Have I Told You (PUBLISHED)

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Eisley is really weird. Hindi naman siya masungit. In fact, according to his mom, he's the kindest, but he doesn't want to socialize. Kung wala siyang importante sasabihin sa'yo, hindi ka niya kakausapin. He's cold and aloof. Dahil kaya 'yun sa sakit niya?

Hindi ko talaga alam na may sakit siya. Nabasa ko lang sa chart niya noong nahospitalize siya. Sabi rin sa'kin ng mommy niya, sakitin talaga siya since birth, pero hindi ko alam nagkaroon siya ng congenital heart disease.

After the day Eisley told me he found me attractive, hindi ko na siya nakita. On my graduation, nagulat ako dahil nandoon si Mommy Sexy. She thanked me and gave me a gift. Mag-isa lang siyang pumunta sa graduation ko to think na she was on crutches.

"Thanks, Mommy Sexy. I love it!"

I was ecstatic. She gave me a huge sketch pad and told me I should continue doing my passion. She thanked me for painting her and her son. It meant a lot to her. She thanked me for not giving up on Eisley.

Nagpaalam na rin siya sa akin dahil babalik na sila sa province nila. Itetext na lang daw niya ako. Oo, magkatext na ulit kami. Binigay niya sa'kin yung bago niyang number noong na-ospital anak niya.

Same year kami gumraduate ni Eisley, pero magkaiba kami ng university pati na rin ng degree program. He took up BS in Business Administration. Ako naman, nursing. Magkaibang magkaiba, but we both love arts and photography. We're not that different from each other after all. 

Nakatitig lang ako doon nang may kumatok sa pinto ko. "Tyrese?"

I cleared my throat and wiped my tears. "Come in." I was still sobbing.

My mom entered my room and sat beside me on my bed. "Why are you crying, anak? Aren't you happy?"

"Ma, I want to be a rural nurse."

My mom froze. "What?"

"I want to be a nurse..." I gulped. I knew they wouldn't let me. "...in Cebu."

Hindi ko sinabi sa kanya na nandoon si Eisley. Hindi ko naman kasi talaga siya susundan. Noon pa man, gusto ko na talaga tumira sa Cebu dahil sa nanny ko kaya nag decide ako na after ko gumraduate, doon na ako magtatrabaho.

See how destined we are?

My mom, dad, brother, and even my sister-in-law are all protective of me. Si Achi Zeah lang ang hindi masyado not because she loves me any less, but because she wants me to be independent.

Kaya nga noong sinabi ko sa kanilang lahat yung mga plano ko, ang bilis nilang humindi. Ni hindi man lang nila pinag-isipan. Being determined that I was, I did my best to convince them. I was old enough to decide for myself. Sinabi ko sa kanilang gusto kong maging independent.

Buong buhay ko kasi, umaasa ako sa kanila at sinanay nila akong umasa sa kanila lalo na yung kuya ko. I love my brother, but sometimes, he's too much. Malaki na rin naman na-ipon ko kaya hindi na ako mamumulubi. It's not that I don't like that they treat me like a princess, but at times, I get sick of it.

After three months, napapayag ko rin sila, pero with conditions. Sila pa rin ang magbabayad ng bills at rent ko. Bibigyan pa rin nila ako ng allowance at may icocontact silang agency sa Cebu para i-hire ako ng maid.

Gusto pa nilang mag hire ng driver, pero I disagreed. Hindi ko na kailangan ng driver dahil wala naman akong balak mag kotse. I want a simple life. And if ever man na mag dala ako ng car, I'd rather learn how to drive.

Ang dami nilang paalala sa'kin bago ako umalis. My mom cried a river and she kept saying how proud she was of me. I, on the other hand, held back my tears. Dadalaw-dalawin daw nila ako. Every month, kung wala akong gagawin, kailangan ko rin silang dalawin. Sagot na raw nila yung flight ko.