The Vow

18

I woke up with them singing happy birthday to me and I literally smiled as I opened my eyes and saw them and Daddy holding a birthday cake.

"Happy Birthday, our baby princess" bati ni Mommy and Daddy and kissed my cheeks.

"Thank you" I said and stretched my arms since kagigising ko lang.

"Make a wish and blow the candle" sabi ni Kuya.

Pinagsiklop ko yung kamay ko at closed my eyes.

'Lord, thank you for another year older and for making me stronger each and everyday, for giving me such strong support system too. I know it takes time to heal my heart from the past, but I will patiently wait for the time na magiging malaya na ako sa pait ng nakaraan. I also hope na yung taong nagugustuhan ko at yung taong mahal ako ay nasa tabi ko parin when that time comes. I hope he'll be beside me holding my hand when I am finally ready to open my heart and let him in. Kung hindi man po, sana makahanap sya ng babaeng mamahalin sya ng lubos. I know I am saying that I like him when in fact, I love him already too, pero sabi nga nila kung mahal mo hahayaan mong sumaya. Kapag nakita na nya yung happiness nya sa ibang babae, gabayan niyo po yung relasyon nila. Thank you po'

I opened my eyes and I felt Mommy wipe my cheeks, dun ko narealize na umiiyak na pala ako.

Masakit naman kasi talaga makita yung taong mahal mo na may iba ng mahal, pero kailangan ko maging malakas.

I smiled and even glanced at Elijah before blowing the candle and they clapped their hands.

They all greeted me and hugged me, pati si Eli and he even kissed me on my cheeks. After nun, lumabas na sila at ako naman naligo na ng mabilis at nagsuot nalang ng sleeveless na cropped top at high waisted maong shorts at lumabas na para makapagbreakfast na kami.

After namin magbreakfast, nagpaalam ako na maglalakad lakad lang at nag-offer si Mommy na sumama sakin.

Nakatingin lang ako sa karagatan at buhangin habang naglalakad lakad. Si Mommy nasa tabi ko lang tahimik, maybe because she felt that I want peace for the meantime.

Gusto ko rin talaga matahimik muna dahil naiisip ko parin yung naging usapan namin ni Eli kagabi.

"If you want to talk about something, I am here, you can talk to me" sabi nya at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

Napahinto kami sa ilalim ng mga coconut tree.

"She was here nung time na nalulunod ako talking with someone on her phone habang nakangiti, and I am in the same spot, the difference is that, I am with my mom and my mom is asking me about what's going on my mind. I'm happy Mommy, kasi sinamahan mo ko dito and that's another memory na matatapalan yung bad memory ko dito sa Palawan"

"Sabi ko naman sayo diba? Sasamahan kita kahit saan. Anak kita, hindi man ako ang nagluwal sayo, pero anak kita, yun ang importante" sabi nya kaya napangiti ako.

"Mommy, Eli confessed to me last night" sabi ko at umupo sa buhanginan.

"He confessed? And Eli? You mean Elijah?"

"Mhm" sabi ko at tumango. Umupo sya sa tabi ko kahit nagtataka parin.

"He confessed. Elijah is not a vocal person ever since he was a kid, anak, this is the first time in his life he confessed. And Elijah hates the nickname Eli" sabi ni Mommy kaya napalingon ako sa kanya.

"Huh? He's letting me call him Eli, he even said that me saying that name makes his heart skip a beat, why would he hate it?"

"Just like you, Elijah's Mom cheated on them. Nasa elementary ata sila noon sa Australia, tapos yung Mommy nya umuwi ng pinas kasi may aasikasuhin daw, nalaman nalang nila na may kinakasama na Mommy nya dito which was his dad's bestfriend, nagkaanak pa yung Mommy nya at Daddy nya pero nagdivorce na sila when his dad found out about it. Yung kapatid nya andun sa Mommy nya nagsistay. Simula nun hindi na nagtiwala si Elijah sa ibang tao, lalo sa babae. Eli is Elijah's mom's nickname to him, after his Mom cheated, inayawan nya yung nickname na yun. He despise that nickname, not until you came, and call him that, dun palang anak, alam ko ng seryoso si Lij sayo. He lets you call him Eli, kung ibang tao yun, siguro baka nabalibag na nya, but, it's you, and he's loving that nickname again because it's you. Anak, alam ko yung napagdaanan mo, lahat tayo may kanya kanyang sakit na napagdaanan, Elijah and you were cheated on by your mothers, mas malala lang sayo because of the trauma they gave you, kahit ako may sakit na naramdaman sa past, pati Daddy mo. Pero anak, we all deserve to be happy. Me and your dad gave ourselves a second chance to love again, you also gave your dad a chance to be happy again with me, you gave yourself a chance to have a complete family again with me and your Kuya. Maybe, anak, it's time na bigyan mo rin si Elijah at ikaw ng chance na magmahal. I know you love him too. He also told us na liligawan ka nya, he told us earlier bago kami pumasok sa room mo. I want my baby princess to be happy, stop caging yourself sa past, be happy in the present, I am not saying na mag move on ka kaagad pero mas nakakalakas ng loob na lumaban kasama ang taong mahal mo at hawak yung kamay mo habang lumalaban ka" sabi ni Mommy.

"I'm scared, Mommy. Paano kung hindi nya nga ako saktan pero ako naman manakit sa kanya? Paano kung masaktan ko sya katulad ng mommy nya?"

"Anak, naramdaman mo yung sakit ng iwanan, do you wish for other people to experience that kind of pain?"

"No"

"Yun pala eh. Bakit ka natatakot na maging katulad ng Mommy mo? Anak, you're way better than her. Tsaka alam mo yung pakiramdam, at alam kong hindi ka ganung babae. Believe in yourself anak, hindi ka ganun and you will never be that kind of girl. Alam ko yun at kilalang kilala kita kasi anak kita. Ok? Always keep that in mind"

"Thank you, Mommy. Thank you so much" sabi ko at yumakap sa kanya.

Nagstay pa kami dun saglit bago kami bumalik sa villa