Midnights with Pierce Psyche Esquivel

Chapter 28

Brianna was holding my arms tightly as we walked inside the airport. I’m not just emotionally in pain but I could feel the sting in between my legs as I walked through. And it just continued to remind me of my reality, ilang oras palang ang nakalilipas magmula ng mangyari iyon.

I took a deep breath and held Brianna in my arms tightly. Malapit na ang oras at aalis na ako ng tuluyan.

In the distance, I saw Sir Ejay sitting with his luggages beside him, wala siyang kasama habang si Brianna at Kuya Rene naman ang kasama ko. Mom wasn’t even at home, and I am sure she is with Andra, and they probably just spent their time together at the after party of the concert.

At siguradong nandoon rin si Pierce.

Muli kong naramdaman ang pananakit ng dibdib ko sa naisip. But I don’t have time for it, hinahabol ako ng oras at pagkakataon.

Our eyes met and he stood up. Ngumiti ako ng pilit at umupo sa linya niya.

I held Brianna’s shoulder but she quickly hugged me. Umiyak siya ng tuluyan sa balikat ko at tuluyan na ring napaluha. Nabasag ang kalooban ko.

“Ate, hu-huwag ka na lang umalis…” She sobbed harder in my arms and I rubbed her back, calming her. Nanginginig ang balikat niya sa sobrang pag iyak.

Bumitaw ako at pinunanasan ang luha niya. “Babalik pa naman ako…hindi ka naman iiwan ni Ate. At para sayo rin ito diba?”

I wiped away my tears and hugged her tightly again. Halo-halo na ang nararamdaman ko at hindi ko na alam kung ano ba ang uunahin. Gusto ko na lang na maging mahina pero pati iyon ay hindi ko pwedeng gawin. I can't even pity myself at this point.

Muli kong pinunasan ang mga luha niya. “I’ll call you whenever I have the free time…pangako iyan.”

She nodded her head and hugged her again. Walang kasiguraduhan ang lahat para sa akin, sa pag alis ko, pero isa lang ang alam ko…masaya ako na may babalikan pa ako rito…at may rason pa ako para bumalik. Brianna needed me as much as I needed her. At siya na lang ang natitirang kapamilya ko.

“Let's go, Liberty.” Narinig ko ang boses ni Sir Ejay sa tabi ko at bumitaw na ako ng tuluyan kay Brianna.

We bid our goodbyes one more time and that’s it, kailangan ko ng umalis.

She waved her hands at me as she tried not to cry. Nasa likod niya si Kuya Rene na malungkot rin na nakatingin sa amin. Naghabilin na ako sa kanya at kahit na nandyan naman si Mama, ay hindi ko pa rin mapigilan na mag alala. I still needed someone to looked for Brianna in my behalf, at si Kuya Rene lang ang mapagkakatiwalaan ko.

We entered the gate and I knew there was no turning back. Muli akong sumulyap sa huling pagkakataon at pinunasan ang mga luha ko.

Mahirap umalis, pero mas mahirap manatili. Hindi ko kaya at hindi ko kakayanin. I just hope that the future will be more kind to me, at magtitiis ako kasalukuyan para doon.

I was exhausted the whole day and I didn’t even have a proper sleep. Sir Ejay and I were seated together at kahit papaano ay komportable naman ako, gusto kong magpahinga kahit kaunti lang pero hindi ako makatulog.

Nanatili akong mulat at kong makakaidlip man ako ay mababaw lang.

“Are you fine?”

Napatingin ako kay Sir Ejay ng magsalita siya. He was looking at me worriedly.

Tumango ako at pilit na ngumiti. “Okay lang, Sir.”

I looked at the window again and fidgeted my fingers at my lap. I heard him breathing deeply and felt him touch my hair, like a father to his daughter. Though, ilang taon lang naman ang pagitan namin.