Chapter 17

"Are you friends with Sandro?"

Napalingon ako kay daddy. He's organizing his things dahil babalik na sya sa US

"How did you know him?"

Nag iwas ito ng tingin "I know his dad. Business" maikling sagot nito.

"Anong oras ka aalis?"

He decided to go back. Maybe because he knew I would never get close to him.

"Pinapaalis mo na ba talaga ako?"

"Yes" mabilis kong sagot at ininom ang natitirang kape sa aking tasa.

"When will you open again your heart? When will you forgive me anak?"

I take a deep breath. "I don't know. Just please leave me alone"

Im not going to open my heart again. I will never ever let anyone make me feel bad again. Not now, and never.

"Anak"

"Stop calling me anak. You abandoned me when I needed you the most. What gives you the right to call me your anak?"

I can hear him taking a deep breath. He's running out of words to say. Just like what he did when they decided to leave me all alone.

"Don't ever come back again. I don't need you"

Just like what I did since he got here, I walk out.

I don't care if I look like a brat daughter. Who cares. They didn't even think about how I feel when they leave me.

Dinala ako ng aking mga paa sa park malapit sa subdivision. Today is sunday kaya sobrang daming tao. Yeah family. Not everyone is lucky to have a family they can call.

"Hi"

"Ay pusa!" Gulat akong napalingon at nakita si Sandro. Naka shorts ito at puting tshirt at halatang bagong gising lang

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

Bakit ba lagi nalang syang sumusulpot kung saan saan?

Nag kibit balikat lang si Sandro at iniabot saakin ang hawak nyang helmet.

"Let's go"

"Saan?" Nalilitong tanong ko.

Hinigit nya ang aking kamay "Wag ng madaming tanong"

Sumama ako sakanya kahit hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta. Whenever Im with him, nawawala lahat ng worries ko kahit minsan nakaka asar talaga sya. Siguro nasanay nalang ako na nandyan sya sa tabi ko.

I wrap my hand around his waist, lean my head in his back and close my eyes. Its so cold right now.

I'm doing my best to hand myself a little help to survive a day.

"We're here"

Alam nyo ba kung saan ako dinala ni Sandro? Sa mall. Sobrang daming tao at ganito lang ang suot namin.

"Seryoso kaba? Mukha tayong pulubi"

Sinamaan ako nito ng tingin at halatang nainis sa sinabi ko "Baka ikaw ang mukhang pulubi"

I glared at him. Kahit hindi ako mag ayos hindi ako mag mumukhang pulubi.

"Help me find a gift for my older sister"

I sigh. "Do I really need to that? Im tired"

Whenever he needs to do something he always bother me to come with him. Pwede naman nyang yayain si Symon at Sandro. He loves to bother me.

He pinch my cheeks "Yes"

Nagulat ako dahil hinawakan nya ang aking kamay at hinatak maglakad. Pakiramdam ko bigla nalang may dumaloy na kuryente sa buong katawan ko.

"I think she likes jewelries"

I don't know why but my heart keeps beating so fast right now.

"Can you help me find a perfect for her?"

Damn. Napatitig ako sa kamay nya na naka hawak sa kamay ko ngayon.

"Allison"

Why am I feeling this? Pull yourself together Reese.

"Hey"

"Ouch" napahawak ako sa ilong ko na tumama sa dibdib nya.

Sandro glared at me.

"Im talking to you! Kanina kapa lutang"

I glared back at him "What what what? What do you need?"

He chuckle "You look like a puppy"

"Sandro!" I scream.

Natatawa itong lumayo saakin. Pinagtitinginan kami ng mga tao. Baka iniisip nila "ang aga naman mag landian ng mga to"

"Puppy" pag uulit pa nya. Pinalo ko sya sa may likuran ng napaka lakas.

"Ouch! Sadist!"

I stick my tongue out. Serve him right.

"What about this?" Itinaas ko ang necklace na may pendant na hugis buwan.

"Its nice" maikling sagot nya at kinuha ang necklace sa kamay ko.

"Can I have 2 of this?"

Umalis ako sa tabi nya at nag ikot ikot sa shop. There's a lot of nice necklace, earrings and rings now days. People tend to choose one that has diamond in it. But for me, I like a simple one.

"Here" nagulat ako dahil bigla nalang syang may inilagay sa kamay ko.

"What is this?"

"Necklace" maikling sagot nya.

"Its for you" he added and walk out.

I was dumbfounded. Did he really gave me a necklace?

Wow. How sweet of him. Insert sarcastic tone here.

Nag ikot ikot pa kami ni Sandro, hanggang sa tumigil na ito kakalakad dahil masakit na daw ang paa nya.

"Have you eaten?" He asked while looking at his phone.

I convulse my head.

"Let's eat"

Sobrang daming tao pati sa mall. Ni halos hindi na nga kami maka lakad ng walang nababangga at kanina pa naiirita itong kasama ko. Sino ba nagyaya pumunta dito?

Napailing na lamang ako.

Naka pila ngayon si Sandro sa subway. Sya na nag insist na mag order hindi na ako nag reklamo dahil minsan lang naman maging mabait si Sandro.

"Sandro"

He look at me "What?"

"Im hungry"

He chuckle "Wait a minute"

"Masarap?" Tanong ko sakanya dahil sya ang unang kumain saamin dalawa.

Umiling ito "Sakto lang"

Ang arte.

Kanina pa nga sya pinagtitinginan ng mga babae dito. Ngayon lang naka kita ng gwapo?

Anong gwapo? Duh. Nahihibang kana ba Reese?

"Andami mong fans, Sandro"

Patuloy lang sya sa pagsubo ng sandwich na binili nya.

"Shut up and eat"

I rolled my eyes and ate.

"Is there something wrong?"

Gulat akong napalingon sakanya dahil sa naging tanong nya.

"Kailan kapa naging chismoso?"

Kumuha sya ng tissue at pinunasan ang kamay ko na nalagyan ng mayonnaise.

Kung hindi ko lang kilala si Sandro siguro nahulog na ako sakanya.

"You see, I've spent my entire life attempting to condense my ideas into a single strand. But I'm still a long way from having the perfect peace of mind that I've yearned for"

I take a deep breath. He held my hand.

"Its okay if things are a little bit messy, its okay if several things are still unsure or out of your control. Just live your life to the fullest"