Mountains To Cross

Special Chapter II: Love, Tiara

Tiara Hermona

I find him fake.

Havriel Diaz, I mean.

Yes, fake. Hindi ko alam kung totoo ba ang kabaitan na ipinapakita niya sa mga taong nasa paligid niya. O mas masama yata talaga ang ugali niya to the point that he will deceive people into thinking that he's kind. It's because I cannot find any reason for him to be kind, lalo na't hindi rin naman mabait ang pamilya niya. It's a wonder for me how my righteous and honorable parents are friends with his parents.

"Hindi kita gusto," Sabi ko sa kanya. Tapos na ang business dinner ng mga magulang namin pero nag-uusap pa rin sila sa loob ng private restaurant. Havriel and me are not close. Not now, not in a million years. Kaya ang marinig kanina na iaarrange raw ang kasal naming dalawa ay hindi magandang balita para sa akin. I know that I am young but I am not dumb. I don't want to have anything to do with the Diaz family.

"And you think I like you?" He looked at me. Grade 8 siya nang una kaming nagkita, "Don't flatter yourself too much."

"Good." Sagot ko, "Then we won't have a hard time that much to convince them that we can't be together, right? Please, tell that to your parents."

"Even if they want me to marry you, it won't happen. Hindi naman ako tao na sunod lang ng sunod." He firmly told me, "Don't worry, Tiara, walang pipilit sayo dito. Walang ikakasal dito..."

"Dapat lang," I scoffed, fixing the glasses in my eyes.

I am a smart kid. Academically speaking.

Mas maaga akong nakapagtapos compared sa mga contemporaries ko because I was accelerated. For others, it might seem like a dream to not have to go through all of that. Sa una, I am also really happy. But as I went out to the real world earlier, I realized how much I missed. Sobrang daming bagay ang hindi ko naranasan, just because everyone around me wants me to mature and grow up so fast.

I don't have a best friend.

It's not like everyone needs one pero minsan, napapaisip rin ako na baka mas madali ang buhay kung meron. Iyong tao na lalapitan mo kapag masyado nang mabigat ang mga trabaho. Iyong tao na papatawanin ka sa gitna ng stress. Iyong tao na... nandiyan lang. Wala ako 'non. It feels nice to be independent but sometimes, I just feel like... I need someone... just like how Sierra got Havriel.

"Dinner?" Nawala ang atensyon ni Sierra sa case na binabasa namin pagkatapos niya magtimpla ng kape. I looked at her. Ayos lang naman dahil break time.

Sierra Yoon is Havriel Diaz' girlfriend. They were best friends first, she told me the last time she shared her story. Sana lang ay hindi masira ang puso niya at hindi siya masaktan. I hope that his intentions are pure for Ate Sierra. She's a really kind person and besides, they risked their friendship.

"Sige..." She answered before chuckling, "Korean restaurant, please? I'm craving for some... no... stop," she laughed, "Ang kulit mo!"

Ibinalik ko ang mga mata sa binabasang mga papel. But I can't think. I really can't.

"Mamaya na lang, mahal." She said, "Nagtatrabaho pa kami ni Attorney Ara... alright... love you most... see you later!"

Is Havriel Diaz really not that bad? Napatanong tuloy ako. Sierra Riselle Yoon is not in his league, way out of it, actually. Oo, magkaibigan sila. However, Sierra is the daughter of their maid. Wala akong problema sa ganoon. But it made me think how the Havriel Diaz doesn't care about things like this. Is he not acting about being kind? Is he really just... like that?