Unrequited [HSS #4, Completed]

Chapter 48

"Tulog pa?"

Tumango ako pagtapos kong abutan ng kape si Jade. Maagang umalis ang kambal kasama ang mga kaibigan nila dahil mga nagplano ng outing. Kahit si Lucy ay isinama matapos makuha yung permission ng doctor nito na good to go siya as long as hindi ito magpapagod.

South woke up early naman to go jogging. She's probably still in the park at tumatambay. Ito namang si Jade ay kakagising lang a few minutes ago.

"It's been days, tapos na ang New Year at lahat pero matamlay pa rin yung girlfriend mo."

"Iba kasi ang rejection ng pamilya." Tumango siya sa sinabi ko. I stared at my coffee and absentmindedly took a sip.

Katulad ng sinabi ko ay umuwi talaga kami kinabukasan. I pushed Gail to stay here, kaysa naman mag-isa lang siya sa bahay niya. We celebrated the New Year together with her and my sister. Si Jade naman ay umuwi sa kanila para doon sumalubong sa Bagong Taon kasama ang pamilya.

Hanggang ngayon ay medyo matamlay pa rin ito. Ngumingiti naman si Gail, and we still get to be intimate, but maybe all the things that happened is still painfully wrapped around her head.

I can't blame her. Kahit ako ay nasasaktan para sa kanya no'ng gabing 'yon. Maybe the old wound from their past was too painful and it still hurts, but that doesn't give them the liberty to crumple in someone's heart.

I can't blame her father for acting that way, I kinda expected it. But I literally lost it when Kuya Dijon blatantly degraded Gail. She was already hurt, and to hear that from his brother was something I will never permit to happen.

He's her brother. Ako nga na panganay, alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko iyon magagawa sa mga kapatid ko, so how dare he? It's annoying. Maigi nga at sampal lang ang ibinigay ko. It's not in my nature to be like that, but for Gail...I just have to protect her at all cost.

Her other siblings wasn't able to do anything for her either. They chose silence and I felt that it was unfair for my girlfriend's part. Ni hindi namin naabutan sina Lyon bago kami umalis. Siguro ay dahil maaga naman din kasing lumuwas para na rin hindi abutan ang tatay niya.

I can't shield her from all of the pain, the least I can do is to prevent those that I can, and to lessen it the way I can.

I said that she can do what she thinks is right for us, but I can decide for us, too. And right now, what I want is to hide her and wait for her to heal. Time can only tell when we will get the acceptance that we deserve.

"Ang tagal din bago ako natanggap ni Papa, alam mo naman 'yon, 'di ba?" Tumango ako sa sinabi niya. "Nag-out ako highschool pa lang tayo, sinigawan pa ako no'n tsaka pinagalitan. Masakit siyempre kahit okay lang naman kay Mama. Pero meron talagang part sa sarili mo na gustong hingin yung acceptance ng isa sa magulang mo kasi mahal mo sila at gusto mong mahalin din nila yung mga tao at bagay na minamahal mo."

"I know, we always get to feel that." I agreed. "But in my case, I don't really need anyone's approval, except for my sisters'. Sa lahat, ang mga kapatid ko lang ang pinahahalagahan ko. My mother left us without knowing our stories, we only know her story. My father isn't much of a father and I don't really care about his acceptance. Maybe because, you and Gail are both soft, parehas kayong ikino-connect ang personality sa family ninyo."

"Soft ka rin naman, but you know yourself better." She smiled. Ipinagdikit niya ang mga upuan namin. Sumandal pa ito sa balikat ko. "Both of us have our insecurities tied to our family, so it's harder to let go. It's harder to move forward. Iyon ang tingin ko. But you, North, learned how to do it either way, because if not — your sisters won't be able to."

Hindi ako sumagot pero nginitian ko siya bago humigop sa inumin. Halos paubos ko na iyon. "Pero okay na kayo ng Papa mo, 'di ba?"

"Oo, natanggap na niya ako ng lubos. Cute nga, eh." Ayaw niya naman kasi ikuwento kung paano siya natanggap talaga ng ama. She just keep on saying na cute daw. Basta ang alam ko lang, isa si South sa reason. "Dad mo na lang ang nagtataas ng kilay sa amin."