Once Mine

31. Prom

You know I've got this theory, there are two kinds of people in the world. There are lyric people and music people. You know, the lyrics people tend to be analytical. You know, all about the meaning of the song. They're the ones you see with the CD insert out like 5 minutes after buying it, pouring over the lyrics, interpreting the hell out of everything. Um, then there's the music people, like Brooke. Who could care less for the lyrics as long as it's just got like a good beat and you could dance to it. I don't know, sometimes it might be easier to be a music girl and not a lyric girl. But since I'm not, let me just say this. Sometimes things find you when you need them to find you, I believe that. And for me it's usually song lyrics.

Peyton Sawyer (One tree hill)

"He seems to be a good dad."

I looked at Hyron who found me standing near the gazebo while watching Abelardo and Louis play with Louis' new set of lego blocks. Nakasalampak silang mag-ama sa sahig at matyagang nagbubuo ng kung ano-ano doon. Hyron was smiling at me. I don't have any idea what's inside his fucking mind. I don't care, all I know is that I'm worried that Abel might take him away from me.

"That used to be us." He said to me. "Those stolen minutes with that. The longing I feel whenever he leaves the house, the excitement in my chest whenever I hear mom say that he'll be visiting. I'm sure Louis feels the same, hindi niya palang kayang i-sort out ang feelings niya but I know what it's like." He even chuckled. I couldn't help but smile at those memories.

I remember what I felt when I first hugged Dad at the park. I was six years old, I was wearing a girly dress and my hair were on pig tails. The first time I hugged him, I knew things are right. I knew life will be good.

And Dad never disappointed me. He gave me everything – or at least he tried. Wala akong mairereklamo sa kanya. He's a very loving father.

But in Abel's case, I have no idea what he's capable of.

"He's not going to take him away from you, Hyan. If he does, I'm going to smash his chest and take his heart out – literally. I will kill him with my bare hands."

Muli ay tiningnan ko si Hyron. Panay akong may kaba sa dibdib ko.

"Pwede ka bang sumama sa akin sa doctor?" I asked him. Hyron smiled.

"Magtatampo ako kapag hindi mo ako niyaya."

Niyakap ko ang kapatid ko. Tulad ni Daddy ay sinusubukan niya ang lahat para lang ibigay sa akin ang mga bagay na makakapagpapagaan sa buhay ko.

Matapos iyon ay humawak ako sa braso niya at nilapitan na namin ang mag-ama.

"Abel," Tinawag ko siya. He looked at me. The last time we talked, he told me he loved me. Hindi ko siya sinagot. Hindi ako nagpapakipot, sa tingin ko ay hindi lang iyon ang tamang panahon para pag-usapan namin iyon.

"Are we leaving now?" He even asked. Kinarga niya si Louis. Nakakatawang isipin pero mula nang magkakilala silang dalawa ay hindi na masyadong sumama si Louis kay Hyron kapag nandyan si Abel.

Louis seems to like his father very much. Nagpababa si Louis. Akala ko ay tatakbo siya sa akin pero humawak siya sa kamay ni Abel tapos ay hinawakan niya rin ang kamay ko. Nakapagitna siya sa amin ngayon.

"Momma! Pa...pa! Weee!"

Abelardo laughed. Ako naman ay ngumiti lang. Natetensyon kasi talaga ako. Paano kung iba ang sabihin ng doctor kay Louis? Wala akong ideya kung sino ang doctor ni Abelardo na nag-opera sa kanya. Doon daw namin dadalhin si Louis. Sinabi ko na may doctor na si Louis sa America but Abel insisted. Ang gusto ko ay sumama siya sa amin sa New York but he wants me to give this a try. Kung sabagay ay wala namang masama.