She Crossed That Bridge

32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The opposite . . .

"MAY bisita ka," sabi ni dad na nakatayo ngayon sa pinto ng kuwarto ko.

"Tell Kath I'm not in the mood to talk right now." I let out a small sigh.

Umiling siya. "It's not Kath."

Nagtataka kong tiningnan si dad. "He says his name's Dest."

Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

What was he doing here at this hour? Bakit ba ang hilig niyang puntahan ako ng alanganing oras? Hindi ba siya marunong matulog? It's 1 am for God's sake!

Kinuha ko 'yong hoodie ko saka ko ito sinuot bago ako lumabas ng bahay. He was leaning on his car while staring at me.

"Ba't 'di mo binibisita si Helix?" tanong niya sa 'kin kaya napabuntonghininga ako.

"Hindi ko rin alam. Ayaw ko lang talagang lumabas ng bahay. Ewan ko ba, tamad na tamad akong kumilos," pagsasabi ko ng totoo.

"You know you're wasting time, right? You should go see him, little Ger. You don't have much time on your hands."

"I know." Napatakip ako ng mga kamay ko sa mukha ko. Mababaliw na yata ako kaiisip. Nalulunod na rin ako sa lungkot.

"Kaya ayusin mo 'yang sarili mo tapos puntahan mo siya kapag okay ka na. Hindi natin puwedeng ipakita sa kanya na napanghihinaan tayo ng loob."

Tipid akong napangiti nang sabihin niya iyon.

I was starting to admire Dest.

Nakikita ko lang 'yong good side niya kapag si Helix ang pinag-uusapan. Nakatutuwang isipin na mahal niya si Helix kahit hindi niya talaga kadugo si Helix.

Sila ngang hindi magkadugo, mahal na mahal 'yong isa't isa. Paano pa kami ni Gerald, 'di ba. Hindi man kami showy pareho, pero mahal talaga namin ni Gerald 'yong isa't isa. Masarap talaga kapag may kapatid ka na laging nandiyan para sa 'yo ano mang oras mo kailanganin.

And I really admired Dest for that . . .

***

ICE skating was petrifying for me, but as I saw him who's expert on doing the ice skating, it encouraged me to try, especially when I saw how bright his smile was while doing it.

So, this was his life in Belle Ville. A skater.

Dest once told me that Helix had a life in Belle Ville, but it took me a long time before I figured out that my boyfriend was a great skater.

"He was a gold medalist, by the way," Dest bragged.

A smile escaped my lips. I won't be surprised to hear that. I mean, just by looking at him right now makes him the best skater for me. Hindi ko inaasahan na gan'yan siya kahusay sa ganiyang larangan.

"Why did he stop?" tanong ko. Nakapagtataka rin kasi talaga, lalo na't kung sobrang galing niya sa larangan na 'yon, bakit niya naisipang huminto?

"He wasn't allowed to train in the ice rink anymore. It affected his throat."

The smile on my face slowly faded. Ang damot talaga ng mundo.

Because of cancer, he had to stop doing what he loves. And maybe that was the hardest thing he has ever done.