After being saved from her attempted suicide, Althea takes on her journey of healing, learning to open up and giving herself a second chance as she finds her own valid reason to break free from her sea of despair and live.
Pag gising ko kinabukasan ay dinampot ko ang aking cellphone upang tignan ang oras nang makita kong mayroong message kaya tinignan ko iyon at nakitang galing iyon sakanya. Tila awtomatikong umangat ang gilid ng aking labi.
He was asking if we could eat out today, so I texted him that we could and what time. He texted me back na depende saakin so I told him na magkita kami sa bakanteng lote for about an hour.
Matapos naming mag-text ay tuluyan na akong bumangon at naligo na upang makapaghanda na.
"Hmm, hmm, hmm." Hindi ko namalayan na I'm already humming while taking a bath. Am I excited? Well, you could say that. Am I in a good mood? Perhaps.
Paglabas ko ng banyo ay dumiretso ako sa closet ko at naghanap ng maisusuot. Then I found a green flowy dress that I haven't worn yet so I took it out and decided that it'll be my pick today. Sinuklay ko lang ang buhok ko at pinatuyo bago maglagay ng kaunting kolorete sa mukha at magsuot na rin ng accessories na babagay sa aking damit. My grandmother taught me how to fix myself. She told me that fixing and dressing up lifts your mood and it could be a great shield as to what you truly feel.
Not that I'm not happy about today. Iyon lamang talaga ang sinabi niya.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Bumaba na ako at naabutan ko ang aking nanay at kapatid na nasa sala at nanonood sa T.V. I cleared my throat and they both looked at me, surprised. Biglang ngumiti ng nakakaloko saakin ang kapatid ko. Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay. I remember it's been a while since I talked to her.
"May pupuntahan ka ba?" Tanong saakin ng nanay ko. Tumango naman ako sakanya.
"I'm going to eat out with a friend." Tumango naman ang nanay ko at nginitian ako.
"Just be safe, okay anak?" Awkward akong sumagot sakanya.
"Yeah, sure."
"Are you really just going to eat out with a friend? Only a friend?" Biglang singit ng kapatid ko. I rolled my eyes as I shook my head.
"Why?" Tanong ng nanay namin. Napabuntong hininga naman ako dahil sakanila. I'm really still not comfortable with this shit. But my sister is there, and I want to show her that everything is slowly going back to normal.
"Yes, a friend." Sambit ko at nag-attempt na umalis na pero hindi pa rin tapos ang kapatid ko at nanukso pa rin. Well, to be honest, I really don't know if me and him are just friends, do I?
"Quit it, will you? I'm going na. Bye." Sambit ko at tuluyan nang umalis. Naririnig ko silang nag-uusap at napailing na lamang ako.
"If that's a suitor make sure to bring him over, okay?" Nagmadali pa akong maglakad palabas dahil sa sinabi ng nanay ko. My cheeks are already burning because of them.
Saktong paglabas ko naman ng bahay ay halos mapatalon ako sa gulat nang makita si Kean na nagulat rin na nakita ako.
"Yes?" Tanong ko sakanya. Mukha kasi siyang patungo talaga sa bahay namin.
