Dancing With Fire

Kabanata 22

Stay safe, Archers! Basa muna kayo habang nasa bahay.

Enjoy!

xxx

Kabanata 22

It's tiring and painful. There are a lot of challenges in life, it can either break you or make you. But one thing is certain, some lessons can be learned the hard way.

I can't change the past but I certainly can change now and my future. It's up to me, my life would be up to me now and how I choose to live it.

"Hello, Ma..." A small smile left my lips as I sata infront of my real mother's tomb.

Sa gilid ng kanyang lapida ay ang bulaklak na ibinigay ko sa kanya noong nakaraang araw.

I lit two white candles, inilagay ko rin ang bagong mga bulaklak at hinaplos ito.

"Pasensya na, Ma..." I whispered. "Hindi kita mabibisita kaagad pagkatapos nito, I have a lot to do right now. May bagong project po ako."

I smiled sweetly.

"As usual, I am doing a lot of work pero kinakaya ko naman, Ma. Si Miggy, ayon, maayos ang lagay." I said.

"Iiwan ko po muna kay Tita Asunta si Migs ngayon dahil may importante akong kliyenteng kikitain. Ba-byahe rin po muna ako doon sa dati naming bahay nina Tatay, para sa trabaho at para na rin bisitahin ang puntod n'ya." I smiled.

"I love you, Ma. I promise to always smile and never give up no matter what challenge is given to me. Kahit mahirap kakayanin ko para sa sarili ko at sa kapatid ko. I wish and pray Tatay and you will guide us both. Sana po matulungan n'yo kaming maging maayos ang buhay at maging successful." I whispered.

I smiled, touched her tomb again and uttered a brief prayer for her before bidding my goodbye.

Sa pag-uwi ko sa bahay namin ay naabutan ko si Miggy sa tapat ng piano at may bagong pyesta nanamanv kinakabisa.

I smiled when I saw his teacher, tumango ito sa pagbati sa akin.

"Engineer Flores," He greeted.

I smiled, nodding.

"It's Mendez." I said softly.

Nakita kong nagulat s'ya pero napatango.

"Oh, you were known to be a Flores, I didn't know you have a different surname?" Aniya at tumayo para batiin ako.

"Hmm, they are just used to it. My family in the career path are the Flores, kaya 'nung nagtrabaho na rin ako, ganoon ang tawag sa akin. Well, I corrected them but nakasanayan siguro nila kaya hinayaan ko na." I smiled.

"I see," He offered his hand. "Nice meeting you again, Engineer. It's my second time seeing you since I began teaching Miggy."

"I've been busy," I smiled and accepted his hand for a shake. "How's my brother?"

Lumingon ako sa kapatid kong nakasulyap na sa akin ng seryoso.

"He's doing great," Aniya. "Uhm, busy ka ba mamaya?"

Hindi ko s'ya sinagot at ngumisi ako sa kapatid kong halos nanliliit na ang mata sa akin.

I chuckled when his sharp eyes shifted from me to his teacher behind me asking me for time.

"Hi, Migs!" I cheered, sitting in his long chair and kissing his cheeks.

"H'wag mong pansinin, Ate." Pasimpleng sinabi n'ya nang hagkan ko s'ya.

"What? Why?" I blinked.

"You and your boys," Ngiwi n'ya at umawang ang labi ko at natawa.

"Engineer?"