That Thing Called Love (Cambridge Academy Series 1)

Chapter 47: Together

Chapter 47

Together

Mitchie's.

Hindi ko magawang makapagsalita dahil sa nebulizer ko at parang wala din akong lakas gumalaw pa sa ngayon. I just don't feel my nerves and muscles right now. But I can feel my hot tears flowing down my cheeks.

I never thought I really missed her this much. Doon ko lang naramdaman ang naging pangungulila ko sa kaniya ngayong nasa harap ko na siya. I feel like a dying patient here while she's holding my hand.

I'm totally fine pero mahina pa ako ngayon. I never thought crying would be that draining.

"I'm sorry... for everything. I'm sorry."

Kanina pa siya puro sorry sa'kin. She never left my side and her sight at me. Halata ring pagod ang mukha niya pero hindi man lang niya ko iniwan para magpahinga. Patuloy lang siyang nasa tabi ko at umiiyak.

Hinaplos ko ang basa niyang pisngi at nang nagkaroon na ng sapat na lakas, tinanggal ko na ang nebulizer na nakakabit sa'kin kanina pa. Okay na rin naman ang breathing ko, normal na ulit.

"Ssh, you are already forgiven before you could even apologize to me, Kylie. Besides, I also made a mistake between us. We both had our fair shares of mistakes pero ang importante lang doon ay ang mapatawad natin ang isa't-isa at mabalik ulit ang pagkakaibigan natin."

I honestly don't need any of her apologies, explanations and excuses. Her presence is what always matters to me.

She chuckled and smiled at me. Finally, her drained face was replaced by happiness. Napangiti na din tuloy ako. Inilibot ko na din ang paningin ko sa paligid. Puro kurtina ang nakaplibot sa'kin. Nasa emergency area siguro ako. Gosh, hindi ko akalain na mawawalan ako ng malay kakaiyak.

"What happened to me, Kylie?" I asked with almost a whisper.

Sinusubukan ko alalahanin kung ano nangyari pero after ko mag-collapse sa sahig, hindi ko na alam ano na mga sunod na nangyari.

"I don't know, really. Ang alam ko lang tinawagan ni Ace si Justin at pagkatapos no'n, nagmamadali na siyang pumunta dito. I followed him- no, actually, I followed my guts this time. Pakiramdam ko na ikaw 'yung pupuntahan niya at tama nga ako. I saw you here and I felt nothing but longing. Mas lalo pa kong naiyak nang malaman na hinarap mo 'to ng mag-isa. I wasn't there when you are facing your battles. And I really really feel like I'm a useless friend."

Napayuko siya at napatakip sa mukha niya.

"No, Kylie. I wasn't alone facing my battles because I have God. I have my Mom. She's always watching over me even in her afterlife. Kanina nga lang ay napanaginipan kong nasa tabi ko siya at nang tuluyan ko ng madilat ang mata ko, it is you who I saw. Pinapakita ni Mommy na dapat na tayong magkaayos."

May nangilid na namang luha sa mga mata niya. "I'm so sorry about Tita Michaella, Mitchie. I feel so so bad for myself. Kaya hindi kita malapit-lapitan these following days dahil..." pumikit siya ng mariin. "Nahihiya ako. Nahihiya ako magpakita sa'yo. Nahihiya ako lapitan ka. Pagkatapos ng mga sinabi ko sa'yo, hindi ko alam kung may mukha pa ba kong maihaharap sa'yo."

"I don't care about all those things, Kylie. Your words hurt me but it can never surpass the friendship we had for almost 10 years. Thankful din ako na nagkaroon ka na ng lakas ng loob na lapitan at kausapin ako. With all the crisis that is happening in my life right now, hindi ko na alam paano sisimulan ayusin ito. And my Mom showed me the answer- you. I should start fixing my life by fixing our friendship first. Because it was the first thing that was ruined. And when our friendship ruined, everything in my life fell apart."