Thorns After Everything (Completed)

Chapter 36

"Hi po Tita Zen—" Nagmano ako sa Mama ni Zadist. She went back here to the Philippines. Actually noong graduation— it wasn't the first time that I met Zadist's Mom. Pero it feels like first-time kasi kasama niya ang husband niya. They seem distant tingnan pero meron pa ding spark.

The accident happened because of a crossing dog. Hindi naman siya napahamak kasi Zadist turned right. That made him got into an accident.

"You should eat." Sabi niya. "And Zadist, darling, kumain ka na din."

Zadist nods to his Mom and I wonder how he is doing these days. Aside from the accident.

Nagkatinginan ulit kami matapos lumabas ang Mom niya sa kwarto niya.

"How are you?"

His forehead creased. "What's with the question, baby?"

"I mean, Paolla mentioned that hindi ka na daw lumalabas sa bahay after the party."

Zadist clenched his jaw.

"Actually, I did. But I only go to your apartment one time. But Maro was so angry at me. And then one time, he told me you're in Canada. Paolla and he talked."

"What were you planning?"

His eyes sparkled. "Of course, I was about to chase you sa Canada. And I failed." He paused. Malalim ang iniisip niya.

"Was Maro with you that time?" I asked.

"Uh we talked— then I forgot to bring my phone. Naiwan sa apartment niyo. He figured he had to give it to me kasi na sense niyang baka pupunta ako sa canada which I do. And then— boom— not a big deal."

"Of course, it's a big deal. You could get killed."

He smiled and then it faded.

"What is it?"

Pinatong ko ang kamay ko sa kamay niya. Comforting him. It's the best that I can do since I felt better now. Ibang-iba na sa nakaraang araw na drained na drained talaga ako.

"M, I was wondering— umuwi ka ba kasi nalaman mong naaksidente ako?"

A moment of silence.

"No— Umuwi ako kasi nagkamali ako. Kasi kailangan kitang makausap. Kasi kailangan kong ayusin ang iniwan ko."

I held his face.

"Is that it?" He asked.

I smiled, "At higit sa lahat, umuwi ako kasi mahal kita, minamahal kita, at mamahalin pa kita."

I run my fingers through his hair.

"Don't grab my hair that smooth, baby." Sabi niya habang napa-lip bite. "It makes me— excited."

Pareho kaming napatawa matapos ang sinabi niya.

Maro commanded me— oo commanded me not to go home— but to stay with Zadist's side. After all daw kasi I owe it to him. Hindi ko alam kung galit ba sa akin si Maro or bwisit na bwisit na talaga siya sa mundo. I apologized to him kasi pati siya nadamay sa akin. Pero he said he just did the right thing. Na sense niya ding need ko nang personal space. Just like what Ate thought too.

The next few days were fine and well.

Zadist's doctor visits him a week in his room. Mabilis lang siyang naka-recover kasi wala namang bones na na bali or  ano pa. I always cook food at this house pero since Tita Zen decided to stay for a while— parang tataba na yata ako.

While Zadist's sleeps every afternoon— naguusap naman kami ni Tita about everything. Iba't-ibang chika sa buhay, love life, business, at life. Which was extremely appreciated kasi akala ko noon hindi ko talaga mararamdaman ang warmth ng isang ina.

Pero my mother had it rough sa buhay niya. Naiintindihan ko siya. Afterall, for the last moment naman nararamdaman ko ding mahalaga din pala ako sa kanya at mahal niya.

Hindi natin masasabi kong mahal o gusto ba tayo ng mga tao kasi iba iba ang mga paraan para ipakita yon. I've been blind from my parents before and I judged them so much. Pero the more you widen your understanding, the more the maiintindihan mo sila.

Tita Zen goes abroad for work right after the doctor said na makakalakad na freely si Zadist. It took him a month to recover.

I was always there— taking care of him. Kahit ano gagawin ko. Para sa kanya. Kasi ganun naman magmahal diba? Ang buhos lahat ng effort?

Kahit masaktan pa yan pero kung dun ka masaya. Magmamahal at magmamahal ka pa din.