Fragments ✔ (Haciendero #2)

Ikadalawampu't Walong Kabanata

Kabanata 28

Kaya na kitang buhayin

"Happy eighteenth birthday, Catherine!"

Mabilis na kinuha ni kuya Santino ang aking kamay upang isayaw. Ngumiti naman ako, pero iyong mata ko nanatiling nakatutok sa palibot.

Wala pa si Gio. He was supposed to be my partner. Pero hindi pa ito dumarating. I thought, he was gonna be late for a short period of time. Hindi ko naman inaasahang hanggang sa eighteen roses, wala pa rin siya. I want Gio to be my last dance.

I don't have an idea what happened to him. May parte sa aking nakakaramdam nang tampo, pero mas nangingibabaw ang pag-aalala ko para sa kanya.

Sumunod si kuya Crispin na nagbigay sa aking ng ikalabimpitong rosas, sinuklian ko ang ngiti niya.

"You look gorgeous." He commented. "I'm so happy you've grown into such a kind-hearted woman. Dati hiniling ka lang namin kana mommy, now, you're already in your legality. May boyfriend na."

Natawa naman ako ng umirap siya sa huling pangungusap. Pinaikot niya ako gamit ang isang kamay.

"You're a woman of grace and kindness. Love ka ni kuya. Susuntukin ko si Gio kapag pinaiyak ka niya." I was about to laugh when I realized his serious expression didn't change to crack a chuckle.

Mukhang hindi nagbibiro si kuya Crispin.

Gio never made me cry. He never did in the two year span of our relationship. Kahit alam kong siya itong nafu-frustrate sa akin. He had been constant since day we began our relationship.

Hindi lang siya naging boyfriend sa akin, he became all in one. My personal tutor, my human diary, my driver, my constant energy and confidence booster... anything I need.

Hindi naman mawawala iyong away at bati, siguro dahil mas bata ako, napagtanto kong hindi pa ako ganoon ka-mature. Sometimes, I caused unnecessary feuds between the two of us. But Gio was the one understanding.

Mabilis ding umiral ang selos ko lalo na sa mga babae tuwing gigs nila. Some of them are being so obvious. It irritates me a lot. Imbes na pag-awayan namin ang ganoong bagay, mas lalo akong inaalaska ni Gio.

He was giving me the assurance no one could take him away from me. He's all mine.

My grades in senior high school improved a lot. Ang dami ring nagbago sa dalawang taon. What I liked the most, being with him brings out the better version of myself. We are meant to be together to grow, not wreck each other.

Sa loob ng dalawang taon, walang araw na hindi ako masaya.

Two years had swiftly passed.

And I'm still with the person I had been crushing since the first day of school in junior high. Sometimes, relationships meant to end sooner. Pero kami ni Gio? We're getting stronger each day.

"For the last dance, we may call on Mr. Giovanne Joachim Ponce --- the boyfriend of the birthday celebrant." Pinakawalan ako ni kuya Crispin.

Mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko sa turan ng emcee. I haven't seen him earlier, did he make it? Hindi na mahalaga na hindi siya ang naging partner ko, basta andito si Gio.

This is my eighteenth birthday... he couldn't miss it.

My face brightened up seeing his entrance with his guitar. Kasunod niya si kuya Anselm na may dalang mic stand, pumwesto ang dalawa sa gitna. Inayos ni kuya ang mic stand, nanatili ang mata ko kay Gio na nagmumuwestra ng pagtipa ng gitara.