Love Sucks, But Not Always

Chapter Fourteen

Have I told you that love sucks? That my experience in love sucks? Well... It was true. It sucks. But I realized that maybe love really sucks, but not always.

"Hi, hija! It's nice to meet you!" It's Tobias' mother. She was grinning at me when she hugged me.

"Good evening po, tita." I hugged her back.

"Grabe! Ang tagal ka nang ikinwento ni Tobias sa amin pero ngayon ka lang niya dinala rito sa bahay!" sabi pa ng mama niya habang pinapapasok niya kami ni Tobias sa loob. I smiled at her awkwardly.

"I-uh... it's kind of my fault po, tita. I was swamped, so I couldn't meet you po agad."

"No pressure, hija! I was just excited to meet you because it's the first time Tobias has talked about a woman. I was scared before because I really thought he was not straight. That maybe he is gay, or bi, or pansexual, or asexual, or whatever sexual you call them."

I laughed at her. I love Tobias' mom. She's fun.

Dumiretso kami sa kusina kung saan napakaraming pagkain ang nakahanda sa lamesa. Anong mayroon? May fiesta ba rito? Birthday?

"Mom, I told you that you don't have to cook this much." Tobias groaned.

"What?! We're celebrating, Tobias! It's your first time bringing a girl home! This calls for a celebration!" his mom said.

They've been nothing but good to me. His mom treated me as if Tobias and I were married already. She treated me as her daughter-in-law kahit na hindi pa naman talaga kami ni Tobias. He was still courting me, and it had been months or a year or two since he started courting me. He's been understanding and patient with me. I told him to wait, and he did. Until now, he was still waiting.

"Congratulations!" Vera hugged me as tight as she could. She handed me the bouquet after hugging me.

It's our graduation day today. Akalain mo 'yon. Parang kailan lang third year pa lang ako nang lumipat ako sa probinsyang 'to. Ngayon ay graduate na ako.

"Where's Tobias?" Vera asked.

I looked at Tobias who's with his friends right now. They are all laughing and tapping each other's back. Nang magtama ang tingin naming dalawa ni Tobias ay nagpaalam muna siya sa mga kaibigan niya bago ako nilapitan.

"Congrats!" agad naman na bati ni Vera sa kanya.

He smiled at Vera before he thanked her. He looked at me, smiling. "We made it." he beamed.

"Hoy! Group photo raw!" sigaw ni Marcus. Kasama na niya ngayon si Noah at ang iba pang kaibigan nila Tobias. "Ikaw mag-picture sa amin, Vera!" hirit pa ni Marcus. Vera rolled her eyes at him.

"Abuso ka! Porke hindi ako rito grumaduate!"

Nagsitawanan na lang kami at sa huli ay si Vera rin ang kumuha ng litrato namin. Marcus and I took a photo together. Sunod ay tatlo kami nina Marcus at Vera. Mayroong litratong si Noah at Marcus lang. Mayroong litratong dalawa lang kami ni Vera. Mayroong litratong dalawa lang kami ni Tobias. Mayroong litratong lahat kami ay magkakasama.

Now, Tobias and I are watching the sunset together.

"Have I told you that I love watching sunsets with you?" tanong ni Tobias sa akin.

Tumingin naman ako ng natatawa sa kanya. "Tobias, ilang beses mo nang sinabi sa akin 'yan." sabi ko sa kanya.

He looked at me ang chuckled. "I really really love watching sunsets with you."

Napailing na lang ako at tinignan ang papalubog na araw. "I love watching sunsets with you too." I said.

"Kinikilig ako." sabi niya na ikinatawa ko ng malakas.