Light in the Dark

Chapter 6: Blue (#ADD8E6)

~

"Thanks for the lunch treat." Tricia and Jayden had fought over paying but Jayden ended up winning. 

"My pleasure..."Jayden gave Tricia a small smile.

"Do you have space for a drink?" Tricia spotted a bubble tea shop further down. 

"Are you sure we can have that much sugar at one shot?" Jayden remembered the dessert they just shared. 

"There's always 25% or 0% sugar options?" Tricia pulled Jayden towards the shop. 

"I have a fitness test coming up this week..." Jayden 'complained' as he took a sip of his iced oolong tea, with 0% sugar. 

"My bad..." Tricia was embarrassed. 

"Am I taking up too much of your precious off day?" Jayden asked as they took a seat.

"I didn't have anything planned today. What about you?" Tricia shook her head before reflecting the question.

"I was planning on helping Lola with the bakery today but she chased me out with the help of the other Lolas..." Jayden scratched his nape. 

"It must have been a sight..." Tricia giggled. 

"I'm powerless against Lola and her gang..." Jayden raised his arms in defeat. 

"How long have you been living with Lola Agnes?" Tricia was curious.

"Ever since I was born. My parents were busy with work and often had to travel overseas so Lola would always bring me to the bakery after school." Jayden grew up in the bakery. 

"Oh, are your parents living overseas now?" Tricia wondered. 

"They passed away in 2006, when I was 14." Jayden let out a long breath.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Tricia regretted her questions. 

"No worries about it..." Jayden assured Tricia. 

"Well, my Papa passed away in 2012 too...my Mama raised the three of us alone after that." Tricia could understand what it felt like losing a parent.

"Sir Jesse and Atty Leni are amazing people. The changes they've led, inspired and continued... I'm sure you're really proud of them. And I'm sure they're really proud of you too." Jayden encouraged Tricia. 

"You know my Papa and Mama?" Tricia let out a tiny gasp.

"Who wouldn't. Lola and I both voted for Atty Leni last year." Jayden showed Tricia a picture of them in pink. 

"Thank you, Jayden. Really." Tricia felt comforted. 

"Mind if I ask what happened to your parents?" Tricia broke the silence. 

"Well..." Jayden sighed.

"If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay..." Tricia immediately felt guilty for asking.

"We were out to celebrate my birthday. Papa and Mama were in front, I was at the back. The next thing I knew, we were halfway in the air and then boom." Jayden closed his eyes. 

"I remember opening my eyes, blood dripping down my forehead and seeing my parents equally bloodied. I reached out for them but my seatbelt was stuck. I called and called but neither of them replied." Jayden could picture the scene vividly. 

"Then people started running to us, trying to yank me out of the car. Mama had regained consciousness by then and I insisted on waiting for her but Mama begged for them to save me first. I'll never forget what she said..." Jayden buried his head in his hands. 

"Iligtas mo muna ang anak ko...Mahal ka ni Mama at Papa, Anak."  Jayden repeated the phrase with suppressed sorrow and pain. 

"The second I was extracted from the car, it burst into flames. Mama and Papa died because of me. They died because they wanted me to get out before them." Jayden felt an unfamiliar sting to his nose. He rarely cried. 

"Shh...hindi mo ito kasalanan, Jayden." Tricia pulled Jayden into a hug and stroked his back. 

"If only I didn't insist then there would have been time for Mama and Papa to be rescued...If only..." Jayden shook his head. 

"It's okay...Your Mama and Papa don't blame you...Mahal na mahal ka nila." Tricia continuously assured Jayden. 

"Sorry...I shouldn't have broken down in front of you...I..." Jayden pulled away from Tricia after calming down and realising what he'd done. 

"Is that why you were always averse to medical treatment? Because of the guilt?" Tricia prodded gently. Jayden's silence was loud enough an answer. 

"Ever since then, Lola has told me that she lost her bright and cheerful Apo...She's been there for me all these while and I really want to go back to being that Apo she misses...pero napakahirap lang." Jayden hated himself for robbing Lola of her beloved Apo. 

"You're her Apo no matter what. Lola Agnes loves you no matter what, Jayden." Everytime Tricia visited Lola Agnes, all the lady talked about was how sweet, thoughtful and loving her Apo was. 

"I don't know, Tricia...I know it's selfish of me and I know full well that this wasn't what Mama and Papa sacrificed themselves for...but it's just simpler and less painful to live in a world of black and white." Jayden confessed. He'd rather hide instead of fight. 

"Alam kong mahirap pero you have to try...For your parents, Lola and most importantly, for yourself." Tricia empathised with Jayden more than anything. She missed her Papa sorely at times but knew that the negative emotions had to be balanced out or it'd only hurt herself and the people she loved. 

"Look at the puddle there...What colour is it?" Tricia pointed to a small puddle of water in front of them. 

"Transparent...maybe blue?" Jayden answered, unsure of what Tricia was referring to. Smiling, Tricia held Jayden's hand and pulled him towards the puddle.

"Not when I add some light to it..." Tricia reflected the setting sunlight with the surface of her watch, the puddle now looked like a rainbow.

"Am I the puddle?" Jayden understood Tricia's analogy.

"You could..." Tricia grinned. 

"Do you want to be my sunlight? We could try making the rainbow together..." Jayden mustered his courage. 

"That's what friends are for, aren't they?" Tricia nodded. 

A/N:

Phew...the burden on Jayden's heart is finally out of the bag :")