Tricia looked up from the catalog.
Ria was testing on dresses. Masyado raw nito namiss ang pagshopping sa Pinas kaya bigla na lang siyang nanhila. Quite ironic for a girl who always had her appointments listed down.
"Try on maxi dresses. Cool and comfortable. Plus, hindi siya super showy. Tricia suggested. Ria transferred to another rack.
"If I will try things on, you must do the same thing too." Pangungulit ni Ria. Tricia followed obligingly.
Alam ni Tricia na namimiss niya ang pagshopping. Masyado siyang carried away ng personal niyang buhay na nakalimutan na niya na may mga ibang bagay pa pala sa mundo. She has been rotting herself to work bago sila magkaayos ni Jason.
Jason. The guy who made her fall all over again. He really did have this great wisdom behind the funny expression. Tricia was proud of him for choosing family over himself, sacrificing his greatest want and need.
Nobody has got someone as noble as Jason. It made Tricia's heart soar.
"Girl who's mind is off to nowhere." Ria smirked. The girl was too nosy for her own good.
"Whatever. One day, maiintindihan mo rin ako." Ria covered her face with her hand.
"Damn. Who possessed my best friend?!" Ria said dramatically. Then Tricia repeated the words to her mind.
She was always reasoning out. She believe in the power of speech, saying her explanation and trying to prove her point. That was one reason bakit nagclash sila ni Jason. She did not like things hanging in mid-air.
"I guess your best friend is maturing." Tricia smiled. Binalik ni Ria yung hawak niyang damit at hinila papalabas ng store si Tricia papunta sa malapit na kainan.
"What made you damn high while I was gone?" Tinaasan ni Ria si Tricia ng kilay.
"This." She lifted her left hand.
"I already know that."
"Pero hindi mo alam na binalik lang sa akin ulit 'to.
Ria thirsted for the news. After mabigay sa kanila yung order nila, nagsimula na sa pagtanong si Ria. Paano nagkaproblema. Paano nagkabati. Ano yung reasons. She did not miss a single detail. Tricia repeated the scenes in her head, and they felt bittersweet.
"Why did you agree? What made you agree? If I were you. Ha! You know I am an impatient one." Lumunok si Ria.
"I don't know. Maybe I'm just willing to give it all just to be with Jason. I know he's worth the wait. He's worth every single second." Tricia smiled wistfully.
"Oh dear. You're smitten. It's college all over again!"
Tricia dismissed her joking voice. She knows she's true to her word. Kahit ano naman ang mangyari sa kanila e, maghihintay siya. It did not matter if Ria didn't approve. She was not the one wearing the ring.
The ring that promised her forever with Jason Salvador.
---
Nagdoorbell si Yana sa harap ng isang brick house.
Hindi niya na alam kung saan pa pupunta. She has to think. She needs someone who can help her think. Sa lahat ng taong kilala niya, alam niyang sila lang ang makakatulong.
Ang kanyang mga magulang.
Hindi niya alam kung paano sasabihin sa kanila yung masamang balita, or matagal na rin nilang alam? Alam ni Yana na kahit ano pa ang maging situation pag dating sa mga magulang niya, hindi siya magagalit. Alam niyang sila lang ang tanging makakapagpaunawa sa kaniya ng dapat niyang unawain.
"Sino yan?" Sumigaw ang papa niya sa loob.
"Daddy!"
Bumukas ang pintuan at hindi napigilan ni Yana ang sarili. Niyakap niya agad yung papa niya.
"Anak." Niyakap siya pabalik ng papa niya. Kung alam lang nito kung gaano kasarap yung feeling niya ngayong nagkita na sila.
"Dali. Sabayan mo kami ng mama mo maghapunan"
Pumasok ang mag-ama sa loob. Naamoy kaagad ni Yana yung niluluto ng papa niya. Sakto, favorite! Iniwan niya ang ama niya at hinanap muna ang mama niya.
"Hi Ma." Nakita siya ni Yana sa loob ng master's bedroom.
"Ay! Nandito ang aking magandang anak." Nagyakap ang mag-ina.
Yana has always been closer to her mother when it comes to the affairs of the heart. Maybe it's a girl thing, or mas madali lang kausapin yung mama niya tungkol sa mga ganung bagay.
"Di maipinta yang mukha mo. Anong problema?"
"Ma. Wag kang magrereact kahit anong mangyari a? Nagnod ang mama niya.
"Ma. May tinago silang malaki sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung mapagkakatiwalaan ko pa sila." Yana frowned.
"Ano naman yun? Or baka masyado ka lang nacarry away ng stress?"
"Ma. May sakit si Josh. He's dying and he never got the nerves to tell it to me. All this time! Ilang taon na kaming magkasama. Ilang taon na akong nagmumukhang tanga."
Tinignan lang siya ng mama niya. So they were now informed. Hindi naging hysterical ang mama niya. Siguro kung dati yun, yes. Pero ngayon, her mother turned to be more vocal on wisdoms in life.
"What are you going to do? Break up with him?" Her mom suggested.
"I don't want to break up with him. And that's what scares me. I don't know what future I am going to have. And I'm afraid.."
"Afraid of?"
"Remember Justine Abalos?"
Her mother easily caught up. She knew what her daughter went through, courtesy of her daughter's friends. Justine Abalos. Hindi alam ng mama ni Yana kung magagalit siya o matutuwa siya for changing her to the woman she is today.
"Alyanna." Hinawakan ng mama ni Yana yung kamay niya.
"Kahit ano pa ang maging desisyon mo, we trust you. We trust your judgment. Alam namin na kaya mong panindigan yung mga bagay na yan. At alam namin kung paano ka magmahal."
It all goes down to what it means to her parents. Yana hugged her mom, trying to suppress her tears. Kahit anong mangyari, sa mga magulang mo matatagpuan yung best answer.
After all, they saw her grow up.
~~
#VOTE PO ^_____^