Her Heart

Chapter Seven

IN life we always strive for something, dream about something. But there are things that will not go our way. Ika nga ng iba, “we can’t have everything.” There are things na hanggang doon na lang. Iyon ang natutunan niya habang tinutupad ang bahay na matagal na niyang inaasam para sa pamilya. It was a two story house with five bedrooms, tapos na rin niyang na ipinagawa ang extension ng bahay.

“Ma, bilisan niyo na. Nasa labas na yung taxi naghihintay,” she said.

It was the day she had been longing, ang araw na kung saan maipapakita niya sa pamilya niya ang ilang taong pinagpaguran niya.

“Saan ba kasi tayo pupunta, Ate?” tanong ni Duke.

She kissed her brother's cheeks, “Somewhere you like. Saka malapit lang iyon no.”

“Naku, Ate. siguraduhin mong maganda ha. Baka chakaness iyan—"

“Ayusin mo nga ang pagsasalita mo,” sita niya sa kapatid na babae. “Ma, ready na ba kayo?” tanong niya sa inang isinusukbit ang shoulder bag nito.

Nakasuot ang ina niya ng kulay asul na bestida. Mayroon rin itong kolorete sa mukha. Katabi nito ang tatay niya na nakasuot ng puting polo. Bumaling siya sa Lola niya, “ready ka na, La?”

“Saan ba kasi tayo, Ave?” tanong ng Lola niya na nakasuot ng pantalon at bulaklaking damit. Bakas na sa mukha nito ang katandaan, kulubot na kulubot ang balat nito, itim ang buhok nito dahil nagpakukay ito ng bukha.

Five years. . . really had changed anyone including her.

“Huwag na kayong magtanong. Lumabas na tayo kasi naghihintay na ang taxi sa labas. Huwag kalimutan ang picture frame ni Lolo, Jose.” Paalala niya sa kapatid. “Everything is settled, let's go.”

As they left their home, her heart’s beating too fast. Siguro ay dahil sa pinaghalong kaba at tuwa. Huminga siya ng malalim bago sumakay sa taxi.

One of the dreams she promised is now happening…

Tahimik silang nakasakay sa sasakyan. Walang sino man ang nagsalita, habang siya ay busy sa pag-text sa mga kaibigan. Walang ka alam-alam ang lahat sa kung anong mangyayari ngayong araw.

Masayang masaya siya kahit may nawala man sa buhay niya dulot ng pag-alis niya ay may mga biyayang dumating man. Ang tuwa sa mga mata ng kanyang pamilya ang magpupuno sa kakulangan sa puso niya.

"Ate akala ko ba sa mall tayo?" Nikka asked as they drove to a subdivision.

Nasa kabilang taxi ang magulang niya at ang Lola niya. Sayang at hindi sila kumpleto, her Uncle is in Bohol visiting some relatives. He'll be back before Christmas. Pero kahit umuwi man ang Uncle niya ay hindi pa rin kumpleto ang pamilya nila. There will be a missing piece forever, her grandfather died before he could see her achieving her dreams.

He was the only human being who loved her despite her flaws. Kahit na sobrang maldita niya noon, kahit na sobrang tamad niya. He loved her in many ways. He was her savior whenever her father would beat her up when she was a child. He was her superman and when he died, a piece of her died too. She failed to let her grandfather see her success. Ngunit wala siyang magagawa, kamatayan ang kalaban. All she can do is cry and mourn for him.

If he was alive, he would be the happiest. Wala itong gusto kundi ang mapabuti siya. Even the day he died, he never failed to make her feel loved. It was the day she felt complete, the day he held her face and smiled. Iyon na pala ang huling araw na makikita niya ang ngiting iyon. Ang huling araw na maririnig niya ang malakas nitong halakhak.

The taxi stopped at a certain block, bumaba sila sa sasakyan. As they watched the taxi leave. Bumaling ang lahat sa kanya, puno ng pagtatanong ang mga mata. Lumapit siya sa Lola niya at nginitian ito, she handed her the key she was holding the whole time.

The house was fully furnished already, she made sure of that. The gate's already fixed even the extended area of the house was already fixed.

"Lola, ikaw na ang magbukas ng gate." She said and handed her the key.

"'Nak, kaninong bahay ba 'to?" her father asked with his serious face. "Baka makasuhan tayo ng trespassing—"

She chuckled. "'Pa paanong magiging trespassing tayo. Eh, bahay naman natin 'to."

Everyone gasped and went silent. Naiyak na ang Lola niya sa tuwa, hinalikan pa siya nito sa pisngi. She giggled.

"Finally meron na tayong sariling bahay. Hindi na tayo mangungupahan," her voice broke.

Nagyakapan silang lahat ng ilang minuto. Ninanamnam ang pangarap na natupad. Tumunog ang kanyang cellphone kaya kumalas ang lahat sa pagka kayakap. She tapped the phone screen to answer the call.

"Hello," she said.

"Ma'am papasok na po kami sa subdivision niyo. Less than five minutes andyan na kami sa labas ng bahay niyo. Lot 12, block 14 tama po ba?" ani ng lalaki sa kabilang linya.

"Opo," sagot niya saka pinatay ang tawag. "Ano pang hinihintay natin? Pumasok na tayo dahil nandyan na 'yong in-order kong food package. Saka nga pala, less than one hour nandito na rin yung pari. Surprise house blessing!"

"Wow, Ate. May chicken cordon bleu ba?" hirit ni Nikka. "Baka naman tinago nila—"

"Naku Nikka, ha. Tigil-tigilan mo 'ko. Wala tayo sa Tutok, huwag mo 'kong ini-echos." She spat.

"Taray, Ate! Nanonood ka pala nun?" biro nito.

She rolled her eyes.

Nagpagpasyahang pumasok lahat maliban sa kanya, she was waiting for the food delivery. She could hear her family's glee, kahit na nasa labas siya. Hindi tuloy niya mapigilang matuwa. Hindi naman siya nagkamali, dumating na ang in-order niya.

Umalis rin ang mga ito matapos maipasok sa loob ang mga pagkain at nung nagbayad siya. She was tapping her phone screen, trying to call her friends through the group chat they made.

Von Rix answered the call.

Crap!

But the heavens are siding with her.

She almost fainted when their eyes met, luckily sumali na rin ang iba niya pang mga kaibigan sa conference call.

She cleared her throat before speaking, "Be here by eleven thirty, kasi less than an hour andito na 'yung pari."

"Lalasingin mo ba kami?" pabirong tanong ng baklita niyang kaibigan.

She laughed trying not to sound fake dahil naiilang siya kay Von Rix, "Malamang. I bought drinks, I can offer drinks and food except for boys."

"Taken ka na girl, right Von Rix?!" pagbibida ni Aena.

Dahil doon ay nagsisigawan ang mga kaibigan niya. She wanted to stop them from teasing her, kaso baka mapaghalataan na iisa pa rin ang t***k ng puso niya. Iyon ay ang katangahan niya.

She was mentally cursing her friend, "Sira. Basta pumunta kayo rito, maghihintay ako. Everything is on me naman so you don't have anything to worry about. Saka this is my achievement after five years of being away, so dapat nandito kayo."

She ended the call, her hands were shaking. Hanggang ngayon iba pa rin talaga ang epekto ng binata sa kanya. Kahit video call, nanginginig na siya. Paano pa kaya kapag personal?

She was calming herself, when her phone beeped. It was a message from their group chat, she tapped the message.

"Kasali ba 'ko?"

It was a message from Von Rix. Everyone saw his message and she is sure as hell, they are enjoying her agony. Her hands were trembling as she tapped the phone screen.

Her heart and mind are fighting whether to send that message or re-type a new one. But her stupidness won.

"Hindi na naman siguro issue sa kanila Mama kung pupunta ka. Isa pa ay limang taon na ang nakaraan, matanda na siguro tayo para makialam pa sila kung sino ang kakaibiganin ko."

For years being in a relationship with Von Rix her parents never tried to see him as her boyfriend. Kahit isang event sa buhay nila ay never nilang niyaya ang binata, unlike her friends they were always present. Sa mga mata ng magulang ay pamilya niya, mali ang piliin ang binata. They were never vocal about hating him, but she would hear her father talking bad about Von Rix. That he would never accept him if she'll end up marrying him.

Masakit iyon sa parte niya. She sees him as a constant person on her life already. Na ang binata na ang uuwian niya sa bawat gabi—things ended differently.

They parted ways for five years.

Limang taon.

Pero bakit ganoon ay nandun pa rin siya sa limang taon? Nagdurusa at umaasa. Na sana siya pa rin.

Na sana maibalik ang puso niyang nawalay.

Hearing his name makes her heart go crazy.

She misses his warmth, his kisses, his voice. Everything about him.

She turned off her mobile data and went inside. Siguro mamaya na niya titignan ang mga mensahe nila kung meron man. Masyado pang sariwa sa kanya ang mga katagang binitawan niya.