Winning the heart of the Tigers (Editing)

Chapter 17: Remembering the past

Chapter 17: Remembering the past

-Jeric's POV-

Pagdating ko sa bahay naabutan ko si mommy na nakaupo sa sala, nanunuod ng TV at mukhang inaantay rin ata ako..

I kissed her on cheek, “Mom, why are you still awake?”

She looked at me.. She seems so serious.. Ano kayang problema? Hindi naman ganyan si mommy eh. She's bubbly and she always flashes her beautiful smile whenever she talks to us..

“Jeric, I want to talk to you..” hindi ko alam kung bakit pero bigla nalang akong kinabahan

“Sure.. About what po mommy?” tanong ko pero hindi ko pinahalata na kinakabahan ako

“About Cheska” sagot nya

Mejo nagulat ako sa naging sagot ni mommy sakin. About Cheska? Bakit naman kaya?

“What about her mom?” tanong ko. Gusto ko ng masagot lahat ng katanungan na nabuo sa utak ko

She looked at me straight in the eye.. She's so serious, “Cheska is a pretty girl and I know she's nice, too..”

Then she sighed..

“But...


I don't like her for you..”

Parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig sa sinabi ni mommy sakin. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba yung narinig ko o bigla lang akong nabingi..

“I also know that she makes you happy.. Ngayon lang kita nakitang ganyan kasaya after nyong maghiwalay ni Tanya. I am not asking you to stay away from her or leave her.. I want you to be happy.. I'm saying this because I want you to know what I think about her..”

Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang nangyayari ngayon.. Gulong gulo ako.. Parang napakahirap intindihin ng mga sinasabi ni mommy sakin ngayon..

“I don't understand you, mom. Bakit? May nagawa ba syang masama? Bakit hindi nyo sya gusto?” sunod sunod na tanong ko

She held my hand, “No Jeric.. She didn't do anything.. It's just that.. I don't think she's the right girl for you.. To tell you honestly.. Wala pa sya sa kalahati ni Tanya. Tanya is the perfect girl for you..”

What?! Dahil lang wala pa siya sa kalahati ni Tanya ayaw na nya kay Cheska. That's insane! Bakit ba lahat nalang sila ayaw si Cheska para sakin?! Bakit ba ayaw nalang nilang tanggapin na wala na kami ni Tanya at hindi na kami magkakabalikan. Tanya is my past and Cheska is my present and my future!

“Wala na kami ni Tanya, Ma! And please.. stop comparing her to Tanya! Cheska and Tanya are two entirely different persons. At kahit ano pang gawin nyo hindi sila magiging parehas” hindi ko na mapigilan ang inis ko.. Nasigawan ko na si mommy.. Ayoko mang bastusin siya pero I have to do this.. I will fight for Cheska..

“Calm down, Jeric..” then she moved a little bit closer to me, “Hindi mo ako mapipigilan na hindi sya i-compare kay Tanya.. Tanya is like a daughter to me.. And I love her..”

How am I supposed to calm down kung ganyan pa ang sasabihin nya sakin!

“Besides, I'm not asking you to leave her or what.. You can still date her..”

So parang utang-na-loob ko pa yun? Hayy, I badly wanna cry right now.. Feeling ko mag-isa lang ako lahat sila nagkakampihan.. Me against the world ba to?! Hindi ko kayang iwan si Cheska.. Hindi ko kakayanin pag nawala siya sakin..

Nakatingin lang ako sa sahig.. Parang ayaw kong tingnan si mommy..

“Mommy.. Kahit sabihin mo pa sa akin na hindi mo ako pinalalayo sakanya, ganun pa rin yung dating sa akin eh.. Ang sakit isipin na pati ikaw mommy gustong hadlangan yung kasiyahan ko”

She cupped my face, “Look Jeric.. I'm your mother.. And I know what's best for you.. As a person, I respect your decision that you want to date her.. Hindi ko hinahadlangan ang kaligayahan mo.. I always want you to be happy.. Kung ganun ang naging dating sayo ng mga sinabi ko.. then I'm sorry.. But always remember, I am not asking you to break-up with her.. Time will come and you'll understand why I'm telling you these things. It's for the best, anak”

I looked at her straight in the eye.. Tears are rushing down on my face.. “Mommy.. I'm begging you.. Please give her a chance to prove herself that she's the perfect girl for me..”

She pulled me closer to her and hugged me really tight, “Shhh.. Stop crying, Jeric.. You don't have to beg with me.. I can't promise you.. but I will try.. Bring her here, I'll get to know her more”

And with what my mom just said, I felt a little relieved..

“Thanks mom!” then I smiled at her

“Sige na hijo.. Magpahinga ka na.. Maaga pa class nyo bukas”

“Sige po.. Goodnight mommy!” then I kissed her on cheek

Pagpasok ko sa room ko humiga agad ako sa kama ko.. Parang pagod na pagod ako ngayon.. Tapos dagdagan pa ng pag-uusap namin ni Mommy.. Hayy buhay!

I pulled my phone out from my pocket.. Time to check my Twitter..

Ang dami kong mentions galing sa fans ko.. Ang sweet talaga nila sakin, kaya mahal na mahal ko silang lahat eh hihi :">

@jericfortuna: What a long day #tired

Ilang seconds ko palang nati-tweet pero andami agad retweets, favorite and replies.. Nakakatuwa talaga sila..

@jericfortuna: Thank you for today @cheskuuh! Hope you enjoyed our dinner with my family. I love you :*

After a minute, she replied to my tweet.. She's online din pala :)

@Cheskuuh: @jericfortuna I really had fun with you baby :) Twas nice meeting your parents. I love you :*

I've decided not to reply to her tweet anymore.. I don't know if I should tell her what my mom and I had talked about a while ago.. Hindi naman na siguro nya dapat malaman.

As I closed my eyes.. Memories are rushing back in my mind..

-Flashback-

Today is our 4th anniversary.. I want to surprise my baby Tanya.. She doesn't have classes today so I guess she's in her house lang.. Before going to her house, I dropped by in a flower shop.. I bought a bouquet of Callalily.. That's her favorite flower. I also bought red velvet cupcakes..

While driving, I can't stop smiling.. Excited akong makita siya.. Sobrang mahal na mahal ko si Tanya.

Our relationship started when we were in highschool. She's my classmate in Zobel. Wala naman talaga kaming gusto sa isa't-isa, lagi lang kaming inaasar ng mga classmates namin kaya ayun, nagkadevelopan kami.. Tuwang tuwa yung mga classmates namin nung nalaman na kami na. When we graduated in highschool, magkaibang university ang pinasukan namin. She decided to take up her degree at De La Salle while me, at UST. Kahit magkaiba kami ng university na pinapasukan, it didn't affect our relationship.. Infact, naging mas matibay kami..

Tanya is a perfect girl.. Sobrang ka close nya yung family ko lalo na si mommy at Fran. Minsan nga iniisip ko si Tanya talaga yung kapamilya nila at hindi ako eh. Pano si Tanya nalang lagi gusto nilang makasama. Pero okay lang sakin, at least I know gusto nila si Tanya.

When I'm already in front of her house, I dialed her number but she isn't picking up her phone.. Since kilala naman ako dito sa bahay nila, pumasok nalang ako. Baka kasi tulog yun kaya hindi sinasagot yung phone nya..

“Hi Manang Glo!” bati ko sa yaya ni Tanya

“Oh Jeric, andito ka pala”

“Ah opo.. Dumiretso ako dito galing school.. Dadalawin ko lang si Tanya.. Anjan po ba siya?”

“Oo.. Andun sya sa kwarto nya.. Puntahan mo nalang..”

“O sige po.. Thank you Manang Glo!”

Pagtapos kong magpaalam kay Manang Glo, umakyat na ako sa taas para puntahan si Tanya sa kwarto nya.. Sigurado ako magugulat yun.. Ang sabi ko kasi sakanya kanina hindi kami makakapagcelebrate kasi may training ako.. Dahilan ko lang naman sakanya yun dahil nga may surprise ako sakanya. Nakausap ko na rin sila mommy para sa dinner date namin mamaya ni Tanya, naipagpaalam ko na rin sya kila tita.

Pagdating ko sa tapat ng room nya hindi pa ako agad pumasok, parang kinabahan ako eh. Ang labo ko! Kanina excited ngayon kabado..

Pagpasok ko ng kwarto ni Tanya imbes na sya ang sorpresahin ko, ako ang nasorpresa!

There she is, lying in bed with a guy.. She's hugging him..

Sa sobrang pagkabigla ko nabitawan ko ang hawak kong box ng cupcake at flowers.. My tears started to fall.. Sakto naman at nagising sya..

She was shocked when she saw me, she immediately get off from her bed, “Babe, what are you doing here? I thought you have a training today..”

I looked at her sharply, “Stop calling me babe! We're over!” then I walked out of her room

“Jeric! Jeric! Jeric!” I heard her shouting my name while running to me

She grabbed my hand, “Babe, let's talk.. It's not what you think..”

I removed her hand, “I said we're over now, Tanya! I don't effin need your explanation! Goodbye Tanya!” then I immediately went inside my car

I started the engine and drove away.. I looked at her for the last time in my rearview mirror.. She was still there, standing and crying..

It really hurts me whenever I see her cry.. But I'm in pain too.. She's not the only one who's hurting right now..

I really have no idea where I am going.. But when I finally came back to my senses, I found myself in front of Jeric's house. I mean Teng's house.

I dialed his number..

“Hello paps! Bakit ka napatawag?” tanong ni Teng

“I'm in front of your house Teng.. I need someone to talk to..” hindi ko na napigilan, naging garalgal na yung boses ko

“Forts, are you crying?! Teka, papunta na ako sa gate” in-end call ko na, tutal papunta na rin naman sya