UAAP-Philippines is just a point away from grabbing the Bronze finish in Volleyball Competition. The girls are even more focused as they are willing to take this game away before going home.
Alyssa serves for the Match and a rally happens. Both Teams exchange spikes, drops, receive and free balls before Alyssa finds an open spot to close out today's match against Malaysia.
"Good game, girls! Congratulations! Heartstrong!" Coach Tai said and the girls shout in joy.
"Alam na guys!" Malakas na sabi ni Ella tapos tumingin kay Tonyboy Liao, nag-cheer din silang lahat dahil libre nanaman ang pagkain nila tonight.
From the venue, dumretso sila sa isang magandang kainan at covered iyon ng Manager nila. Maingay silang kumain dahil ang daming kwento nina Ella at Marge, tapos kabilaan din amg asaran habang nandoon sila.
--
@_amdeguzman: Minutes before she found out that we're going to watch you on our Birthday! @SamSmith
Ito ang agad na bumungad kay Bea pagbukas ng IG, kanina lang ay umalis si Jia dahil lalabas sila ni Migs tapos ito ngayon ang makikita niya. Bumuntong hininga siya at sinarado ang IG tapos tumingin sa kisame.
Masaya siya, dapat ganun din ako. Isip ni Bea at tinignan ang wallpaper ng kanyang phone, yung silang dalawa ni Jia sa Dugout pagkatapos ng Bronze Medal match. Turuan mo nga ako maging masaya pag kasama mo siya, ang hirap kasi. Pinikit ni Bea ang kanyang mata para magpahinga hanggang sa tuluyang makatulog.
Pag-gising ay asa tabi niya si Jia at nakahiga ang ulo sa kanyang dibdib, umangat siya ng konti at nakitang tulog din ito. Dahan dahang inalis ni Bea si Jia at inayos ang higa niya, tinignan muna saka ngumiti bago bumangon.
"Stay here." Jia sleep talked and Bea stayed on her side. She felt Jia moving near to wrapped its arms around her waist, preventing Bea from moving.
"Ikaw talagang bata ka..." Bea said and stroke her face, "Kaya kita mahal eh." Biglang sabi nanaman ni Bea at kinabahan ng gumalaw galaw si Jia.
Ilang minuto ang lumipas bago magising si Jia, tumingin siya kay Bea at ngumiti, "Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, musta labas niyo?"
"Ayun, kumain at nag-usap... I guess you saw his post on IG." Jia yawned and risen up from Bea's bed then rest her back against the pillow, "Christmas is near, who are you going to celebrate it with?"
"My family." Bea answered, "I hope it goes well. You already know what it is."
"Sana patawarin ka na ng Daddy mo at ganun ka din sa kanila." Jia said and Bea smirked, "Seryoso ako."
"I don't know, Ji." Bea shook her head and rests on Jia's shoulder, it's stiffening but Bea has no problems with that. She feels comfortable whenever Jia is around her.
"Just pray, Bei."
--
Finals ended and the Team is having a Christmas Party before going to their homes. Pajama Party is the theme and all wore pajamas and sleeping clothes, mga sleep deprived daw kasi sila. True enough, College gives you deprivation and stress but it's rewarding in the end.
After the Party, each one of them went back home to celebrate it with their own Families. Bea was reluctant to go home but she wants to know what's happening in there, matagal na siyang hindi umuwi simula nung mag-suicide attempt siya noon.
Bea went out of her car and the house is filled with lights. Nagtaka siya dahil dati ay hindi ganito kaliwanag ang tahanan nila, maaaring umuwi din rin ang ibang kamag-anak kaya maaliwalas sa paningin ang kanilang bahay.
Pumasok si Bea sa loob ng gate tapos nun ay kumatok. Bumukas ang pintuan at bumungad sa kanya ang Mommy niya, niyakap siya nito bago pinapasok sa bahay. Nakita niyang nakatayo ang kanyang Daddy, ni-yuko ni Bea ang kanyang ulo dahil sa takot. Laking gulat naman niya nang yakapin ng Ama.
"D-Dad..." Kasalukuyang naguguluhan si Bea sa yakap ng Daddy, hindi niya alam kung seryoso ba ito o nagpapakitang tao lang. Pagtingin niya sa kanya ay may luha ang mata ng kanyang Ama, "S-Sorry po." Nangagamba niyang sagot at niyakap siya ulit.
"Don't, I should be the one to apologize. This house was never the same without you, parang tuluyan akong nawalan ng Anak dahil sa kagaguhan ko. I'm sorry for putting my own Daughter down... Son pala." Ronald smiled and looked at Bea's eyes, it took a while to sink in but Bea cried tears of joy after finally getting the acceptance he wants.
"I'm sorry for destroying you. I'm a very bad Father." He said and wipes his Daughter's tears away, "Thank God you came home."
"Mom's sorry too, Nak." Her Mom said and joined the hug too, "Alam namin kulang pa ang 'sorry'. We are hoping you could accept us again, soon."
"I always did, Mom, Dad."
"Bea!"
Bea looks around for that voice, and she saw Loel grinning at her. Pinakawalan nina Cecil si Bea para matakbuhan ang kanyang Kuya. Bea jumped into his arms and was very happy to see her Brother again.
"Kuya! I missed you!" Bea said while locked in Loel's hug, the latter kissed her forehead.
"I missed you too, Bei!" Loel said, "I have great news, dito na ako titira!"
"Really?"
"Really." He said and they both laughed.
"This goes for a celebration!" Ronald exclaimed and they all head to the dining area to celebrate their reunion.
"Asan po sina Kuya Joseph?" Bea asked while eating.
"They'll come tomorrow for Noche Buena, and you went home just in time for that." Cecil told her.
Happy faces were written all over. Ngayon lang ulit naging masigla ang Pamilya De Leon, kung noon ay malalayo ang loob nila sa isa't isa, ngayon naman ay nanunumbalik muli ang dating samahan nila sa isang tahanan.
--
Bea just finished changing into her Christmas dress when Ronald entered the room. Bea turned around and walks near her Dad to kiss him in the cheek.
"Gandang gwapo ng Anak ko." Ronald chuckled.
"Dad, tanggap niyo na pong ganun ako?" Bea asked for assurance, "Ang bilis kasi ng pangyayari."
Inakbayan ni Ronald ang dalaga at tinignan ito sa mata, "Honestly, I was so mad at myself after finding out your sexuality. Ilang beses kong tinanong ang sarili ko kung san ako nagkulang at nagka-ganyan ka. Ilang beses din kitang inilaglag dahil dun, hindi ko lubusang tinanggap ang pag-amin mo. But after what happened, I realized how selfish I was at hindi ko na mababawi ang ginawa ko noon. Yung pinahiya ka, pinagalitan, trinatong parang hindi Anak. I was so engulfed on the discrimination of Homosexual and Bisexual people, tingin ko mga salot sila sa lipunan. Napagtanto kong mali ang paniniwalang 'yon. Wala kang kasalanan, ako, malaki. Pero wag ka ng mag-alala, tanggap na tanggap kita. You are still my Princess kahit babae rin ang gusto mo." Mahaba niyang paliwanag tapos ngumiti.
"So, okay na po kung magka-girlfriend ako?" Tanong ni Bea at umiling ang Daddy niya.
"Bakit? Meron na bang nililigawan?"
Huminga ng malalim si Bea, "Wala po, naunahan eh." Malungkot niyang sinabi.
"Mahal mo ba siya?"
"Opo, pero hindi ko siya maintindihan. Super sweet namin, daig pa ang isang couple. Bestfriends kami. Ewan."
"Uhm, siguro mahal ka nun, hindi niya lang alam. Madaming ganung tao, it takes a wall to break before they discover secret feelings for someone."
"How can she break her wall, Dad?"
"Give her love, baka naman kasi tinatago mo ng sobra kaya akala niya normal lang. Sige ka, mawawala siya ng tuluyan sayo."
"Dad!"
Ronald laughed, "Why? Guilty ka?" He laughed even harder. Bea glares at him.
"Pinapakitaan ko naman, siya lang yung hindi nakakakita. Sobrang obvious yun, lahat ng kakilala namin alam yan. Ugh! Nakakainis!"
"O, wag kang ganyan. Just do what you have to do, at kung kinakailangang magpakalayo ka, do it. Alam mo yan, Anak. Ganyan din ako sa Mommy mo noon. Haha!"
"I know. I know." Bea smirked.
"Basta, pakilala mo sa amin yan." Ronald reminds and she nods, "Baba na pagtapos mo dyan ah? Your cousins are waiting." He kissed her forehead before leaving the room.
Bea was about to go down when her phone rings, kinuha niya agad at isang text yun galing kay Jia.
Bei, Merry Christmas! Miss you and I love you, Bes! Wag masyadong magpataba, 'kay? Regards to your Family. I love you!
Merry Christmas too, Panda! Susubukan kong hindi magpataba, joke. Haha! Enjoy your Noche Buena and pabati na din ako sa Family mo. I miss and love you, too! She was smiling the whole time while texting Jia. Secretly, she hoped it was real pero masaya na siya sa lagay na yan, for now.