Lhaine was sitting on her chair on the balcony. May mug ng kape siyang hawak at tila malalim ang iniisip. Si Mikee ay nasa kabilang kwarto, may kausap sa phone kaya busy din. Ang boys naman ay may sariling mundo.
"Lalhaine." I called her name.
Bakas ang gulat sa kanyang mukha nang tawagin ko siya. It's as if she hasn't heard her name for a very long time. I didn't know if she's happy with it.
"Sorry, nanibago lang." she shook her head. Nilapag niya ang kape sa maliit na mesa.
Tumayo siya at saka ako tinabihan. Parehong nakahilig ang braso namin sa railings. Umihip ang malamig na hangin kung kaya't nilipad sa mukha niya ang buhok. She tucked them behind her ear. Blanko ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya habang nakatingin sa malayo.
"I heard the news... sa mga issue dati." kabadong panimula ko. "Hindi ako updated masyado sa showbiz, but I tried my best to check on you. I want to know how you are holding up?" I am not forcing her to open up if she doesn't want to. Ang dami lang talagang tsismis na kumalat tungkol sa kanya. Hindi siya nagsalita. Ang manager niya ang taga linis ng kalat.
"You know Gen, not everyone deserves to know your side of the story." She gave me a painful smile. "But you're not one of those people... So I'll tell you my truth."
Pinigilan ko ang sarili na maluha sa harap niya. I held back my emotions well. Ang dami kong hindi alam sa kanila. Ang dami kong utang sa kanila ni Alice.
"I'm sorry kung wala ako." hinagod ko ang likod niya. Hinawakan ko ang isang kamay niya. I wish that warmth was enough to comfort her. "Isang taon lang nangyari lahat 'yon?"
"Oo, but I'm glad that I'm still here." She pursed her lips while looking at our hands. "You know what I realized? People love to project their insecurities on me." she laughed just so she could hide the pain in her voice. "It was hard looking at my body after everything it has been through. But now? Fuck them. I know that I'm beautiful. Kaya nga sila galit e."
"Baka Lhaine namin 'yan!" I cheered.
"I won't be featured in Vogue if I wasn't that pretty." nangingiti na aniya. "Tapos ang sabi pa nila, at least naging pride din ako ng bansa. People see that as my redemption for the things I did. Kahit wala naman akong masama na ginagawa." she scoffed. "Maybe, partly may kasalanan ako. But do I really deserve that hate?"
"No, you didn't." I gave her that assurance. Baka kasi ayun pa rin ang tumatakbo sa isipan niya.
"At kung inaakala nila na ginawa ko 'yon para sa bansa? Hell no! They almost crucified me? Bakit ko naman gagawin para sa kanila 'yon?" Her tone was full of sarcasm and anger. "I did it for myself."
"It was a wild ride, Gen." she looked me in the eye. "I learned that I was working in the wrong environment. I was in a place where people did not appreciate my skills and who I am as a person... so I left. After leaving, my career blossomed. It was like... cloud nine. Now I don't think I will allow anyone to bring me down now."
Napaisip tuloy ako. Should I really push my career abroad?
"Lhaine, you're so strong."
"Lalo ka na 'no. Ang tapang mo." She feelingly said. Her thumb caressed my hand. "I want to have the courage you had."
Hindi pa ako ihanda ikwento sa kanya ang tungkol sa akin. Gusto ko kapag kasama na namin si Alice, para isahan na lang.
Mikael:
Mahaaaal :(
I miss you, hindi ko yata kaya ang LDR.
Hindi ko namalayan na nakanguso na rin pala ako habang binabasa ang text niya. This guy. Paano ko naman magagawang malayo dito? I'm literally missing his presence for days! Walang Kael na umaakbay sa akin, o kaya yumayakap, o simpleng naglalaro ng kamay ko.
BINABASA MO ANG
Embracing the Night Skies
General FictionEl Cielo Series #2 ✔️ Genesis taught herself how to stand alone and survive on her own; because to her, life is a matter of survival. She's always been independent and thinks that she doesn't need the help of other people, even her friends. There is...
