Embracing Sunshine (Completed)

" Chances and Us 2"

"Anak dalaga ka na! May gusto nang manligaw sayo" Natatawang sabi nang kanyang ama.

"Papa naman! At ikaw Isko anong pinagsasabi mo. Tigil tigilan mo nga ako. Sabi ko sa iyo hindi kita gusto"

Lumapit at umupo ito sa kanyang kama at inilapit lalo ang mukha sa kanya. Bigla na namang bumilis ang tibok nang aking puso. Mamamatay yata ako nang maaga dahil dito.

"Hindi mo ako gusto? Talaga?" Amusement in his eyes. It seemed like he was teasing her.

"Talagang talaga. Si Cole ang gusto ko. Sinabi ko naman sa'yo diba?"

"Really? But Cole told me a different story"

Kinabahan ako. Sinabi ba ni Cole na gusto ko si Francisco? Tinignan ko nang masama si Cole. He did didn't he?

"Bakit ano bang sinabi ni Cole sa'yo?" Patay malisyang tanong ko.

"I think we both know what it is Elaine" he leaned closer and whisper

"I know you like me"

Bigla akong namula at napabuntong hininga. I can't believe my best friend would betray me. Parang gusto ko na tuloy mag tago at mag laho sa pagkapahiya.

After their heated confrontation sasabihin lang pala ni Cole dito na mahal ko si Francisco?

Tinignan ko ang aking ama. Mukha namang natutuwa sa nangyayari.

"It doesn't matter Francisco. Gusto man natin ang isat isa hindi parin pwede"

"Why? Elaine"

"Alam mo kung bakit Francisco! I bet Cole told you already. I'm dying Francisco. Iiwan din kita. Masasaktan kita at hindi ko yun gusto"

Biglang nagbago ang mood nito sa sinabi ko. Nawala ang naglalarong ngiti sa mga labi at napalitan nang kunot nang nuo. I might have anger him. Pero ito naman ang gusto ko diba? Ang magalit sya at lumayo sa akin?

"You will not die Elaine, and no matter what you say I will not give up on you" pinal na sabi nito. Stood up and leave.

Walang lingon likod.

I felt a tear roll down my cheeks na dali dali kung pinunasan. Ayaw ko na mag alala ang papa ko pag nakita akong umiyak.

I looked at my father who seemed worried about me pero nanatiling tahimik. Nabigla siguro sa eksena. Tinignan ko nang masama si Cole. Asking why the hell did he have to tell him.

"The man loves you Elaine at alam ko na Mahal mo sya. Wouldn't it be good for both of you if you give each other a chance."

"A chance to what Cole? Masasaktan ko lang sya"

"Sa tingin mo ba hindi mo sya nasasaktan ngayon? Rejecting him will hurt him. Rejecting him will hurt you."

"It's better to cut the connection as early as possible bago pa lumalim. At least the pain will not be as deep as it could be kung hahayaan ko syang pumasok sa buhay ko.

Cole was silent for a while, trying to absorb and analyze what she said. After a while bumuntong hininga ito.

"Why don't you give your self a chance to be happy Elaine."

"Masaya naman ako Cole hah" pilit akong ngumiti.

Napailing ito. Lumapit sa kanya and kiss her head then said.

"I want you to be happy. REALLY happy, yung totoong masaya. Hindi yung pinipilit mo lang ang sarili mo na maging masaya para hindi kami mag alala. Give yourself a chance, give Francisco a chance"

Natahimik ako. Suddenly I found myself thinking kung maaari ba talaga. Kung pwede, but the more I think about it the more na nahihirapan akong makapagdesisyon.

Whatever meant to happen will happen. I will just let destiny decide.

----

Hindi nga nagsinungaling si Francisco. Hindi talaga ito susuko sa kanya. Pagkatapos nang eksena namin sa Ospital ay inaraw araw na nito ang pagbisita sa kanya.

Araw araw din ay parati nya itong tinataboy. He have even met my mother and guess what? Gusto ito nang mama nya. Gwapo ba naman, sino ang hindi magkaka gusto dito.

Pati nga sya diba?

Buong araw nito ay ginugugol nito sa kanyang tabi. Dinadalhan sya nang bulaklak, prutas at kung ano pang maisip nito. Pinagbabalatan sya nang prutas, minamasahe at pinagluluto.

Kahit nakauwi na sya sa kanilang bahay ay parati parin sya nitong pinupuntahan. Him on her house is a usual scene.

A good view indeed.

Oo, tinatrato sya nito na parang prinsesa. The more he does it, the more she's falling deeper and the more it's hurting her.

Sana iba na lang Lord. Sana iba na lang ang binigay mo kay Francisco. Someone who is healthy. Someone that he could grow old with. Look at him, he deserve so much better.

Makailang beses na rin na bumisita sa kanya si Tita Amanda. Noong una akala ko magagalit ito sa akin sa paglilihim ko dito nang tunay na kalagayan ko, I thought she would stop Francisco from coming over pero sa kinabigla ko she even supported him.

"For the first time after a long time my nephew is finally happy. Kahit parang pinaglalaruan sya at ikaw pa ang nakapagpasaya sa kanya with your current health status ay masaya ako para sa kanya. I would have stopped him but he promised me na hindi na sya babalik sa dati nyang buhay. You gave light through his dark life Elaine at sino ako para magalit? I'm even more thankful to you."

Lahat ata sila ay gustong maging kami ni Francisco and I feel guilty every time I push him away but every time I do he just smile at me like its nothing.

He's enduring it for me. He's faking a happy face just not to worry me but is it really just faking or is he really just  happy staying at my side?

Again I feel like crying...

"Why are you hurting your self like this?" I looked at my mother standing beside me. Pilit man nitong itago pero nakikita ko sa mga mata nya na naaawa sya sa akin.

with what she said , I just fully let my tears fall.

I just hope Francisco is still not on his way here, I don't want him to see me like this.