When Heaven Smiled

24

Chapter 24
Sweetest Downfall

Not all traumas were caused by physical inflicted pain. Iba't iba pala ang mukha nito sa bawat taong nakakaranas. It could come from the things you experienced or didn't. There are different triggers and different emotions being played by someone. It could be from a perpetrator or simply just a mere exposure of an event. Kahit nga hindi ikaw ang nakaranas, pwede mo itong dalhin.

It was late when I learned that my parents did traumatize me. The mental battlefield they put me through was too much for me to handle.

I decided to clean my room since it's my free time today. I changed my study habits this semester. I finished all of my work and today is my rest day. Tutulungan ko rin si Maxon sa pag-aayos ng gamit sa condo niya. Kakalipat lang niya and I'm sure that it's still quite a mess.

Kinuha ko ang picture frame na may graduation picture namin ni Maxon. Creative shot 'yon kaya kahit ano pwede. We did a formal pose here. I was wearing a lab coat and I used a stethoscope as props. Siya naman ay naka informal na suot habang may nakasukbit na gitara. I told him that he should keep the wacky one. Pinunasan ko iyon at ibinalik sa desk ko.

Iginala ko ang mata ko sa aking kwarto. My room here was smaller than the one I had in our mansion. Mayroon akong double sized bed, at katabi no'n ay isang side table na may drawers kung saan pinagkasya ko ang ilang libro ko na nakuha mula sa bahay. Sa study area ko naman ay mayroong bookshelf, and of course my wall that has polaroid photos of the people I love.

I realized that maybe I'm happy with the new life I have now. I may not have my king-sized bed, mini library, and window seat in my room. Or the endless supply of clothes, I could say that I'm still content. But of course, I cannot deny the fact that there is still a void in my heart that I want to fill. I will never deny that I miss what my family used to have. And it's annoying that I still miss Ate Ariana and Papa. Iba pa rin pala kapag kumpleto at maayos ang pamilya mo.

"Ang lalim naman ng iniisip ng bebe." Maxon hugged me from behind. He tucked some of my hair behind my ears. "Kain na raw lunch sabi ni Mama, ay Tita pala!"

I turned to him and raised my brows. Itong feeling na 'to! Nakiki Mama.

"Ang sungit naman nito. Magiging mama ko rin 'yon oy!" Pinitik niya nang malakas ang noo ko.

"Aray!" Ang bigat talaga ng kamay ng isang 'to! He's not freaking gentle kapag nangti-trip o nanggigil!

Bigla nanlaki ang mga mata na parang nabigla rin sa ginawa niya. He got carried away again. "Sorry! Sorry!"

He held both of my cheeks. I glared at him.

"Sorry na..." He said like a sad puppy, and then he kissed my lips. My cheeks flushed because of his sudden move. Ngumisi siya sa naging reaksyon ko.

"Heh!" Kumalas agad ako dahil baka kung saan pa mauwi iyon. I'm annoyed okay? I'm annoyed.

I left him there standing, pero sumunod din agad siya para kumain.

I was in a good mood while eating lunch, nagkukwentuhan pa kami ng tungkol sa school. I was just observing my mother's expression. Mukha naman siyang aliw na aliw sa mga kwento namin.

"Kuya I want a girlfriend, paano po ba manligaw? Is it hard to make a girl say yes?" Kristoff's sudden questions made me almost choke.

"Kristoff, bawal ka pa... May usapan tayo 'di ba?" Mama politely reminded him.

"Saka huwag muna, baby ka pa namin. You're too young to have a girlfriend." Pakikisingit ko pa.

Kristoff cringed at what I said.