ON BENDED KNEES

Chapter 25

SERIOUS

It has been two months now since I left my mother's house. Everything was working well in my life after I left home and stayed with the Relanos.

My mother kept coming to the Relano's residence just to create scenes to push me to withdraw her boyfriend's case. When she became uncontrollable, Tito Miguelito had to file a restraining order against her.

Ni minsan ay hindi rin ako dinalaw ng mga kapatid ko. Halatang halata na wala silang pakialam sa akin.

As for Ashmere, after I broke his heart, he left that day and took his project in Spain. Then one in Singapore and Dubai. I heard from Shanelle that he was overworking himself. Parang pinapatay na ang sarili sa kakatrabaho at hindi ko siya masisisi. Dahil iba't iba ang paraan ng mga tao para makalimot.

He also got featured in Singapore and Spain magazine as one of the hottest and successful engineer slash bachelor in the country.

This is his dream. He's living with it and I couldn't be any happier.

Ang masakit lang.. hindi ko na maipaparating sa kanya na sobra akong masaya at proud para sa kanya. Then I asked Shanelle not to say anything about her brother. Para makalimot na rin ako. She obliged.

Sa mahigit isang buwan na paghihiwalay namin ni Ashmere ay hindi ko na rin napansin ang anim na kaibigan ni Tyong. Na ikinahinga ko ng maluwag. Baka nagsawa na rin sa kakamasid dahil wala naman silang mapapala sa akin.

And as for myself, I slowly overcome my trauma and my pain. I've decided to let go of all the hurtful things my mother did and said to me. I learned to be brave and not to be scared of my horrible past and forgive myself for hurting the only person that loved me. Hindi pa ako fully healed pero alam kong darating ang oras na ngingitian ko na lang lahat ng mga nangyari sa akin habang ikinukwento ito sa mga anak ko..

I stood in my mirror and fixed my hair and make up.

On my eighteenth birthday, I've decided to have a dinner with my friends and our families. Ruiz, Relanos and Monteverdes. Then after our dinner , me and my friends would spend the night at the Discobar.

When I was ready, I went down the stairs and found my friends and our families talking happily at each other. I mingled and soon we were off.

The Monteverdes still treat me like before. They didn't change even after I broke their son's heart. They're still so kind and caring. Like a family.

We often do sleepovers at their house. Gustong gusto ko lang kasi yong pool nila at theatre room. Nothing else.. but I was also hoping to learn something from Ashmere. Dahil tinotoo talaga ni Shanelle na wag nang magkwento.

Nang matapos ang dinner ay inuwi lang namin saglit ang mga regalo sa akin at dumiretso na sa Discobar.

It was already rocking and noisy.

Shanelle ordered our drinks and finger food because she's the only one who knew what to order. Apparently, she'd been to a bar when she was seventeen and learned the drinks from her old friends. They're all now in jail. It was a long story to tell.

We danced and had so much fun all throughout the night. I didn't drink much because there would be no more Ashmere to look after me after I get drunk..

When my vision started to get blur, I left the dancefloor and went to the bathroom. On my way, I saw a familiar back that I haven't seen for quite a long time now. They went towards the back door so I followed them. They were fighting over something. My heart beat so fast.

Nang huminto sila sa dulo ay tahimik din akong pumuwesto para makatulong kung sakaling maging pisikalan na ang mangyayari.

"I'm pregnant! This is yours!"giit ni Ate Rose. My heart dropped. I took her appearance in my head. She lost weight and quite pale. Almost sickly.