You Belong With Me

22

When I went out the stage sa kanila din agad ako tumingin, looking at their smiles, iba talaga binigay nila sa buhay ko kaya eto lang din yung naisip kong paraan to show how I appreciate them, lalo na si Troy.

"Hi... uhm... bago ko simulan to can I just make a quick backstory? Sorry I don't know how things work but please let me..."

Nagpalakpakan lang yung mga tao sa sinabi ko so I assumed that they'd let me

I glanced at Troy's family bago nagsimula

"I... didn't have the best experience about a family. Ni hindi ko alam anong ibig sabihin ng salitang pamilya noon. All I know is that, I am with them to treat them well, not the other way around. Masakit, but I got to live with it. Things happened, I hated them, I hated having a family... pero nabago lahat ng yon ng nakilala ko tong pamilyang to." I looked at Troy's family after that tsaka ko binuksan yung cover nung unang painting

(Photo not mine. Credits to the owner)

"This portrait honestly doesn't mean much, it's just to show you guys that I am thankful to have found this family that I can call mine even when they are not related to me in any way. They are... a colorful family. They showed me the other side of things, how it is to have a father, a mother and a beautiful sister. They embraced me as if I am theirs. They gave me hope in everything... and that, I am very thankful for."

I looked at Shirley and tita mama, they are already tearing up.

"Kaninang umaga, my real parents showed up, they want me back. They... said they miss me and all, but I chose not to go. Why? Kasi nahanap ko na yung pamilya ko. At kayo po yun. Maraming maraming salamat sa inyo"

"Hoo! Haha. Sa napapansin niyo apat po yung nasa unang painting pero tatlo lang yung binanggit ko. It's because, the other person is more that a family, ayoko siyang ituring na kapatid, kasi siya yung gusto kong kasama sa bukas, bilang katuwang ko sa buhay... the love of my life... my boyfriend... my love... nagtatampo ka siguro kasi wala kang description no? Haha actually we have our own" yun lang ang sinabi ko bago ko binuksan yung isa pang painting

(Photo not mine. Credits to the owner)

"This... symbolises how you embraced me even with the darkest moments I have. Tinanggap mo yung totoong ako kahit hindi yun tanggap ng sarili kong pamilya Troy. You were the very first person who believed in me. Not as a shadow but as a light of my own. Salamat sayo kasi niyakap mo yung pagkatao ko, that the darkness I have in my heart slowly was lit up by your presence. Salamat kasi kahit pinagdudahan ko yung sarili ko, nandyan ka, naniwala ka. Mahal na mahal kita, Troy Geronimo tandaan mo yan" I said smiling at him and heck I wanna laugh coz he really is crying harder than Shirley 😅

"These two portraits were not about me, but about the persons who I value the most right at this very moment. Sila ang dahilan ng paglaban ko at pagbangon ko ulit ng sarili ko. At ito ang nakita kong paraan para pasalamatan sila sa lahat ng yon. Maraming salamat po"

Pagkatapos nun bumaba na ko ng stage at dumirecho kina Troy na sumalubong din naman saken.

"I hate you!! My makeup is messed up!! Sissy!!!" Shirley

"Sorry not sorry haha"

"I love you sissy!!!!" Shirley as she went to hug me

"Ikaw bata ka di kami nakapagprepare dun ha? Pinaiyak mo sina tita mama mo dun" tito papa

"I just wanted to appreciate you and the whole family tito papa haha"

"Gretchen.." tita mama as she also made her way to hug me at sumunod naman si tito papa

"Psst ikaw di ka hahug?" Tawag ko kay Troy

"Gusto ko solo" Troy

"Tch. Annoying" Shirley

"Salamat nak ah? Ang ganda nung painting. Pinaiyak mo kami ni Shirley para tuloy kaming bata"

"Ma, someone's worse than us though"

"Ahh oo nga"

"Hindi kaya 😑" Troy

"Hahaha deny pa love I can see you kanina"

"Psh. Ano naman bawal ba ko umiyak?"

"Of course not! Haha. Nagustuhan mo yung painting?" I asked clinging onto him by placing my hands on his neck

"Oo syempre. Sino hindi matutuwa dun? Hindi naman ako pinagppainting ng kahit na sino dati"

"Yiie love you 😘 "

"Damn girl why do you always shock me when you do that 😣"

"Do what?" Sabi ko na kunwari di ko siya hinalikan sa harap ng parents niya

"Ano ba yan Greta-2, Troy-0. Maybe Greta's my real sibling here. Ang hina mo! Hahaha"

"Shut it ate 😑"

"Bawi bawi din brother hahaha" Shirley laughed at nag-appear kaming dalawa

"Let's go look over the place?"

"Tara. Tingnan natin yung katabi nung paintings mo!" Shirley tapos hinigit na ko palayo

"Hey! Stop pulling my girlfriend! Ako yung jowa dito ate!"

"As if I care bleh hahaha"