To the nights we spent

28

''P-po ma'am?'Nagkautal utal pa ako sakanya, Willow let go of my hands, she sarted showing a confuse look! ''Dear, i said drop the form-'' Hindi niya nakwento ang sasabihin niya ng biglang sumigaw si Willow! ''You're ate keyza! Kuya Walter always tells me things about you!''

She flashed a cheerful smile, nagulat nanaman ako sa sinabi niya. Nagsasabi si Walter tungkol sakin? Tinuturuan niya ba 'tong si Willow paano manloko ng tao? I ignored Willow's statement and took a look at Ma'am Reverie. ''I would be more comfortable calling you Ma'am po.''

She put her hands into my right shoulder, ''Ganoon ba? But feel free to call me Mom! I'm not that old yet!" Tumawa siya, "Kamusta na kayo ni Walter? I told you, you should visit again! Tignan mo dito pa pala tayo nagkita!'' I looked away, iniisip ko kasi kung sasabihin ko sakanya ang totoo, na wala na kami ng anak niya.

But i decided not to, for the sake of him. We're good po tita!'' I smiled, alam ko naman na sinusubukang ayusin ni Walter ang relasyon niya sakanyang nanay, she's the only one he had, ayoko namang sirain yun, kaya makikisakay na lang rin ako. ''Do you mind joining us into our dinner tonight iha?''

Kahit andami niyang ginawa saakin, siya pa rin ang iniisip ko sa huli. Sometimes, mistakes get made, but it's alright to forgive, learn. Pero  kapag sobra sobra na? doon ka na dapat sumabog, dun ka na dapat magalit.

I took a look of my friends, lahat sila nakabusangot na. Inip na inip na sila, at ako naman ay 'ipit na ipit' na sa sitwasyon. ''Mauna na muna kayo.'' i tell them that, they just nodded but i can see that they are worrying about me, but i nodded as a sign of assurance, they just nodded too and take a step away.

''You should join us Ate, i want to get you more po.'' She looks happy about it, so as her Mom. They are both smiling ear to ear! Sobrang nakakahiya naman umayaw diba? Nakakapressure! Ayoko at hindi pa ako ready makita ang anak niya, pero nakakahiya tumangi sakanila, lalo na sa bata.

"S-sige po..." Yumuko ako at nag iwas agad ng tingin, Willow clapped as well as her Mother, "That's Great Iha! We will get back to the cottage okay? Walter will text you what cottage!" Nakipagbeso beso pa siya saakin.

Pilit akong ngumiti hanggang sa makaalis sila, that's how our conversation ended, sa huli napapayag lang rin ako kahit hindi ko naman gusto. Nung nakita kong nakakalayo na sila, bumagsak ang balikat ko at dali daling nawala rin ang ngiti ko. I don't know why i say yes, siguro pressured? Hay, bahala na mamaya.

"Bakla! Anong balita?" Tumatakbong palapit saakin si Selene, sa gitna ng paglalakad ko nakita ko siya. "Inimbita ako ng Nanay, wala akong nagawa."

Umupo ako sa mga buhangin, ganoon rin ang ginawa niya. Nakita ko pang nanlalaki ang mata niya, "Ay! Palaban ate mo ghorl, magiging okay ka ba doon?"

She looked at me, with curiosity and worried eyes. I smiled, hinawakan ko rin ang kamay niya. "Kakayanin, makikipagusap lang naman ako ng parang walang nangyare diba?"

She caressed my hair, "You're gonna be okay alright? Kaya mo yan, ipaglaban mo kung ano sa tingin mo yung tama, sarili naman okay?" yun na ang huli naming paguusap mula ng bumalik kami sa cottage. Then the time ticked fastly, and the time has came, i'll be meeting Walter again.

I was wearing a flowy maxy dress and a sandals, hindi si Walter ang nag-text saakin kundi ang kung anong number na wala sa contacts ko, i don't know why Walter didn't text me? Is he having a cold feet or what?

Their cottage is looking expensive better than us, syempre ambagan lang samin, sakanila nature na maging mayaman diba? Mayroon pa ngang mga bodyguard sa gilid ng cottage.