Love in Bloom 1

Chapter 36

#LIB LANCE POV

The toughest feeling is wanting to go home but nowhere feels like home.  My mother who I love the most, wants me to die. I'm not living life anymore. I'm simply waiting for each day to pass and just trying to make it to tomorrow. I feel so deeply, so heavily. 

Handa na ako. Handa na para mawala...

"Sana ikaw nalang ang namatay!"

The more I thought about it, the more I could feel the bitterness dripping like an acid inside my cold and hollow stomach. The world around me blurred into a chaotic swirl of bubbles and darkness. But then I saw my brother. 

Panic seized me, my limbs thrashing wildly in a futile attempt to reach the surface. I tried, tried, and tried. But the water enveloped me. Time seemed to slow as I struggled against the relentless force dragging me down. This is my ending. 

or maybe not...

Someone reached me, she wrapped her arms around my struggling self. Her gasping breaths echoed the relief in my chest. Before my eyes closed, I saw her face facing mine. 

I was happy to meet her again. She seemed kind and bubbly. She reminds me of my younger brother. Napakagaan ng ngiti niya. Nakatingin siya sa akin at hindi ako makapakali dahil sa lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko.

Pagkatapos ng contest sa entablado ay hinanap ko siya. And there she was pouting her lips and roaming around like she was looking for someone. 

"Gutom na ako." ring kong sabi niya. 

Tiyempo naman at may hawak akong lunch box kaya naman.."Here, you can have mine." namilog ang mga mata niya. She was about to say something not until my cousin called me. 

"Lance Yuxuan!" I ran towards her. 

I never saw her again until I was in middle school. I was receiving awards from our principal. She was smiling from ear to ear. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin, may paghanga sa mga mata. I smiled a little. 

She looks like an angel. My savior, my guardian angel...

And I'm lucky enough to cross her path. 

"Panget, andito mga kaibigan mo! Labas ka diyan!" her brother shouted while knocking her door. 

"Lalabas na!" she shouted back. 

I smiled when I heard her strained voice. Baccay always looks at me and then at Lily. Nanunukso ang mga mata at namumula ang mga pisngi nilang dalawa. I don't even know why they are whispering at each other. Na para bang wala kaming proyekto na ginagawa. 

"Familiar ka, hijo." sabi ng nanay ni Lily sa akin. Labis na kaba ang naramdaman ko ng titig na titig siya sa akin na para bang tinatansya kung saan niya ako nakita. 

She was about to open her mouth but Lily interrupted her. 

"Ma, may peanut butter pa ba tayo?" 

Hindi ko alam na allergy pala siya. I asked her if she ate it but she didn't. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag doon. 

I won another school competition and my schoolmates were happy about it. I saw her with Shannen, they were whispering and giggling at each other while looking at me. May lumapit sa akin na babae may inaabot na regalo. At nasundan pa ng isa at hanggang hindi ko na makita silang dalawa. 

I gave the gifts to Virgil and ran to find her. 

"Bahala siya! Andami pang lalaki, at saka bata pa tayo. Bakit ako mamoreblema sa lovelife? And bata bata pa natin!" 

It bothers me. 

Naramdaman kong may nakatitig sa akin habang umiidlip ako. "Mas gwapo ka pala pag tulog." Sinubukan kong itago ang ngiti ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit may kung ano sa tiyan ko. I opened my eyes and I saw her. 

"Hindi ko sila gusto. You can have them if you want. They are out of my league." sabi ko kay graniel. 

Biglang may nahulog sa kung saan kaya naman nalipat ang tingin niya. We fought back and successfully escape from them. 

"Una na ko sayo, pre!" si Virgil. 

Tumango ako at sinundan siya ng tingin. Aalis na sana ako ng biglang nakita ko si Lily. kumunot ang noo ko dahil gabi na at bakit andito parin siya. Kaya naman sinundan ko siya. Dilikado pa naman ngayon. 

Nasa likod niya lang ako. I can't hide my smile when she hums a song. Pero bigla siyang huminto. Sa di kalayuan nakaupo sa gilid ng bangketa si Virgil. May pasa sa gilid ng labi. I hide when she calls him. 

"Ba't ako nagtatago?" I asked myself. 

Sabay silang umuwing dalawa. I felt bitter. Jealous? Huh, no way. 

Graniel didn't stop bullying us. "Lance!" I heard our senior shout. Sinuntok ako ni Graniel sa tiyan ng ilang beses. The girl she liked was our senior. I don't remember her name.

 I heard the siren of the police car. Kaya nag si unahan ang bully sa pagtakas. Tinulungan ako ng babae sa pagtayo. Nakaakbay ang kamay ko sa kaniya. At dahil pagod at sobrang sakit ng buo kong katawan ay wala akong magawa kung hindi ay magpatulong sa kaniya. 

Nakita ko sa harap ko si Lily, akala ko guni ko lang pero andito siya. Iginala niya ang tingin niya mula sa akin papunta sa babae. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at napa awang ang bibig. Inalis ko ang hawak ng babae sa akin at dumistansya ng konti. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganun lang ang naging reaksyon ko. Parang nahuli na nagloko. 

Nagpasalamat ang senior na babae kay lily. Ngumiwi ako ng biglang umakbay si Virgil kay Lily. Nauna silang maglakad sa amin. Tinulungan ako ng babae sa paglakad. 

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