Serendipity

Chapter 26

House...

Gusto kong isaksak sa kukote ni Symon at Keifer na nahihibang na sila. How could they choose me over someone else? I'm no better than anyone else. Kung iisipin, luging-lugi sila sa'kin. Naturingang mga business man pero hindi marunong tumingin sa kung saan sila lugi sa hindi.

I can just simply turn them down. Napaka kapal ng mukha ko kung gagawin ko 'yon, but i think, that's the best decision. Parehas lang naman ang outcome kahit anong gawin ko. Either one of them or both of them will get hurt in the end. No matter what i do, i just can't avoid that to happen.

"Are you okay, hija?"

Tipid akong ngumiti kay Tita Frea.

I was so shocked when she called me and asked if i'm free. Since it's my day off today, i just told her that we can meet in their house.

She looks worried because again, i didn't realized that i was spacing out. Nakakahiya dahil minsan na nga lang kaming magkita, ganito pa ang inaasta ko. I just cannot stop myself from overthinking. I want to exhaust myself until i can finally find answers to my problems.

"Yes, Tita. I just thought of something."

"May i know what is it?" Nakangiting tanong niya.

Saglit akong nailang. I still can't believe that we're now casual with each other. Nahihiya pa rin ako, but i have to take that away from me.

I want to be honest with her because somehow, i think of her as my mother too. Hindi dahil iniisip kong may gusto ako kay Archer pero dahil that's what she is to me for the past years. Indirectly, she became my mother. Kung hindi niya man ako itinuring na anak, i still see her as my Mom. She gave me a mother figure that i have never known, but i'm not just ready to share my thoughts yet. As much as i can, i want to keep it all to myself.

"I was just thinking of getting my own place."

Even though that's not what i'm actually thinking, totoong ilang araw ko na ring iniisip na kumuha ng sarili kong bahay.

"Is that so?" Mukhang interesadong tanong niya kaya naman ginanahan akong magkwento.

"The place where i live in today is your gift for me years ago, Tita. Even though its so special to me, i want to have my own place that came from all my hardworks. I just want to see the result of all the struggles that i've been through."

"I'm so happy for you, Kiana. I knew that you will grew up as a brilliant child and i'm not mistaken. You're even better to what i am expecting."

I smiled to what she just said. I feel so proud. Hearing those words from her is like music to my ears.

"Hindi naman po ako pwedeng umasa sa tulong niyo palagi. Tapos na po ang oras na dapat tumatanggap pa rin ako ng tulong mula sa ibang tao lalo na sa pamilya niyo. It's time for me to give back and stand up on my own to build my own life."

"It's better to just build the house of your dreams, hija. In that case, you can suggest anything you want for your future home and don't worry, i'll ask Archer to help you with that."

I shook my head. Hindi pa naman ako sure kung kaya ko na ba talaga. Nag-uumpisa pa lang naman ako at plano pa lang ang meron ako. Hanggat maaari ay gusto ko munang makasiguro na kakayanin ko ng magpundar ng gano'n para sa sarili ko. Kahit hindi mansyon ang gusto kong bahay ay hindi pa rin biro ang presyo no'n.

"Hindi pa naman po ako sure don, Tita. In time, yes, i want to have my own house, but it's too early for that conversation. I just want to settle everything first before taking another step for my life."