What Are We

Chapter 31

The next few weeks were not easy for me. Going and leaving orphanage, going and leaving home, is a hassle for me dahil kailangan ko pang asikasuhin si Clark sa pagpasok niya sa university.

He also helps me but it is not enough since he is adjusting. Mom told me that they will take care of Clark but I refused even though Clark himself said that he can do it. I want to be hands-on with Clark, I don't want him to feel like no one still cares about him. He doesn't need help with everything, but I also teach him the things he should learn.

I take Clark to the university and Daddy picks him up. Nag-insist na si Daddy dahil wala naman na siyang ginagawa kapag bumibisita siya sa farm. Mommy insits too, when I don't get home at night ay siya ang nag-aayos ng baong pagkain ni Clark kinabukasan. Gusto ni Clark na nagbabaon siya, ayaw niya raw bumili sa cafeteria. Mabuti naman para nakakatipid siya at nakakapag-ipon siya.

In the past few weeks, Clark also knows how to speak Tagalog. Not straight but understandable. He also learned that there are students who uses jeep for their transportation going and leaving the school. Due to that, he wanted to commute but I said no. Baka sa ibang lugar pumunta. And in the past few weeks, and in the past month since he came here with me, I have noticed many changes in him.

He is no longer the boy who always hides or is away from people. He is not yet socialized pero nakikihalubilo na siya sa mga tao. Pumupunta sa bahay sina Sprite, Sapphire, at Colt. Mga anak sila ng pinsan ko at kahit nagalit man sila Tita at Tito sa maagang nakabuntis ang mga anak nilang lalaki ay wala silang naggawa kundi ang tanggapin kaya magkaka-edad sila. Sa DelRennaPalla rin pumapasok.

Yes, I enrolled him in DRP.

It's been a long time since my friends and I met. With their work, I don't know if they will have time for bonding again. Hindi na rin kami nakakapag-usap ni Juls, at ang mga tao sa orphanage sa Canada. I'm too busy these days and I can't make a call or even say hello to them.

Pagkatapos ng araw ng Biyernes, noong nagkaliwanagan kami ulit ni Zaffire, kinabukasan naman ay kinausap ako ni Faera.

"Lighht, it's not that we're hiding it from you, but do you know we were very angry with you back then? When you left us as if you don't have us? You didn't even tell us, saming mga kaibigan mo. Maitatago pa naman namin 'yon kay Zaffire eh pero masakit kasi hindi namin alam kung saan ka nagpunta. Kung anong dahilan ng pag-alis mo. Kung nagalit kaming mga kaibigan mo, ano na lang kayang naramdaman ni Zaffire non? Nagtaka pa nga ako at mapa sila rin kung bakit wala man lang hinanakit sayo si Zaffire. You're being immature with your decisions Lighht.

However, we feel very sorry for Zaffire's situation and we've been waiting for you to come back. Range also left after you left, we thought you've two talked but after five years he showed up and left because his sister got sick. Natanggap pa namin 'yon at 'yung sayo? We spent a few years thinking you'd come back but you didn't. It took ten years for us to accept your absence tapos bumalik ka? Bali galit kami noong unang nagkita tayo pero hindi namin kaya. We can't be angry with you because we know you have a reason. Rason mo na kay tanga. Nakakatampo, nakakainis ka kasi hindi mo kami inisip. We are your friends over a decade and yet you didn't even tell us your whereabouts? Alalang-alala kami. Akala namin may ginawa kami sayo kaya hindi mo kami kinakausap at 'yon pala ay iniwan mo kami at umalis ka.

You came back, and we didn't mention how, and what was our feeling and situation when you left us hanging because your behavior is different from the behavior of all of us. Alam naming lahat na may hindi pa maayos sainyo ni Zaffire. Ayaw na naming makigulo at pumasok sa isipan mo para lamang humingi ka ng tawad saamin. We will always forgive you because out of all of us, you are the only one who can understand us. We let go of what happened because even though we were angry with you, we missed you more. We don't know how we could be so happy when you were gone and now we are happy again because you are here.