The Sunshine After the Rain
11.07.19Umakyat ako ng kwarto at roon nagkulong. Naiinis kong pinalis ang mga luha. Kung kanina'y hindi ko alam kung para saan ang pag-iyak ko, ngayo'y malinaw ang disappointment, regret, hopelessness, at bitterness sa dibdib ko.
Pinakalma ko muna ang sarili bago ko hinagilap ang cellphone para tawagan si Kiel.
[Love? Kamusta? Okay ka lang? Pinagalitan ka?] he greeted which made another batch of tears well up in my eyes.
Naririnig ko ang boses nina Tita Kylie at Tita Rhianne---may-ari ng Sierra---sa background, nag-uusap.
"Uwi na kayo?" mahinang tanong ko, napansing nasa sasakyan sila.
[Traffic nga eh. Okay ka lang ba?] mahina rin at mababa ang boses niya.
"Am I on loud speaker?"
[Hindi. Bakit?]
"Wala. I miss you."
[Anong nangyari?] seryosong tanong niya.
"I just wanna say sorry kanina. . . I-I'm sorry. . . Really. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have denied you like that. I'm sorry, I hurt you again. . ." My voice cracked.
[. . .]
". . ."
[Okay lang naman 'yun. Napag-usapan naman na natin 'to, 'di ba? Effective ba 'yung sinabi ko?]
"Hindi. Kasi inamin ko rin pagkaalis mo."
[Hala? Alam na ng mommy mo?]
"Yes. Hindi ko kaya eh. . . I don't wanna cause you more pain."
[Hala. . . Edi pinagalitan ka? Dapat sinakyan mo na lang. . . Paano 'yan? Anong nangyari? Okay ka lang?]
"Kwento ko na lang sa 'yo some other time. For now, I just wanna say sorry."
[Okay lang naman 'yun. . .]
"It's not. Hindi okay. I realized that nung umalis ka nang hindi ako tinitignan. Natakot ako. Na baka mawala ka. Kaya kahit ang hirap, inamin ko kay mommy."
[Grabe. Bakit naman ako mawawala?]
"Basta. I won't do that ever again. You're my family. I don't want to keep on hurting you and making you adjust . . . Palagi na lang ikaw ang nag-a-adjust sa akin. . ." I realized.
Tumahimik siya nang ilang segundo kaya boses lang nina Tita Kylie at Tita Rhianne ang naririnig ko.
"Love?"
[Hmm?]
"Natahimik ka? Are you okay?"
[Hindi. Gusto kong agawin 'yung manibela kay mommy para puntahan ka.]
Napangiti ako. "I'll support you."
[Ah, sige. Wait.]
"Joke lang," I chuckled. "Rest time na."
[Avien,] he called my name after a while.
"Hmm?"
[Mahal na mahal kita,] mahinang aniya.
I immediately felt my eyes burning again. I didn't know I needed to hear that until he said it.
"I think I love you more eh. . ." My voice trembled but I managed to mask it with a chuckle.
[Try mong maging ako minsan para magkaalaman kung kanino mas lamang.]
Naging totoo ang pagngisi ko. "Kung nababasa mo lang isip ko baka bumack out ka."
YOU ARE READING
Captured in His Eyes (The Art of Life #1: Art Version)
Teen FictionThe Art of Life #1: Art Version Avien Evangelista is calm and collected until she interacts with the only person who can stir up her emotional control, Kiel Yuan Santillan. Started: July 16, 2023 Ended: Posted: August 21, 2023 ONGOING AND EDITING.