Cigarettes and Daydreams (Erudite Series #1)

Kapitulo 28

Mr. Luy was looking at me with an unreadable expression. It felt like he would make me leave, but it also looked like he was concerned with how I looked right now. My eyes were probably protruding. My nose was probably red.

"Sir, sabi po ng Mama ko... pumunta siya rito. Gusto ko po sanang magpaliwanag at makipag-usap. Nandito na po ba si Chance?"

Umalingawngaw ang boses ni Mrs. Luy ilang segundo matapos kong magsalita.

"Who is that, Eugene? Is that the order I was waiting-" suminghap ako at nakita ang paglapit ni Mrs. Luy sa pintuan.

"Mrs. Luy," she masked her previous facial expression with utter contempt. It made my heart ache more than it already did.

"Pasensya na po sa ginawa ni Mama, ang pagpunta niya rito at ang biglang pakikipag-usap sa inyo. Pwede ko po ba kayong makausap?"

"Your mother already told us everything there is to know, what more could you possibly say? I already fired you, you are not Wesley's tutor anymore. And as for my Ahia," she looked at her husband. "I will make sure he won't go near you again."

"Ma'am, 'wag naman po-"

"Abigail, I agree with your mother's sentiments. Since my son met you, he's had this idea to stop studying medicine. You're poison to each other."

"Hindi... hindi, ma'am... We aren't,"

"Enough talking, your mother's words are enough to make me rethink accepting you."

"Amalia," sasabat sana si Mr. Luy, pero ako ang sumapaw. "Ma'am, hindi po totoo ang sinabi ng nanay ko. Hindi po si Chance ang nagtulak sa akin na sagutin si Mama,"

"Of course not, my son would never do that. But your mother is insinuating that. I hate it. My son is a kind and noble man who would never influence someone to say despicable things to their parents."

"Kung gano'n, sa akin po, sa pagkakakilala niyo po ba sa akin, kaya kong maging masamang impluwensya kay Chance?"

She didn't immediately answer, so I continued. "Hindi ko po intensyon na masira ang relasyon niyo, pero nung nakilala ko si Chance, napansin kong may pagkakapareho kami sa buhay. Isang bagay iyon."

Pinunasin ko ang luha na bumagsak sa mukha ko. "Pareho po naming ibinaon ang pangarap namin para sa pamilya namin."

"What?!"

"Ako, ginawa ko iyon dahil kailangan ng nanay ko ng karamay sa pagpapalaki ng mga kapatid ko at pagbabayad ng mga bayarin sa bahay. Si Chance, ginawa niya iyon dahil ayaw niyang ma-disappoint kayo."

Mr. Luy's eyes were on their front garden, busy and obviously considering everything I had said. Mrs. Luy, on the other hand, looked like she would burst any second.

"Nasa'n po si Chance?"

"Where did you get the idea that my son threw away his dreams for us?"

"Sinabi niya po sa akin,"

"When?"

"Bago po siya bumagsak last year,"

 Kayang-kaya kong lunukin ang pagkawala ng pangarap ko, pero hindi ko kayang lunukin ang pagkawala ni Chance. Tinigil ko na 'yung bisyo ko dahil nandito na siya. Nakaramdam na ako ng sinserong pagmamahal dahil sa kanya. I didn't want to let that go.

"Nasa'n po si Chance?" ulit ko.

"Abigail," lumapit si Mrs. Luy. "Kahit na mayroong tinatagong totoong pangarap si Chance, I knew he would have been alright with continuing med school."

 My lips opened and disbelief was painted on my face. Was she really... this forceful and inconsiderate?

"You gave him the permission to look back at his dreams,"