Unbind the Strings

Nine

He hugged me tight like he doesn't want to let me go. Hindi ko lubos maisip an kailangan niya pang pagdaanan 'yon. Hindi ko man lang siya pinakinggan dahil inisip ko lang ang aking sarili. I faced him and held his face.

"I'm sorry for not letting you explain...paano mo nakaya 'yon? Are you pressured? What exactly happened?"

"Right I told you that my mom and Mia's mom is close? Her family is also musically inclined so lagi sila nagkakasundo ng family ko. They were already arranging our future, Cal. I hate it so much." His tears welled from deep inside and coursed down his cheeks.

"Shhhh, it's okay. Hindi naman 'yun ang mangyayare e. Thank you for sacrificing your last year para lang makita mo ako...I'm sorry...behave ka sa new school mo, ha?" I smiled trying to hide the pain.

"I'll be attending your graduation, I promise. We'll keep our communication and call each other always, okay? Ilang months nalang you'll be turning eighteen and I can make you mine na officially." He chuckled wiping down his tears.

"You better leave na, baka mapagalitan ka pa ng daddy mo. They're waiting for you. Congratulations on passing the test!" I hugged him one last time.

"Thank you, Cal. Pasok ka na rin. Pakisabi kay Tita I enjoyed the food a lot."

"You're always welcome here, anytime." I signaled him to leave and when I saw him drove away, I entered the house.

I saw my mom washing the dishes. I went closer to her and hugged her from behind.

She asked me if I'm okay and I said I'm fine. She faced me while gently lifting my face.

"Anak kita kaya alam ko kapag may problema ka. Kahit 'di mo sabihin nararamdaman ko 'yun."

"Hindi kami sabay gagraduate..." I pouted.

"Atleast sabay kayong tatanda." She said while smiling at me.

"Ma naman e!"

"Nak, mabait si Jay. May respeto. Hindi naman porket magkalayo kayo, magbabago na tingin niya sayo. Faithfulness ang tawag 'don. Matuto kang mag tiwala sa mga taong pinapahalagahan ka. Pasalamat ka nga nagpaalam siya sayo na aalis siya e, 'yung tatay mo ba nag paalam sa'kin?" natawa siya matapos niyang sabihin 'yon.

"Nakukuha mo pang magbiro, Ma. Iba ka talaga."

"Nak, when you focus on the good, the good gets better. Kaya kung ako sayo, eenjoyin ko nalang 'yung mga panahong natitira na magkasama kami." tinapik niya ang balikat ko bago tuluyang pumasok sa kaniyang kwarto.

Mother na, instant bestfriend pa. Hay, 'di ko alam gagawin ko kapag nawala pa si Mommy sa'kin.

Jay was updating me kung anong nangyayare sa house nila. Maya't maya ang kanyang chat dahil 'di naman daw siya nageenjoy 'don. I said he should atleast participate para hindi siya mapagalitan. He wanted to call me but I said no kase for sure 'di siya makikipag socialize sa iba.

We still have 3 months to enjoy, and I won't waste that remaining days.

"Merry Christmas, Cali!" he greeted me while smiling widely. He video called me kase we made a deal na sabay kaming mag cocount down sa Christmas since this is our first Christmas together kahit wala pa kaming label lol. 

"Merry Christmas din to you and your family!" I greeted him back.

"Jay, no phones muna. Talk to your cousins, also look for Mia and accompany her dito sa bahay." I overheard his Mom saying to him.