SWIPE HELP GONE WRONG - COMPLETE

Chapter 17

"GROWING up, I always wanted a family..." Naibaling ni Scroll ang tingin sa mukha ni Alt. He was looking at the vast sea in front of them. "Because I ruined mine." A painful smile suddenly curved on his face.

Sa pagkakataon na 'yon. Muling namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan nilang dalawa. 

She stares at the beautiful ocean in front of them. Mesmerized on how the water glistens like millions of diamonds was intentionally spread over it and not just because of the effect of sun rays when it touches the water. She likes the calming sound of the waves when it reaches the shore. The sultry wind of the afternoon that dance with the leaves of trees that sheltered them from the heat of the sun.

But despite the beauty of nature around them. Ramdam niya ang lungkot sa mga malayong tingin ni Alt. 

She fill her lungs with fresh air and smile.

"Alam mo," basag niya, "sabi nila, when you carry something in your heart and you have no one to share about the pain, that person will never learn to be happy and will never learn how to move on. Habang buhay mo na lang dadalhin ang masakit na alaalang 'yon hanggang sa mamatay ka."

She paused for a moment before she continued.

"Pain can either make you stronger or weak, it depends. But I believe, embracing it wouldn't be a good idea." Halos sabay silang napatingin sa isa't isa. "Alam mo ba, experience is not the best teacher. Learning from experience is the real best teacher. Experience has no value when you don't learn from it. Kaya kung ano paman 'yan, choose to share the pain with those people who are willing to suffer with you."

She gives him a smile.

"So ano na? What's your story, Mr. Al Timothy Flores?"

"You sure you want to hear it?"

"We've suffered enough together. Isagad na natin. Go! Tell your story. Willing na willing akong makinig sa'yo."

Tipid itong ngumiti bago nagsalita.

"I was ten when my mother left us for another man," simula nito. Ibinalik nito ang tingin sa dagat. "And I knew, she was having an affair behind my father's back." Paminsan-minsan ay may ibinabato itong maliliit na bato sa dagat. "I could have stopped her but I chose not to. Alam mo ba kung bakit?" He glances at her.

"Bakit?"

"Kasi akala ko, kapag itinago ko, I can keep my family together. I thought I could fix things up by hiding the truth from my father. Akala ko, kapag sinunod ko si Mama, hindi niya iiwan si Papa. Kaya kahit na alam kong mali, hinayaan ko lang siya. Ang importante, sa amin siya umuuwi."

"You were ten back then, 'di ba?" halos dumiin ang pagkakasabi niya sa edad ni Alt noon. 

How could a ten-year-old witness that kind of relationship? It's traumatizing!

He nodded. "May stable job naman si Papa dito sa Pilipinas noon. Pero dahil masakitin si Skip, he decided to work abroad bilang project engineer sa Dubai. Just to make ends meet and for Skip's medication dahil sa asthma niya. I never believe my Aunt and Uncle's stories against my mother back then. Matagal ko naman nang alam na hindi nila gusto si Mama kay Papa."

"My mother used to work in a club in Manila. Actually, doon talaga sila nag-meet ni Papa. Masasabi kong well off ang pamilyang Flores sa Bataan. Kaya malaki ang pagtutol nila kay Mama. But they had no choice, nang iuwi ni Papa si Mama sa Mariveles ay pinagbubuntis na niya ako. Kahit na nakabukod kami, madalas ko pa ring naririnig na pagsalitaan nila nang masama si Mama."

"Kahit ilang beses nilang gawan ng pangit na kwento si Mama, kailanman hindi ako naniwala. Because I know how my mother loves us. I know, she genuinely cares for us. Hanggang sa, isang araw, bigla na lang siyang nagbago. I tried to understand her. Na baka, nami-miss niya lang si Papa kaya madalas siyang umaalis at ginagabing umuwi."