The Way I Loved You (TOA Series #1)

Chapter 25

"You seem to be silent today. Did something happen?" Juancho asked, stopping my breathing.

"Huh? Hindi ah. Wala naman. Pagod lang siguro ako."

"Hmm, kaya mo ba'ng mag-attend bukas? I can do it on my own if you want."

"Hindi, kaya ko. Saka nakakalibang iyong ginawa natin no'ng nakaraang linggo."

Kanina nang pinapaalala lahat ni Juancho ang mga kailangan naming ituro bukas ay hindi ako masyadong nakakasagot. I let him discuss everything with me. What I did not realize is that it bothered him.

"Are you sure? I'm not used to you acting up like—"

I failed to hear another word from him when my bedroom door suddenly burst open. My mother went inside wearing her darting and curious eyes. With that scene, my heart started raising.

"Ma..." ngumiti ako nang pilit. "Ano po'ng mayro'n?"

She eyed my phone placed on top of my bed. Hindi ko pala nagawang itaob iyon at mukhang nakikita ngayon ni Mama na may kausap ako. Huli na.

"Kukumustahin lang sana kita. Sino kausap mo? May boyfriend ka na?"

I wasn't able to utter a single word and my silence translated as a hunch confirmation to her. Lumapit si Mama at mas sinilip nang maigi ang aking cellphone.

"May kausap ka oh. Boyfriend mo, Sharik?"

"Ma..."

She wore the earphones I was wearing earlier. Napaupo na lamang ako sa kama dahil sigurado akong wala na akong magagawa kung hindi aminin sa kanya ang totoo. Subalit sa palagay ko ay hindi na kailangan, dahil siya na ang umaalam nito. Nagsimula siyang kausapin si Juancho.

"Ilang taon ka na? Ahh... ikaw pala 'yon. Gaano na katagal?" Mama started asking numerous questions. Umaapaw ang pawis na nakinig lamang ako.

"Ang sa akin naman, wala akong magagawa kung magkakagusto sila. Basta ba sana, alam namin at dito sa bahay. Ayoko nang nililigawan sa gilid-gilid lang ang mga anak ko."

I don't have any idea about Juancho's reaction as of this moment. But I was kind of surprised to witness my mother calm about this situation. Ang inaasahan ko kanina ay magagalit siya kaya't labis-labis ang kaba ko. I was even gripping my legs the whole time!

Ilang minutong nakipag-usap si Mama kay Juancho. The whole time, I was just listening while studying my mother's reaction. She was glancing at me from time to time but I cannot seem to decipher her stares. Though she's smiling occasionally, much to my expectation.

"Mabuti naman kung gano'n. O sige, ipapasa ko na 'to ulit kay Sharik para makapag-usap kayo. Basta 'yang pangako mo na pupunta ka rito, gawin mo," bilin ni Mama.

She bid him goodbye before removing my earphones and handing the phone to me.

"Magpaalam ka muna d'yan. Mag-uusap tayo sandali pagkatapos," seryoso na niyang saad bago tumalikod at lumabas ng kuwarto ko.

Nang makaalis siya, mabilis kong binalikan si Juancho. His eyes are quite glimmering while his lips are stretched in a smile. However, there's a hint of concern on his face.

"Sorry, Juancho! Hindi ko alam na papasok si Mama! Hindi ko pala na-lock ang pinto. Anong sinabi niya sa'yo?" sunod-sunod kong usal.

"I should be the one apologizing. Are you in trouble?"

"Hindi ko alam. Sabi niya, mag-uusap daw kami."

"Right now?"

"Uhm... oo sana."