Between the Rainbow (Strawberries and Cigarettes Series #1)

Chapter 40

Hello, irys! This is the last chapter of Between the Rainbow. I know that this is quite short compared to my other chapters, but the last ten chapters were actually long compared to the normal word count, so you would enjoy it more. The 40 chapters will continue in the other books of this series. See you in the epilogue. Happy reading!
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Warning: R-18

Memories

Bumaba ang balikat ko. Kahit si Shiloh ay dahan dahan ding bumaba ang balikat habang kapwa kami nakatitig sa phone.

My mom was overdramatic at times, but I didn't expect it to hurt. The rejection would hurt. Iyon lang naman ang ginawa niya, ang binabaan ako ng tawag, ngunit masakit iyon.

And to imagine Shiloh has suffered more than the rejection when he wasn't just pushed away but also abandoned, it pains me.

Hindi ko ito kayang gawin sa kanya. Hindi ko kayang tumalikod.

"At least I said it." I shrugged and tossed my phone on the other side of the bed.

Tahimik na tinitigan ni Shiloh ang sketch pad niya. I laid beside him and watched his sketch.

"Ako ba 'to?" I laughed to divert the attention.

Tahimik siyang tumango ngunit parang hindi iyon sapat para ma-distract siya. Noong nilingon ko siya, namumula na ang mga mata niya. I sighed and pulled him toward me.

"Sabi ko sa'yo..." Mabilis ang paghikbi niya at gumalaw agad ang balikat.

And it pains me even more that he was expecting it. He was used to being rejected.

"Marami ang tatalikod sa atin dahil dito, Brent. Marami ang mawawala sa'yo..."

I hugged him tightly. I wasn't aching for myself, but for him. He experienced it. Not just once. But a lot of times. Hindi ko kayang isipin kung paano niya nakayang magpatuloy.

"Let's give them more time to digest it. Stop crying. You make me feel like I just lost a loved one," bulong ko at idinaan iyon sa tawa dahil ayokong makita niyang nasasaktan ako.

Tiningala niya ako. Namumulang mga mata at ilong. God.

"Bakit? Parang nawalan ka naman ah?"

"They lost me, Shiloh. If my mother won't support me on this, I'd respect it. I love her, but loving her doesn't require giving up the other things I love. That's not what she taught me."

Humingos siya at muling binalikan ang sketch pad niya. Ngumuso ako at hinayaan siyang kumawala sa akin, dumapa ulit para pagtuunan ng pansin ang sketch pad kahit pumapatak ang luha niya habang nagpatuloy sa pagguhit.

"Our friends are still there. They're family to me too..." pilit kong pinagaan ang loob niya.

His tears worsened, cascading down his cheeks. Humingos siya at iritang pinalis iyon kaya tumulong ako.

"You know, I'm an adult now. I could work. I could support myself. I have my own business, just so you know. During summer, I would work my ass off to earn my own money. Pero kahit hindi ko 'yon tutukan, lumalago naman..."

Hindi siya natinag kakaiyak at tahimik na nagpatuloy sa pagguhit. Noong tiningnan ko iyon, nakita ko na mas malaki na ang isang butas ng ilong sa kabila. Gusto ko sanang pagtawanan kaso baka lalo siyang umiyak.

I wiped his tears so they wouldn't get on his sketch pad. Man... He's really worried.

My phone rang again. Mabilis ang paglingon ni Shiloh doon. He looked so hopeful that it might be good news. Kinuha ko iyon at nakitang si Daddy. Fuck.