Matapos namin kumain ay pinagpaalam ako ni Rigel kila lola kahit na alas-otso na ng gabi. Pinayagan naman ako basta bumalik din daw kami agad, hindi ko alam kung saan ako dadalhin netong asungot na 'to!
"Rigel kailangan ko pang magreview may tatapusin pa kong plates pwede bang next time nalang?"
"You know what? You need to chill, don't stress yourself. You did your best to scan all the lessons this entire sem and I know God will do the rest tommorow." He smiled then wink at me.
Ayoko sanang sumama sakaniya pero tama naman siya baka pag nagreview pa 'ko baka 'di na kayanin ng utak ko dahil sa dami ng inaral ko para sa finals bukas.
"So what's your decision? We'll be back here before 10 pm. Two hours is enough to make you feel relax."
"Oo na, sasama na 'ko, pero 'di ka ba magpapalit ng damit mo? Hanggang ngayon naka uniform ka pa din. Wala ka bang extra shirt na dala?" Tanong ko sakaniya.
"I have extra clothes in my car, I'll just get it and change then we'll go."
Kinuha niya muna sa kotse niya 'yong damit niya, umakyat naman ako sa taas para magpalit ng damit. I'm just wearing black sweater, maong shorts and I paired it with white converse. I also wear black belt and white cup.
Pagkabalik niya tapos na kong magbihis kaya pinagpalit ko muna siya ng damit.
Pagkalabas niya para siyang model nakakastar struck 'yung gwapo niya. He's wearing a black dress shirt but it's still unbuttoned, gray cargo shorts with black belt and white sneakers. His hair was brushed up but few strand of his hair was falling on his forehead.
Agad akong tumalikod sakaniya ng makita kong hindi pa nakabutones ang polo niya.
"Hoy isarado mo nga 'yang polo mo!" Sigaw ko sakaniya.
"Why? Are you being distracted because of my abs?" He chuckles.
"Hindi 'no? asa ka naman! isarado mo na nga! 'Di naman nakakaakit 'yang mga abs mo!" I yelled at him then I rolled my eyes.
Binutones niya naman ang polo niya ngunit iniwan niyang nakabukas ang tatlong butones sa taas. Ang hot niya tuloy tingnan, pagkaharap ko sakaniya.
"Let's Go!" Aya niya sakin.
Nagpaalam na kami kila lola at kuya gusto niya sana isama si Jillian kaso tulog na. Pinaalalahanan pa kami ni kuya na mag-iingat at huwag magpaabot ng hating gabi.
"Bro we'll go now, we will be back before 10 pm." He assured kuya.
Lumabas na kami ng bahay at nagtungo sa range rover niyang kotse. Hindi ko napansin na nag palit pala siya ng sasakyan, pinagbuksan niya ko ng pintuan.
"Your highness." Then he bowed his head.
"Tsk feeling mahal na reyna." I smirked
"In greek mythology Cassiopeia is the Queen of Aethiopia, but in real life your my Queen Cassiopeia." Nakangising sabi ni Rigel.
"Tsk hanep kunyari nalang naniwala 'ko sa mga banat mo! Banatan kita diyan eh." Pang babasag trip ko sakaniya.
"You don't need to believe me Cassiopeia because I'm willing to prove that you're my Queen." He wink at me.
"Tumigil ka na nga diyan anong oras na oh? 'Di pa tayo nakakaalis!" Pagturo ko sa oras sa cellphone ko.
Agad naman siyang sumakay ng kotse at nagmaneho, minsan nakikita ko siyang sumusulyap sa 'kin. Nang makita ko siyang sumlyap ulit, sinigawan ko na siya.
"Eyes on the road! Baka maaksidente tayo, andito lang naman ako sa tabi mo 'di naman ako tatakbo, makatingin ka dyan! dukutin ko 'yang mga mata mo eh."
"I'm willing to give you my beautiful eyes." He wink again.
"Alam mo nasosobrahan ka na sa kaharutan mo! Magdrive ka nga lang." I rolled my eyes.
After 10 mins nakarating na kami sa over looking sa Antipolo.
Binuksan niya 'yung likod ng Range Rover at may kinuha siya wire para isaksak. Biglang umilaw ang white christmas lights, may nakalatag sa loob ng kotse na comforter at madaming unan. May mga pagkain din na nakahanda. Hindi ko 'to napansin kanina dahil ang harot-harot niya.
"You're full of surprises! Hindi ka ba nauubusan?" I asked him.
"This is all for you, Cassiopeia."
Humiga na kami sa loob ng Range rover at pinagmasdan namin ang napakagandang City lights. Nakakarelax ng sobra.
"Want some potato chips?" Alok niya sa 'kin.
"No I don't like potatoes, kamukha ko kasi sila." Pagbibiro ko.
"No your not, you are beautiful with Gods beauty." He said.
Kumain lang siya ng kumain. Inaalok niya ko, minsan kumukuha ako tapos pinapakain ko lang din naman sakaniya, inaasar ko lang siya.
"Rigel pansin ko lang sa'yo parang wala kang pakialam sa pag aaral. Okay lang sa 'yong umabsent at magcut ng class. Tsaka bakit hindi ka nagrereview kahit finals na bukas? Hindi man lang kita nakitang humawak ng notebook, libro, highlighters at ballpen. Bakit?" I asked him like a mom.
"Long story Cassiopeia." He patted my head.
"Make it short I'm here, willing to listen to all of your stories." I said while doing the beautiful eyes.
"Since I was kindergarten until Senior High School I always do my best, that's why I'm always on top. I'm always aiming to be the highest so that my parents would see my effort, but they didn't. Everytime there's important event in my life, my parents always disappoints me. I remember when I was a kindergarten, my teacher said that I'm the first honor and my parents need to come. I'm so excited to announce the good news but instead of congratulating and recognizing my effort, they scolded me. Since I was a kid yaya Mildred is always there for me, she's the one who congratulates and supports me. Then the graduation came, My mom said she will try to attend, I'm waiting for my parents to come but they never showed up. I was so devastated that time and I will never forget that day. I'm lucky because yaya Mildred is there for me. When I called up on stage, I run away while crying. I almost hit by a car and I wished I had been hit that day. Yaya Mildred chase me after she gets the medal and handed it to me. I hug her very tight because there's so many questions left unsaid hanging over my head. Then when I was in grade six I'm the Valedictorian, all of my teachers are so proud of me but my parents? I don't know. On the day of our graduation I'm still hoping for my parents to come but they never came, they're so busy with their business. That's why, when I called on stage to have a Valedictorian speech I was crying so hard because I thought this time they will come for me but still they don't give me some time to congratulate and to celebrate . But I'm still blessed because yaya Mildred is always there in all of the important events in my life. When I was in Junior High School, I graduated as a Valedictorian again but no one's there for me because yaya Mildred already passed away but I know that she's there watching me for every triump. I don't expect my parents to come but it still hurts. When I graduated as a Valedictorian in Senior High School I was so shock when my mom came and that's the first time. Once in my life I experienced to have a parent on my graduation day even though it's just 30 minutes then she already left. I never hear this words coming from my parents. "Congratulations I'm so proud of you Son". But I'm so happy even though I didn't hear that, atleast my mom attended on one of the special events in my life. My daddy? He never tried to come even once. I growed up trying to prove myself to my parents but they never appreciated all the things that I've done just to make them proud. I got tired, that's why I change myself when I was a freshmen student, I became worst. I was blinded by the pain that I felt inside. I became a drunkard, partying all night and never studied so hard like before. My parents never cared for me. They're so busy with their works, clients and business trips they never think of me." He said with full of emotions.
Ramdam na ramdam ko 'yung sakit habang sinasabi niya 'yong mga salitang binitawan niya. May magulang nga siya pero hindi niya maramdamang andiyan sila para sakaniya. Maswerte pa din siya dahil kasama niya ang mga magulang niya, ako kasi simula bata wala na talaga kong tatay iniwan pa kami ng nanay naming magaling.
"You know what Rigel you can't undo what's been done. Get rid of all the bitterness, rage and anger that you're holding for so long. Because the second enemy of the heart is anger and the remedy for anger is forgiveness. Don't let the past control your future, forgive them even though they aren't sorry for the things that they've done. When you forgive them, you set your soul free." I said while tapping his shoulders.
"I felt so much guilt for all the actions that I've done before. I know, what I did was wrong, I'm trying to avoid it but the temptation was so strong, it's my fault for ending up like this." He messed up with his hair in frustration.
"No, it's not your fault just like you said earlier, you're just blinded by the pain you felt inside I hope you forgive your parents. Because forgiveness is the best form of love and it's not late to change for the better. Just always remember that there are people who are so proud of you." I smiled at him.
"Do you want to hear me sing?" I asked because I want him to feel better because I can feel the sadness in his eyes.
"Yes, of course." The sadness in his eyes is now filled with excitement.
So you think you've got it all figured out
Well you know you can't make it alone
Everybody needs somebody to help them out
And you know I could be that someone.
And if you ever get lost on life's highway
Don't know where to go
There's just one thing that I want you to know.
I am here for you, always here for you
When you need a shoulder to cry on
Someone to rely on, I am here for you.
"Your voice is so angelic, I almost fell asleep." He said with a smile on his face.
"Did you feel better?" I asked him.
"So much better, thank you Cassiopeia." Then he gave me a sweet smile.
Nang mag 9:30 pm na, hinatid niya na 'ko pauwi sa bahay. Nagpasalamat ako sakaniya at umuwi na din siya. Sinabihan ko din siyang magreview para sa finals bukas.
Pagkauwi ko pinuntahan ko muna si lola sa kwarto niya para i-check kung okay lang ba siya.
Napanatag naman ang loob ko ng makitang ayos naman si lola. Pagkatapos umakyat na 'ko sa taas.
Nilabas ko 'yung mga plates na nagawa ko na, dalawa nalang pala 'yong kulang, kaya tinapos ko na. Nag pahinga na 'ko pagkatapos.
Kinabukasan maaga 'kong nagising at nag scan ulit ako ng notes saglit dahil hindi ako pwedeng bumagsak, kailangan kong bawiin yung quiz at graded recitation na wala ako.
Pagkatapos, bumaba na 'ko para magluto ng almusal ginising ko na si lola at si Jillian, si kuya naman ay maagang pumasok sa trabaho.
Kumain na kami at pagkatapos pinaliguan ko na si Jillian, naligo na din ako dahil baka malate ako.
Noong malaman ng kapit bahay namin ang nangyari kay lola, nagpresinta siyang bantayan si lola at si Jillian ng walang bayad kapag may pasok kaming dalawa ni kuya, laking pasasalamat ko dahil may mga taong kagaya niya na mayroong mabuting puso.
Pinatawag ko na si aling Binday kay Jillian dahil papasok na 'ko sa eskwelahan.
"La alis na po ako ah? Inom po kayo ng gamot, kainin niyo po 'yung mga prutas na nasa ref tawagin niyo lang po si Jillian o kaya si aling Binday kapag may kailangan kayo ah? I love you la." Niyakap ko siya at hinalikan ko ang kaniyang kamay.
Nagmadali akong pumasok dahil bawal malate kapag exams namin. Kinakabahan akong pumasok dahil finals na, bago magsimula ang finals namin ay nagdasal muna 'ko.
Madali lang naman ang exam dahil nag aral ako, buti nalang at lumabas lahat ng inaral ko. Nang matapos kami ay nag inat-inat ako dahil ansakit sa batok.
"Kc ang hirap nung ibang items sa test!" Malungkot na sabi ni Mica.
"Madali lang kaya, hindi mo lang siguro naaral 'yong iba, kaya nahirapan ka."
"Gano'n na nga, natulugan ko kasi kagabi eh." Nakabusangot na sabi ni Mica.
"Huwag ka ng malungkot diyan tiwala lang kay God makakapasa ka. Tara libre nalang kitang Ice cream sa labas." I said while smiling at her.
Hinatak ko na siya palabas dahil ayokong nakikitang nalulungkot ang kaibigan ko dahil nalulungkot din ako. Inaya ko siyang mag ice cream para mabawasan ang lungkot na nararamdaman niya.
Because if someone means a lot to you, they can really affect your mood.
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Here for you by Firehouse