"Are you sure you'll be okay?"
I chuckled upon hearing his question. Hindi na siya nagbago, praning pa din. Isang taon na ulit ang lumipas. Everything's fine.
After the revelations of Alise, kuya decided to talk to her. They both decided to sort things out. Kaso nga lang, hindi na sila nagkabalikan. Well, they're both happy already.
"Oo nga." I chuckled.
Hindi pa rin siya mapakali. Malapit na ulit ang second anniversary namin pero kailangan kong pumunta ng Australia para sa kasal ng ate ni Alise. Unfortunately, hindi invited si Ismael kaya maiiwan siya dito.
Nasa airport na kami ngayon. Hinatid niya talaga ako dito dahil napa-praning siya. May pasok pa dapat pero dahil nga malakas ang kapit ng pamilya ni Alise sa school, nakalusot kami. Pinauna lang kami sa pagkuha ng finals at pinayagang mag early summer vacation.
"Wala ka dito sa anniversary natin. Last year di tayo naka
"Nasa'n si Daddy?" I worriedly asked Llianne nang makarating ako sa Hospital kung saan siya na-confine.I probably looked so haggard right now. After receiving the call, I hurriedly packed my things and left Melbourne. It's a good thing that Tito Adi, Alise' father helped me with my ticket. Kaso nga lang, nahuli pa rin ako dahil matagal ang lipad magmula Australia papuntang Pilipinas."Nasa private room na ate."She looked so tired and worried. Her eyes were also swollen, siguro dahil ilang ulit na siyang umiyak. I held her hand and pulled her with me. Pinuntahan namin ang room ni Daddy.Nang makarating ay halos manlamig ako sa kalagayan niya. There were too many apparatus. I saw mom sitting besides Daddy's bed and she looked so lost. Nakatingin
"Mommy, ano na ang gagawin natin?" Nagising ako nang marinig ko ang nag-aalalang boses ni Llianne. I opened my eyes and tried to see what's happening. Labis na lamang ang takot na naramdaman ko nang puro itim lang ang nakikita ko. I already opened my eyes right? Bakit wala akong makita?. "Mom," I called for her. I tried to look around but I really can't see anything except darkness. Sinubukan kong hawakan ang mga mata ko pero nakabukas naman ito. "Mommy." I panicked May humawak sa mga kamay kong nanginginig. Hinawakan ko din iyon ng mahigpit. I'm scared that I can't hold something too. I'm still trying to understand what's happening. Bakit wala akong maki
"Babalik na ako ng Melbourne kapag gumaling ka na."Humarap ako sa direksiyon ni Alise kahit na di ko siya nakikita. Nakakapanibago pa rin na puro kadiliman lang ang nakikita ko but I'm getting used to it. Siguro dahil na rin sa ilang buwang ganito palagi ang nakikita ko."You can go home now, Alise." I sounded so bitter while saying that.Sa totoo lang ay kailangan ko silang lahat. Naiinggit ako dahil sila, normal pa rin pero ako, heto nakaratay at di makakita. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang reaksiyon ni Alise sa sinabi ko. I know that I shouldn't act like a bitch but I can't let her waste her time while taking care of me."No, I'll stay," matigas niyang sagot.I sighed heavily. I don't deserv
"Mom, bakit ang hirap?"I asked mommy when she sat beside me. Nasa harap namin ang kabaong na kinalalagyan ni Daddy. Halos magmukha kaming lutang lahat. Kung wala siguro ang mga tito ko na nag-asikaso ng lahat, walang mangyayari. We've been too lost. We can't accept the fact that we can't see Daddy anymore."It's because we love him," she answered me while wiping her tears.Ilang beses ko nang narinig ang linyang iyan. Ilang araw na din akong walang ginawa kundi magluksa. I've been into a lot of painful things but this one keeps on breaking me. It's as if my love for him was quite strong to the point that I can't imagine myself waking up the other day without him."Kara, condolence," one of my friends told me.
"Kara! Bakit ka nakaupo diyan sa hallway?"Nagulat ako nang makita ko si Alise na nagtataka habang nakatingin sa akin. Mabilis akong tumayo at pinagpagan pa ang suot ko kahit wala namang nakakapit doon."Wala, natumba lang," I lied.She looked at me with full of curiosity. It's as if she knew that I just lied. I sighed heavily and tried to show a smile."Kanina ka pa pinagtitinginan diyan. Buti na lang at nabasa ko agad ang text mo tapos maaabutan kitang nakaupo diyan." She laughed a bit."Wala kang duty?" I asked her, trying to change the topic.She smirked. "Meron, I'm bored. Nando'n naman si Taine."Inirapan ko siya dahil sa katamaran. Gamot na nga lang ang hinahawakan, tinatamad pa. And yeah, Taine decided to change her course nang mag fourth year kami. She stayed at CCAM. Alise finished her studies in Australia. Kakabalik lang din niya last year at di
"Woah! So you're the ex?"Mas lalong nadagdagan ang hiya ko nang tanungin ako ng kasama ni Ismael. Even Eikel was looking at me trying to figure out if it was really true. Narining ko ang malakas na tumawa si Alise."I was just kidding," pagbabawi niya sa sinabi niya habang natatawa pa rin."Yeah, I can't even remember her being one of my exes," Ismael said with full of sarcasm.Bakit parang ang bitter ng pagkakasabi niya? Tumingin ako sa kanya at nabigla ako nang maabutan ko siyang nakatingin din sa akin. He's too serious kaya ako na mismo ang naunang umiwas ng tingin.One of his exes huh, madami pala. I smiled bitterly and looked down on my food.Umupo na rin sa Eikel sa harap ko at linagyan ng kung ano-anong pagkain ang plato ko. Sa sobrang inis naman ay kinain ko lang yun."You're allergic with potatoes," Ismael suddenly interrupted.M
"Sasabay ka ba?"I nodded to answer Alise' question. Tumatambay na naman siya dito sa lab namin. She's inviting me to have lunch with Taine. Hindi na rin kami masyadong nagkikita kaya pumayag na ako. Sabay naman ang schedule naming tatlo."Kumusta pala si Ismael?" she suddenly asked.Napatigil ako sa ginagawa at mabilis siyang tiningnan ng masama. She crossed her arms trying to make a shield."Woah, parang noong nakaraang araw lang confident ka pa na di mo kailangang mag move on." She teased me."Nagbago na ang isip ko. He's a jerk." I hissed."A jerk that you love. Okay, accepted," she murmured."Alise!" pagsusuway ko sa kanya.She chuckled and tapped my shoulder. Umiling-uling pa siya na para bang hindi siya sure kung paniniwalaan niya ako."Kay Dr. Santiago ka nalang! Tagasundo na, surgeon pa!" tumawa ulit siya ng malak
"I can't believe this."I walked faster and left kuya behind. He already knew about my issues with Chytzy 9 years ago. He knew how that woman bullied me and made my college life a living hell!Upon reaching the dinning area, I saw Chytzy and Mom baking some cookies. Just what the hell! Everyone is aware that I hate her. I was once a little full of sympathy but I realized that her actions from the past were not totally right! Maybe I'm too soft back then to just let her bully me."Wow, you're trying to get into my family now," I said with full of sarcasm.They both looked at me when they heard my voice. The smile within Chytzy's face vanished. She should at least greet me, right?"Anak, nandito kana pala!" mom said with shock in her voice."Yes, mom." I tried not to sound bitter.I kissed her cheek and turned my gaze to Chytzy who's looking at me apologetic