The Taste of Art (Squad Series 01)

Chapter 12-The Art of pAin

"What arrange marriage?" I heard my mom said

"Hindi pa ba sapat ang pagiging chopper?"My mom asked

"Sobrang ng nag titiis si Andrew, tapos ngayon arrange marriage naman. Tatay ka ba talaga?" My mom bruned my dad. No, this can't be. An arrange marriage,how hilarious my parents are.

"Kailangan na niya malaman, dahil mas lalo siyang masasaktan" My mom said

"Masasaktan? mula pagkabata mahal na ni eisen si Andrew, at ngayon sigurado ako ganon din si Andrew" My dad said, which is true mula pagkabata crush ko na siya. I hope they are not into something dangerous.

"Hindi ka pa ba kakain?"muntik pa akong mapatalon sa gulat dahil kay Andrew,punyemas

We went to the dinning table dahil sa narinig ko, nawalan ako ng gana kumain, at mukang napapansin yon ni andrew kaya sinabi ko na diet nalang ako.

"It's time" My mom said, no I won't let Andrew know about this. Hindi pwede dahil ano nalang maiisip ng magulang niya sakin, sa pamilya ko.

"Uh, mi president ako sa arts club" I tried to change topic, and I am hoping it will work

" Congrats"They all said, except for Andrew who is just sitting

I need to let Andrew go, I need to stop this damn chopper, mag se-senior high na ako may chopper pa rin ako. Do I really have no freedom.

I went to school, nag discuss ang teacher pero blanko pa rin ang isip ko. Lagi't lagi kong iniisip kung pano titigil si Andrew sa pagiging chopper ko, and I guess pain will always be with me.

Pa minsan minsan alam nila nasa school ako pero nakatambay lang ako sa tagaytay sa isang coffee shop. I can't even face my squad,ilang araw na akong MIA. 

I was with my squad lunch break namin, ginagawa ko yung banner para kay Andrew habang sila nag kukuwentuhan. I missed those thing with the squad but I must end with Andrew first.

"Hindi nga pwede may laro si andrew. I need to be there"I said. Dahil hindi talaga pwede, this is my chance to make my plan. 

"Wala ka ng time samin, hindi na nga tayo nakapag celebrate ng birthday mo eh nung september tapos nung sembreak hindi ka na rin nakakasama samin"Chard said, I celebrate my birthday with Andrew and the fam, kumain lang naman kami sa labas non, a simple lunch and dinner.

"Intindihin nyo naman ako"I said, dahil pagod na pagod na ako sa totoo lang. 

"Iniintindi ka namin"Aney said,

"So let me, dito na nga lang ako sumasaya, andami dami ko na ngang problema dadagdag pa kayo?!"Sobrang dami ko ng problema, hindi ko na kaya, I looked at them. Hindi nila ako maintindihan sa mundo kong gulong gulo na. 

"Puro ka nalang kase andrew ng andrew may napapala ka ba?!" Ashey said, with that tears started to fall from my eyes. 

"Paki mo ba ha!pinapakelaman ko ba kayo ha?!"I said, Oo mahal ko nga si andrew pero tatapusin ko nanaman eh, hindi ba pwedeng siya muna?

"Bakit ako ba naka absent tuwing may long quiz ha?!"Ashey said habang pinipigilan siya ni thala. 

"Tama na yan, wala kayong mapapa pareho"Aney said calmly for us to stop this shit.

"Isa ka pa! Nag newyork ka lang, nag mamayabang ka na , ganto ba talaga kayo? Kaibigan ko ba talaga kayo?" I asked them, ang hinihingi ko lang naman intindihin ako eh. Hindi na nga ako masyadong nakakasama aawayin lang ako.

"Buti nga siya eh may narating"Ashey said and raise her brow.

"So ano ang pinaparating mo? Na hanggang taga cheer lang ako kahit hindi ganon ka ganda ang design ko?! Nakakahiya naman sa mga sumusuporta sayo, baka hindi mo alam ako ang may gawa non'" Hindi ko na talaga alam ang nangyayari sakin

"Walang kayo, kung wala ako" I am so frustrated right now. my world is getting apart.

"Tama na"Pagpigil samin ni aney, whose tears are slowly dripping

"Please lang, pagod na ako,punyemas "I said and turned around to walked away, as I walked away tuloy tuloy ang pag iyak ko. I lost my squad, and I'm loosing Andrew where else could I go

I sat on the bench near the gym, watching guys playing football. After a few minutes, James sat down beside me holding my water bottle,  ang alam ko ubos na yon eh nag refill yata si James. Ang kuripot!

"Brute force will always be brute force" James said after a long silent

"We got your back" James said and walked away

I need to settle with Andrew first. 

I am wearing a maroon, dahil color maroon ang sa west.Game na nila, I am actually expecting to see ashey here, but I guess true love did not won.

Nakaupo ako dito sa bleachers malapit sa mga players, this will be the last day of him being my chopper. 

I cheered for him to the start of the game til, the end of the game. Sabi niya kase pag nanalo d-date niya daw ako, kahit naman talo sila okay lang date ko pa rin siya. And They did won the game, pupunta lang daw siya sa mga teammates niya. May pag uusapan daw eh, kaya naghintay nalang ako dito sa bleachers. 

We went to a restaurant, eating peacefully while he was sharing how their game was. Dahil wala naman akong ka alam alam sa basketball bukod sa foul. Yun lang kase ang sinabi sakin ni chard nung tinanong ko. Walang kwenta.

"Kailan ka uli aalis?" I asked, as far as I remember after senior high pa

"My mom said after grade 10, but I would prefer after senior high" He said while eating the beef steak 

"Ohh I see, how are them by the way" Mahigit isang taon ko ng kasama si Andrew pero hindi ko man lang nakamusta nag pamilya niya sa london, how inane I am.

"They were great, and my mom whenever she calls my aunt here in the Philippines, lagi niyang pinagyayabang ang british accent niya" He said and chuckled. 

"How about the twins?" I heard nagkaron daw siya ng kapatid na kambal ang alam ko lalaki

"Don't even mention it" He said

"why?" I asked

"Too naughty to handle" He said, ilang taon na kaya kapatid niya mga 7 na siguro 

He got a call so he answered it " Allyana" He said, so i went in silence

"It's not yet your birthday" He said

Don't worry sayong sayo na si Andrew. 

We spend the day, how we usually do when we are together. But this time my eyes, and smile are now with pain

We were on our way home nang malapit na kami " Andrew, thank you for being so considerate despite of having a strict parents" I said without looking at his eyes.

"I think it is about time for us to separate ways" I manage to hold on my tears

"What do you mean?" He said and the car stopped which mean, it's time to say goodbye

"I am thankful to have you , to be childhood friend and a chopper" I said without looking at his eyes, hindi ko kaya

"It's time for us to stop this, so you can have your freedom back" I said while looking at his eyes slowly

"I know you wanted to hangout with your friends more than me, and my friends. You wanted to say no for me for a lots of time but you can't. I know you are a man of words" I said, while I'm trying not to cry infront of him.

"Mahirap ba akong kasama?" He asked, I find him cute while speaking tagalog

Umiling ako, I wanted to save you from pain

"I will handle this with my dad"I said and I hold into the door handle

"Am I not enough?" He asked

" You are more than enough" I smiled at him

"Please say happy birthday to allyana, I never got the chance to meet her. But she is in a good hands with you" I said 

"Congratulation on winning the game, Iove" I will continue to support you from afar. 

.//.