Could Have Been Better (Crush Series #2)

Chapter 27

Sa gilid ng aking mga mata ay nakita ko ang isang palapit na pigura. I gulped. Ngumuso ako nang magkatinginan kami ni mommy. Mom smiled widely. Si daddy naman ay tumikhim.

Kavan was walking towards me with a bouquet of flowers in his arms. "Congratulations," he uttered when he finally reached me.

Hindi ko napigilan ang ngumiti sa kaniya. "Thank you," I answered.

I looked at the bouquet. It had different kinds of flowers. Tinanggap ko iyon nang iabot niya sa akin. Inamoy ko ang mga bulaklak.

Kavan became a really close friend to me. Siya ang nagdala sa akin sa unibersidad na ito kung saan ako nag-aral at nakapagtapos. He was one of the people who influenced me to be an English major like him. Sa una, totoong nahirapan ako. But as time went by, it became my passion. Lalo na nang mahilig ako sa pagbabasa.

"Your mom invited me. I hope you don't mind," sabi ni Kavan nang maiabot sa akin ang bulaklak.

I suddenly remembered the conversation we had last night. We were talking about my graduation. I did not invite him because I thought he's busy with work.

"I thought you were busy," I told him. Nakonsensya tuloy ako dahil hindi ko man lang siya pinaunlakan ng imbitasyon.

Isang ngisi ang natanggap ko sa kaniya. "Nah. I'll skip work if it's for you," he said in a hoarse tone. Tiningnan niya sila mommy at bumati sa mga ito.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin ngunit nagawa kong pa ring ngumiti para naman hindi nakakailang sa pagitan namin.

Kavan has been really persistent with me for the past two years. Eversince we became really close, there wasn't a day that he will not show how special I am to him. Hindi ko alam kung kailan iyon nagsimula. I was uncomfortable for a while but I think it's not bad to let him do what he wanted to do. Naipaliwanag ko na sa kaniya ang lahat. He even knew about my story. Alam niya ang nakaraan ko at kung bakit ako narito. Wala akong itinago sa kaniya. I've been open to my close friends like Kavan and Rhyna. At alam din niya na hanggang kaibigan lang ang turing ko sa kaniya.

"Nagpaalam ka ba?" tanong ko, nag-aalala na baka mapagalitan siya ng superior niya.

Tumango siya. May kakaibang liwanag sa kaniyang mga mata. Kavan was really good looking. Naghahalo ang dugong Amerikano at Pilipino at makikita iyon sa kaniyang hitsura. He has jet black hair, thick brows and eyelashes that defines his dark eyes. May maliit din siyang dimple sa gilid ng labi. He has this so- called killer smile. Napakabihira niyang ngumiti lalo na sa mga taong hindi niya kilala. I'm lucky that I get to see him smile like this.

Sa tuwing nakikita kong ngumingiti si Kavan, sumasaya ako ngunit nalulungkot din. There's something in his smile that reminds me of some things I left from the past.

"Elaine, we prepared something at home," ani mommy habang palipat-lipat ang tingin sa amin ni Kavan.

Nilingon ko silang dalawa ni daddy. They were both smiling. But daddy's smile was firm. Iyong ngiting sa likod ay may pagdududa. I think he's just being protective. Hindi itinago ni Kavan sa kanila ang nararamdaman nito para sa akin kaya naman sa tuwing nakikita niya ito ay nagbabago ang pakitungo niya.

"Let's go," ani dad at naunang naglakad.

We followed him. Dahil dala ni Kavan ang sasakyan niya ay hindi siya sumabay sa amin. I was with my parents. Both of them were in front of the car while I was at the back. Pinanonood ko sila. They were talking about the small celebration that we'll be having at home. Nag-imbita si mommy nang ilang close friends. Kasama rito ang pamilya ni Kavan at siyempre, si Rhyna.

Rhyna became my best friend here in L.A. Of course, I haven't forgotten Celine. Pero kung mayroon mang katumbas si Celine dito sa states ay si Rhyna iyon. The only difference between my friendship with the both of them was that I was more honest to Rhyna than Celine. I was selfish before and also judgemental. Hindi ko inakalang ang ayaw kong gawin sa akin ng mga taong nakilala ko ay siyang ginawa ko sa mga taong naniwala sa akin. That's why I became more open now because I also realized that being honest was very helpful to gain acceptance from other people.