirap ako sa isiping iyon ng aking kapatid.

She's been asking about Glaiza. Na kesyo natutuwa raw siyang may mga nababalitaang lumalabas-labas ulit ako ngayon.

"Kailan mo pa balak? I like her better than your other girls. Lalo na yung Clara mo. She dated my friend after dating you! Can you believe?" She looked at me with disappointment eyes as if I made a really bad decision back then.

"It's in the past. Ilang beses mo ba ibabalik 'yan?" Natatawa kong sabi.

"Still. I was there when they announced their relationship. She was smiling as if she didn't date my sister before dating my friend." Umirap ito sa kawalan.

"Hayaan mo na." Muli kong naalala noong unang beses niyang kinwento ang bagay na 'yon.

She was fuming mad, that time. Namumula sa galit dahil sa hiyang naramdaman. Paano ba naman kasi siya hindi mahihiya, Clara was pretty loud about our relationship. She was with us with all of our family travels while we were in a relationship.

Wala pang isang buwan matapos kaming mag hiwalay, nabalitaan kong kaibigan na ni Nadine ang bago niyang karelasyon.

"You were drunk almost everyday that time. Sinamahan pa kitang mag inom tapos ganong klase ng tao pala yung iniinuman natin?" Natawa siya sa sariling naisip. Ganoon rin ako.

"I won't deny, I loved her." Pag amin ko. "Loved." Ulit ko sa sinabi.

"Yes. And I'm grateful that you totally got over her now. Nakakasuka 'yon. Ayaw ko sa ganon. If I were you, yung Glaiza na lang. two years older than you." Ngumiti ito ng nakakaloko. "Inaabangan pa yung tawag mo." Tinapik niya ako sa balikat bago bumangon sa sofa kung saan kami nakaupo.

What's with her age, anyway?" I asked. Totally confused from what she said.

"It is your first time to date someone officially that is older than you. Panay bata ang binibitbit mo rito. You should bring Ate Glaiza here." She shrugged both of her shoulders.

Sinundan ko siya sa kusina at naupo ako sa high-chair sa counter. She gave me a glass of water.

Glaiza is not the first woman who happens to be older than me that I ever dated. Nagkataon lang na hindi ko kinukwento lahat dahil wala namang saysay ang mga hindi seryosong bagay.

"Or maybe not..." naniningkit ang mga matang binalingan niya ako ng tingin.

Hindi ako nagsalita roon. Ininom ko ang tubig na inabot niya at inubos 'yon. Pumanhik ako para pumasok sa kwarto at gumawa ng tawag.