Ferocious Affection (COMPLETED)

33RD

Ysa's

"Now, make a down stroke over here..." Brett instructed while guiding my hand to write. "And also here." I did. "There you go."

Napangiti ako at tinitigan ang hand lettering ng isang quote na naisulat ko sa gabay ng kanyang kamay. "Hey, ang ganda nito!"

Napangiti rin siya at tinuruan ako ng ilan pang up and down strokes para masanay. Iba't ibang klase ng pen ang ginamit namin dahil may mga pen talaga na para sa hand lettering. He's like a pro! Well, base sa nakikita at nararamdaman ko, pro nga siya.

Kasalukuyan kaming narito sa aking bahay at nagpapahinga matapos ang isang buong araw ng pagco-comply ng requirements sa university. We're only waiting for my parents to go home to have dinner with Brett. Ngayon palang nila ito makikilalaㅡor should I say, maho-hot seat?ㅡdahil sobrang abala sila sa kanilang trabaho noong mga nakaraang buwan.

"Where did you learn this?" Natatawang tanong ko habang pinagmamasdan ang magagandang designs na nagagawa niya sa hand lettering. Brett showed me the pictures he took for each of his works.

Natawa siya ng mahina at ibinulsa ang kanyang phone. "My parents made me enter every class I could enter in high school. I took swimming, calligraphy, guitar lessons and many more."

Napasapo ako sa aking noo kakatawa sa mga naibabahagi niya sa 'king memories. "Why so?"

He gave me a small smile. "They're afraid I might learn nothing from them because of work."

"O-oh," I muttered, natigilan sa kanyang sinabi. "Hanggang ngayon ba?"

Napabuntong-hininga siya at nagkibit-balikat. "I guess so. I never felt any love from them ever since."

I pursed my lips, trying hard not to be emotional, and motioned him to go on. "I'll be listening," I told him. He smiled.

I wanted to dig deeper into him, I wanted to learn about the truth behind his smiles. A single smile can cover his pain, ito ang nagtulak sa 'kin upang magtanong. I never knew much about his history, maybe this could help me understand or even love him much more.

He eagerly did. He was willing to share his flaws with me, and that thought made me love him even more.

He started in no time. Magmula raw noong bata palang siya, abala na talaga ang mga magulang niya sa kanilang trabaho. It was like, they're obsessed with it. Kaya sa tuwing nagkakaroon sila ng time na magkakasama noon at hanggang ngayon, sinusulit na niya. He grew up without the guidance of his parents.

As he grew up, he made himself aware of the fact that he is the least of their priorities. That led him to rebel against them. Nagsimula siyang mag-inom, manigarilyo at gumawa ng kung ano-ano pa. He only stopped when his parents threatened to abandon him. He didn't want that. And so, he studied hard, hard enough to distract him from all the pain he went through because of his parents.

And that shattered my heart into pieces.

Natulala ako sa kanya ng ilang sandali. When I felt my tears fall on my cheeks, I averted from his gaze to wipe it away. Sabi ko hindi ako magiging emosyonal e!

Nang muli akong tumingin sa kanya, I chuckled. "Baka iba rin ang nagturo sa 'yo ng alphabet?"

Natawa rin siya ng mahina. He was holding back his tears. "Our housemaid taught me that."

Mas lalo akong natulala. Oh my goodness.

That was too much.

"Dear Charo," I gagged, trying to make the atmosphere lighter. He chuckled and cupped my face to wipe my tears that kept on cascading down on my cheeks.