Love in Bangketa

36

Max and I spent the rest of the days being together before I go back to our house. We visited a place not-so-near at doon kami nag stay saglit. We got ourselves snacks at hinayaan na gumabi para magpalipas doon.

He intertwined our fingers and brushed my knuckles using his thumb. "Mamimiss kita, Xynnah,"

I smiled, hiding the sadness. I tried my best to cheer him up, but it was useless, because I, myself, couldn't also be happy.

"I will miss you, too, Max. I will visit you here... Maybe... Once in a month or twice or thrice," 

He sighed and leaned his head on my shoulder. "The best year of my life..."

I also leaned my head against his, lightly. "The rest of the years will be the best for us, too,"

He was leaning on my shoulder, yet I could feel him smiling. "Syempre. Maraming-maraming years pa. More than five. More than ten. Mas marami pang taon na kasama ka,"

With Max, I'd always be the best version of myself. With Max, I became the person I never thought I would ever be. Sa mga buwan na 'yon, I have never been this... happy. I have never felt this cloud nine feeling...

"Take care, Xynnah. I am going to miss you so much," Aezy spoke at my front door, holding her iPad, smiling sadly while watching me pack my things.

Aside from Max, I was also thankful of Aezy. I may not be the changed woman compared with who I was before, but, somehow... naramdaman kong nagbago ako, and it's because of her.

Kinuha ko ang maliit na keychain ko. Bear ito at may hawak itong heart pillow that says "You can do it!". I went near Aezy and gave it to her.

"Just in case you will miss me, Aezy. Know that I am rooting for you always. Nahawa na ako sa'yo dahil ang sipag mong mag-aral! Sana madala ko 'yon," I laughed.

She chuckled. "Thank you, Xynnah! Visit us here, okay? Visit me! And Manang Tina. And Max!"

I heard a sound of honk of horn... After months, it sounded familiar to me once again. Kinuha ko na ang maleta ko at ang aking bag at dahan-dahan na bumaba. Sa ilalim, nakita ko si Daddy, naghihintay sa'kin, while talking to Tito Gerard.

"Ready ka na ba umuwi, Xynnah?" Ngiti ni Daddy.

"I think, she is. Mapapakinabangan mo na siya once the both of you went to your house. Xynnah, study hard. Ayaw kong makita kang wala ka pa ring hawak na diploma sa susunod,"

I just nodded. I looked around the house. My gaze landed on the dining area, where I used to help Manang Tina prepare foods. Where I also came to meet Max, once again.

After a little talk, nakipag beso sa'kin si Auntie Roan. Lumapit din si Manang Tina sa'kin upang yakapin ako. She had been one of my mothers na rin dito sa bahay.

"Hija, mag iingat ka, ha? Huwag mo kalimutan na bisitahin pa rin kami rito minsan,"

"Opo, Manang. Ikaw din po, ha? Magpapadala po ako ng vitamins for Jayvee. Pakisabi po na magpagaling siya,"

She held my hand gently. "Salamat, hija. Oo. Ipaparating ko 'yan kay Jayvee,"

Jayvee was one of Manang Tina's grandchildren. Mahina ang immune system nito kaya kailangan niyang laging uminom ng mga vitamins, dahil kung hindi, agad itong dadapuan ng sakit.

"How have you been, Xynnah?" Daddy asked while placing my suitcase in the compartment. He had grown his beard at mukhang stressed si Daddy.

"Can I just answer that while we are on the way, Daddy?" I impatiently replied. My phone beeped at bumungad sa'kin ang wallpaper ko, which was me and Max, smiling from ears to ears. I smiled.

From: Max

mag ingat kayo xynnah

mamimiss kita 😔

To: Max

Yes, mahal. See you soon.

From: Max

see you...

mahal kita, sobra.

To: Max

I love you, too.

While we were on our way, nakangiti lang ako. One of the sweetest things Max had done for me was covering five songs... Mayroong kung malungkot ako... Kung masaya... Kung hindi makatulog... At mayroon siyang sariling kinompose na kung saan kinakanta niya ang damdamin niya.

It sounds really really corny. Kung hindi ko lang siya mahal... siguro kanina pa ako nagc-cringe rito. His voice was, is, and will forever be my comfort. So happy... that I was the lucky girl.

Maraming nagkakagusto kay Max. Sure ako roon, dahil may mga pagkakataon na kapag nagkikita kami, people would gossip and say na "uy yung crush kong pogi!". I don't know if Max hears those things at nagpapaka bingi lang siya.

Pero, people do not just also like him because of his physical attributes. But, because of his kindness. He is the most compassionate person I knew. It doesn't matter if he doesn't have it, as long as people around him have.

"You looked so happy, Xynnah. The effect of moving to Tito Gerard's house?"

I sighed. "You looked stressed, Daddy. The effect of working non-stop?" I mocked. He laughed.

"Really? I think, it's just my beard, but I still look handsome," He joked around.

Daddy was trying to make the atmosphere light, kahit na ilang months niya akong hindi kinakamusta. But, it's okay. Naiintindihan ko na busy lang si Daddy. Unti-unti ko na siyang napapatawad.

Also, my mom. Unti-unti ko na rin siyang napapatawad, but it was just... hard for me to admit it.

"Your Mom will go back here in the Philippines kapag nanganak siya. She wants to see you..." He stated, while looking at the rearview mirror, observing my reaction.

"Okay. I'll let her see me, then," I just replied.

"And one more thing... I have enrolled you already. In three weeks na ang klase mo,"

I was surprised because I didn't know a thing, pero hindi ko na lang din pinahalata. Daddy also mentioned that I didn't have to worry about my things because he has bought it na raw.

Hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay namin, sumalubong sa'kin ang bahay na minsan kong namiss. The house where I used to do all my kabalahuraan in life.

I came back to the place where there was no Maximo Colt Fablo. I came back to the house... that was far from my home.