UnacceptableFamilyBurns Mom called me one time and asked if we could meet and for me not to tell her son about it. Thinking it was about business matter, I thought she would talk to me about the cup cakes and pudding. I forgot about our meeting with Mama and Daddy. To my surprise , she asked me about Mama and her partner. I have never asked my mother about personal matters. I have myself settled with the fact that she loves someone more than Daddy . Not that I don't want them to get back to each other. But I can see she is happy now with this new man in her life. So I am happy for her
Burns'Mom must have noticed my silence and apologjzed with her tactless question.
But she cannot just ignore the family background I have
She said she will be very frank and told me to stay away from Burns. I am not the kind of woman she wants to have for a daughter in law. I just said I understand her but I cannot control my tears.
This is what I've been afraid of. The day Burns Mom would ask me to let go of him. I know this is bound to happen. It hurts that I could cry a river. When Burns came to see me, I asked my Dad to tell him I'm out to my Mom's place in Bulacan and doesn't know when I will be back.
Days became weeks , months and years.
Now, I am 21, I secretly came home. For three years Burns patiently waited texting calling me squeezed for information from Daddy to know what is happening to me. Daddy could not say much as I did not say a word to him about Burns order from me not to see him. He himself is on quandary as I seem to have changed and forgotten Burns. They just would know the pain. that's been killing me.
Now, on the fourth year of separation, Burns must have been tired of my hibernation. He was introduced by his friend Cholo to his cousin who just came home from Australia. They have been meeting on family occasions and later on dated and had known each other well. Unlike other girls, Allison is sweet and unassuming. She did not run after him.She is half Filipino, half Australian but can speak good Tagalog.Burn's Mom taught her to be ideal for her son. Burns finds her attractive with her straight long hair to match her big brown eyes. Burns won her affection . On her birthday, Burns proposed for marriage as he finds it safe to do so as we are now estrange and does not even know if I were alive, there is not a hi! or hello! from me. I know that was not fair but I have to abide by his Mom's wish to let him go, I can only do that if he does hear from me at all
Burns finds her attractive with her straight long hair to match her big brown eyes. Burns won her affection . On her birthday, Burns proposed for marriage as he finds it safe to do so as we are now estranged and does not even know if I were alive, there is not a even a hi! nor hello! from me. I know that was not fair but I have to abide by his Mom's wish to let him go, I can only do that if he does not hear from me at all. Burns finds Allison attractive with her straight long hair to match her big brown eyes. Burns won her affection . On her birthday, Burns proposed for marriage as he finds it safe to do so as we are now estrange and does not even know if I were alive, there is not a hi! or hello! from me. I know that was fair but I have to abide by his Mom's wish to let him go, I can only do that if he does hear from me at all
As the song At Seventeen goes....
Love is meant for beauty queens ....which I am not and will never ever be😂
I thought I am prepared for this but I was so devastated. I cannot describe how I feel and I wanted to end my life.
As if I hear him sing "Is it ok if I call you mine, just for a time?"
And I will be just fine
Our love is like the song with an abrupt ending. I cannot forget when he stares at me especially when he reaches this lines..
It's just the things that happen to me
When I'm reminded of
you
Just when I hear your name
Or see a place that
you've been
Or see a picture of
your grin
Or pass a house
that you've been in
one time or another
Leaves off something
in me
I can't explain
Oh babe I love your love.
I had different kinds of students mostly pretty girls and boys who are vain and good looking. But there is this one girl who seems to be different from the rest. Pretty in a different kind of way. She is an excellent skate boarder.
She is sporting a barbers' cut and her shorts does not show too much skin. Her shoes
are old but immaculately maintained. Arabella is her name but prefers to be called Rebo. Not that she looks boyish but boys prefer to play with her] rather than escort her at their ball. I am very much reminded of Odie. Rebo comes from a well to do family and money is easy to her.
Now, I see that life is like a stage play. Comedy and drama. Either you are rich or poor society will be cruel to you. Now that Rebo is rich and pretty, why did she want to appear like a boy?
I chose to be one before because I was poor and ugly but a rich good looking boy transformed me to become a girl and be my real self. Whenever. I think about something , Burns memory keeps haunting me.
One day, I did not expect Burns to see me at the Faculty Room
He pinched my chin and pulled me towards him. My co teachers were shocked at this man's display of affection. I did not expect that he will do
such a thing. I told myself it doesn't mean anything to him. He is still the same Burns, sweet to anybody. He invited me to have some snacks with. I declined at first but reconsidered for old times sake.
We went to a secluded Italian pasta snack house. He volunteered to place an order for the two of us.
He asked about my work as a school teacher, He said he's been told by his niece that I am her teacher. He laughed about the picture shown to me. He said that was kept in his closet in a pink envelope. He said she had stolen it as it was kept in a pink envelope. Attractive as it was, Dinah secretly went to his room and barged into his things.He said he kept the picture fo and intends to keep it forever.
I said he is still his usual self who takes everything as a joke and he asked. So, everything we had is a joke to you. He got me there! He asked himself"What about me?"
Burns decided to leave the country and I was hurt with his drastic decision. But then again, 'twas my fault , me and my cowardness. I guess just like Daddy I had been afraid to make a decision even if it would make my life miserable. And I lost the love of my life.
I asked Burns if we could go to church and attend mass. We went to the Carmelites monastery.
now almost teary he whispered his vow to love me in richer or in poorer, in sickness or in health till death do us part while Itold him I cannot promise him the moon, the stars in the skies above because my Love is more than a Milky Way. And we both laughed at my corny joke.😂
And the question again , Am
I or am I not?I told him Not for
Well then ,he said he is bound for the US by next week and does not know when he is coming back or if he will be back at all. I cannot take back my words. But I very much wanted to come with him. I did not expect him to make such a drastic decision. And he did. I wanted to stop him but his decision is final.
We hardly met on his last week of stay in the country. Either he is busy with his papers or I am neading and preparing rush orders until that Saturday afternoon. He came bringing me my favorite meat lover's pizza. Grandma was glad over the pizza or that Burns will be off to the US?
I pulled him to join me in that wooden swing that was given to my Father. It was already damaged but Daddy was able to reconstruct it to its original form.
Both Burns and I love to sing and I got my old guitar and started to sing one of my favorite songs of Barry Mannilow.
We had the right love
At the wrong time.
I guess I always knew inside
I wouldn't have you for a long time
Those dreams of yours
Shining on distant shores
And if they're calling you away
I have no right to make you stay
Cause somewhere down the road
Our paths will gonna cross again
It doesn't really matter when
I know that heart of yours
Will come to see
That you belong with me
Sometimes goodbyes are forever.
Cause I still.believe in us together
I understand more than
You think I can
You have to go out on
Your way
So you can find your way back
home
Letting go is just
Another way of saying
I love you so
Cause somewhere down the road
Our paths will gonna cross again
It doesn't really matter when
🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
But songs will just be songs to remember a long lost love. Burns decided to leave the country if I cannot commit myself to him. I was full of doubts worries. I was not that brave to fight for a love
Burns came to see me. that day of his flight. I had nothing to give as a send off gift except a piece of white where this borrowed words are inscribed....
I do believe the Lord above
Created You for me to Love
He picked you.out from all
the rest
Because He knows
I love you best
I have a heart and it is true
But it has gone from me to
you
So care for it as what I do
For I have one and you
have two
If i go to heaven and you're
not there
I know you went the other
way
So I'll return my angel's
wings my golden harp
and every thing
I'll go to hell and
Be with you
For the last time I kissed him
Goodbye.
I could not wait for the time to I hear the news the long haired guy is coming back. Each passing day is long. The news I heard instead, is that the wedding between him and the Ausie girl before will now push thru.
I cried a river for the ending of the story of the handsome prince and the vagabond girl.
Life must go on
I finished my school thru my hard work of selling cup cakes and pudding.
Finally, I am now a teacher in high school. I remember the day when I met a long haired guy.
Students are just friends although I feel so much respect from them. So, this is what people meant all along.
I had different kinds of
students mostly pretty girls and boys who are vain and good looking. But there is this one girl who seems to be different from the rest. Pretty in a different kind of way. She is an excellent skate boarder.
She is sporting a barbers' cut and her shorts does not show too much skin. Her shoes
are old but immaculately maintained. Arabella is her name but prefers to be called Rebo. Not that she looks boyish but boys prefer to play with her rather than escort her at their ball. I am very much reminded of Odie. Rebo comes from a well to do family and money is easy to her.
Now, I see that life is like a stage play. Comedy and drama. Either you are rich or poor society will be cruel to you. Now that Rebo is rich and pretty, why did she want to appear like a boy?
I chose to be one before because I was poor and ugly but a rich good looking boy transformed me to become a girl and be my real self. Whenever. I think about something , Burns memory keeps haunting me.
Now, just a memory. Til one day my student showed me a picture. Burns and I eating one pink cotton candy . She said that's her uncle coming back from the US tomorrow. The kids kept on teasing me.
I don't have the guts to ask Dinah for details of her uncle's arrival. Hearing he will soon be home is enough for me know.
YOU ARE READING
Odra at Seventeen
RomanceThis story was inspired by the song At Seventeen by Janis Ian.
