Light Up The Sky

Chapter 12

He's really pushing me to chase what I really want in this life.

He's not just my best friend. He's my motivator, too.

"I am super duper happy for Liam, Ate Nory," nakangiti kong sabi habang pinagmamasdan ang mga nakuha kong litrato.

Ipinipakita ko rin sa kaniya ang camera para makita niya kung gaano kasaya si Liam sa mga larawan. Ganoon din si Francine. They both look in love.

"Look at the both of them. They look happily in love with each other."

Hindi nagsalita si Ate Nory kaya hinarap ko siya. She's still looking at the camera, tilting her head as if she's still processing something.

"Did you already feel that, Ate Nory? Being in love with someone? What does it feel like? Is it amazing? Is it beautiful?"

Mula sa camera na hawak ko, dumapo ang mga mata niya sa akin. Then she smiled, displaying her perfect white teeth. And her eyes twinkle. When I look at the pupils of her eyes, they expand... as if she's thinking of someone.

"Masaya. Sobra. Alam mo 'yung kasiyahang ayaw mo nang matapos pa? 'Yung kasiyahang dinadala ka sa alapaap? Parang gano'n."

I giggled. That sounds so dreamy.

"Is it the same for everyone?"

"Hmm... siguro oo, siguro hindi. Hindi ko talaga alam dahil depende iyon sa sitwasyon, Vivienne. Minsan sobrang sayang mahulog sa taong mahal mo. Minsan naman sobrang lungkot, sobrang masakit. Lalo na kapag nahulog ka sa taong hindi kayang tumbasan ang pagmamahal na ibinibigay mo."

"The unrequited love?"

Tumango siya. "Siguro iyon ang tawag doon. 'Yung pagmamahal na hindi kayang ibalik. 'Yung pagmamahal na mag-isa. 'Yung pagmamahal na dapat itago na lang."

"Itatago? Why?"

She was about to say something when we saw Ate Terry. Nang nasa harap na namin siya, agad akong tumayo at inayos ang vintage dress na suot ko. Super na-e-excite akong tumugtog. Hindi lang dahil tutugtog ulit ako sa piano kung hindi dahil para kina Liam at Francine ako tutugtog.

I was all smiles while looking at Ate Terry, anticipating the keywords she will say.

"Puntahan mo na sila, Vivienne." Those were the words she was supposed to say but she welcomed me with the opposite of what I'm expecting her to say.

"Umalis 'yung babae, Vivienne," ani Ate Terry na kinaalarma naming lahat, lalo na ako.

Halos lumabas ang puso ko sa aking dibdib dahil sa lakas ng tibok nito habang tinatakbo ang distansya namin ni Liam. He's alone now on the gazebo while staring at the blank space as if he was dumbfounded on what just happened.

I am, too. Hindi ganito ang ine-expect ko.

"What happened? Where is she? Doesn't she like all of these?" sunod-sunod kong tanong, natataranta habang pabalik-balik ang tingin sa tulalang si Liam at sa paligid, hinahanap si Francine.

I waited for a minute for Liam's response but nothing came. My heart dropped at the sight of him. Tulala lang siya, medyo awang ang labi, tila malalim ang iniisip.

Gusto kong maiyak. I saw all of the efforts he put into this night. I saw how detailed-oriented he was. I saw how conscious he was to his look earlier. I saw the glimmer in his ocean eyes when he finally saw her. I saw the smile lift on his lips when he started talking to her.

And it was taken for granted.

Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko dahil mali itong iniisip ko. I still didn't know what Francine did and why she left him here alone. I need to hear the side of her story before I jump to conclusions and make judgments.