Cherry-picked Pitfall

Chapter XX

NOW I could say everything here felt steady and stable. It wasn't just the people or the place itself. It's about how you feel— "Hey what the heck!"

My thoughts were ended after I was spattered by clean water. "Careful," I irritably said as I snorted, while checking how my clothes turned wet.

But Damon just chuckled at me after he wiped his face. Hindi ko namalayang tumalon na pala siya para maligo. "Tara na. Malalim na naman ang iniisip mo dyan. Relax. Kaya tayo nandito sa Bealado para lumayo muna sa mga problema!" sabi pa nito.

"E, hindi ba dapat sinosolusyunan ang problema?" pangangatwiran ko na may kasamang irap.

Damon rested his arms on the sandbar where I was standing. He looked away then took a deep sigh before smiling. I had a full access on his features now so I could clearly see his expressions as well. Kahit nga ang bunbunan niya ay tanaw ko. Napansin ko rin unti-unting paniningkit ng mapupungay niyang mata, saka nagsalita, "Oo, at wala naman akong sinabi na tatakasan mo ito. Hindi naman nakakatakot ang problema. Problems don't define you, it's how you solve it that define you. Always and forever, you are bigger than them. Kaya kung ano man 'yan, malalampasan mo 'yan. Besides, hindi mo naman kasi matatawag na problema ang problema kung wala itong solusyon. At para sa akin nga, sa totoo ah? Madali lang masolusyunan ang isang bagay kung alam mo ang pinagmulan at kahahantungan nito. As an adult, we had been through a lot and we probably know already how to fix every damn thing on our own. Pero, Sera. . ." He took a pause as he looked at me. "Ayaw mo bang huminga man lang? Magpahinga. Sometimes you need to rest and see how you're going. Clear your mind from all the negative emotions, doubts, and judgments. It helps you make better decisions in life," he even added.

Tinanguan ko naman iyon at napaisip sa mga binitawan niyang salita habang napalayo na rin ang tingin. "Sana nga. Gusto ko na rin ng tahimik at maayos na buhay para kay Calley. I want her to grow, not in a perfect environment, but at least in an environment with lots of good people."

"Dito!" Damon immediately proclaimed. "Masaya rito, Sera. Hinding-hindi ka magsisisi," dugtong niya pa.

I smiled shortly, decided to sit at the edge of where I was standing, and dipped my lower legs to the water. Magkatabi na kami halos ni Damon kaya nang lingunin niya ako ang mas malapitan kong nakita ang basa niyang mukha. Ngayon ko lang din napansin na wala na pala siyang pang-itaas. He must have thrown his shirt near us. I somehow looked for it, took a glance elsewhere, and finally saw it.

"Bakit? Ano 'yon?" puna niya. Nakita niya siguro ang paglingon-lingon ko.

"Wala," sabi ko na lang.

"Kung iniisip mong may taong darating, wala. Malamang ay may nakapuna na papunta tayo rito kaya walang magtatangka na makisalo," paliwanag niya sa hinalang iyon ang rason ng paglingon ko kanina.

Pero napaisip na rin ako sa sinabi niya. I even raised a brow upon realizing what he said. "Bakit naman? Ayaw ba nila sa akin?"

Damon scoffed. "Hindi sa iyo. Sa akin," sabi nito.

"Akala ko ba close ka sa mga tao rito?" I doubted.

"Hindi pa rin maiiwasan yung ilangan sa magkaibang estado ng buhay ko sa kanila. Iyon ang reyalidad, mayroon at mayroong gap. Ang mabuti lang doon, we are considerate about our situations on both ends," Damon explained.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti sa salitang binanggit niya. "Consideration," I said while continuously bobbing my head. "Consideration. . ." I repeated as my thoughts suddenly wandered about how that certain word made me feel just by hearing it. "You know what? I always feel like consideration is such a beautiful word," I declared.

Narinig ko ang biglang pagpigil niya ng tawa. "How so?"

"They say consideration is the highest form of love," I uttered with a smile on my teary eyes. "Sa tingin ko, hindi araw-araw ay kaya tayong mahalin o piliin, pero malaking bagay kapag isinasaalang-alang ka ng taong mahal mo," pagpapaliwanag ko, "Magiging masaya ba tayo sa desisyong 'to? Makabubuti ba sa atin 'to? Tama bang ganito? Ganito ba dapat? Ikasasama ba ng loob mo? Okay ba 'to? Ang sarap siguro sa pakiramdam kung iisiping ganyan ang takbo ng utak ng taong kinakasama mo," dagdag ko pa.