Summer to Forget ✔️

21

"Congrats baby! You made it! You're already an agriculturist!" he congratulated me and kissed me on my cheek.

"Thank you, finally." I stated and smiled happily.

"Dad is in the car. Let's meet him he can't able to stand, you know dad is getting old, arthritis." Rawl said as he offered me the flower.

"Gag0 ka pa rin talaga Kuya." biro ko sa kaniya at pabirong hinampas sa kanya ang bigay niya sa aking bulaklak. "Where's your twin by the way?" I asked when I can't see even Namiels shadow starting from the program.

"She's with dad's nurse, lumalandi na naman siguro ang gag0." sagot pa niya at tumawa.

"And your girlfriend?" I asked her again, talking about Lau. An old friend of mine.

"Nowhere to be found." he only replied and made our atmosphere silent.

It was almost five years, pero hindi namin hinayaang pagtagpuing ang aming mga landas. I don't know. Sa ilang taong nanirahan ako malayo sa lahat ng taong kilala ko nawalan na rin ako ng ganang maghabol pa sa mga taong ayaw sa akin. If they don't like me then let them be.

But I heard that Rawl and Lau still have contact. I don't really know what happened. My mind is closed for their explanations too. Parang naglaho nalang rin sila sa isipan ko simula ng may ibang tao na akong nakakasalamuha dito.

I sighed. Finally, after four years, ngayon lang ako nag-abalang umuwi sa amin. Sa lugar kung saan ako namulat, sa lugar kung saan ko gustong iwanan pagkatapos kong masktan ng husto. I admit that I have no plans returning to that place anymore but I have no choice at all. My father is becoming more sick as he is getting older. The twins are not always there because they need to go to their work. Kailangan pa rin nilang sumampa ng barko. That's their dream and I will not let any of us become a hindrance of their dreams.

And that woman, Viana vanished before I flew here.

"Wala ka pa rin bang planong kausapin si Lau?" he asked curiously.

He is leading our way to our car. Dala dala pa niya ang diploma ko dahil hindi ko na iyong madadala pa ng maayos. Hirap pa ako sa toga ko.

"Bakit? May plano ba siyang kausapin ako Kuya?" tanong ko pabalik sa kaniya na tila ikinagulat niya.

Ewan ko ba sa kanila. Naguguluhan na talaga ako sa kanila.

"Hindi ko alam, hindi ka naman importante para pag-usapan namin. Marami pa kaming nararapat pang pag-usapan." sabi pa niya at biglaang sumeryoso.

"Tulad ng pagpapakasal ba?" tanong ko sa kaniya dahil parang ganoon naman talaga iyong pinapahiwatig niya.

They are not getting any younger for God's sake!

They're been together for five years and longer than that. Wala rin naman akong planong tumutol sa kasal nila no, baka napag-isipan lang nila.

Marami akong kaibigang nakasalubong habang naglalakad kami palabas. They're obviously eyeing my brother, for sure. Marami namang may mukha dito sa University namin but my bothrr looks like an unlimited edition.

I'll miss Xavier for sure, I've been studying here for four years too.

Matapos ang ilang pagbabatian namin ng mga naging kaibigan ko dito ay pareho kaming dalawang natahimik.

"Do you think she'll say yes?" pagdadalawang isip pa niyang tanong sa akin.

Hindi ko alam, parang natatawa ako sa tanong niya. Talaga bang natatakot siya na baka hindi pumayag si Lau sa kaniya kapag aalukin niya ito nang pagpapakasal?