Chapter 25 | Birthday

What my mother said almost made me faint.

"K-Kailan pa, ma?" I asked.

My body was shaking itself and I couldn't stop it. This was the talk I struggled to open up with anyone... knowing that my mother knew about it confused me.

"Don't be nervous, Mia. Sabi ko sa 'yo, 'di ba, boto ako kay Lukan? I don't hate him like how your father treats him," she calmly said.

My system automatically stopped shaking as I heard my mother's word. I got relieved knowing that my mother sided me and still had the same impression of Lukan. Hindi ko naman inakalang totoo pa lang boto si mama kay Lukan. Akala ko noon, biruan lamang ang lahat.

I didn't know how to properly thank my mother for understanding and accepting what I liked. I was beyond grateful knowing that one person from my family supported me into this.

"Ma, thank you," was the only words that came out.

"It's not a big thing, Mia. I will always support you on the things you like even when it seems wrong to some. Masaya ako na may nagugustuhan ka na at gusto ka rin," my mother told me.

"Lukan and I planned on telling the truth. Pareho namin, mom, na gustong matapos itong pagtatago. I like him but if we stay this way, maaaring magsawa na siya't sa huli..."

My mother hushed me.

"Don't think that way, Lukan's love is not as delicate as you think," she said.

"How can you say that with so much sureness?" I asked.

"Because a man loves you if he's patient," my mom answered me.

I stayed silent and finally looked at my mother's eyes.

"Ma, pwede mo ba akong tulungan kay papa sabihin 'to?" I asked her.

She held my hands tightly.

"Oo naman, tutulungan ko kayo. Sasabihin natin 'to sa papa mo sa tamang panahon, nak," she answered.

"Sa ngayon kasi, mataas ang blood pressure niya... to the point na anytime ay p'wede siyang atakihin at mawalan ng malay," she said sadly.

"What? Is he okay now?" I asked as I heard my father's health issue.

Hindi ko alam ang mga ito. Was I too careless?

"He's curing, nak. Lagi ko ngang binabantay iyon at baka masobrahan na naman at mas tumaas pa ang kanyang dugo," mom answered me.

"Ma, ate threatened me to tell the truth to dad after ten days starting last Saturday... and I only have three remaining days," I confessed.

"Hay nako, iyan talagang ate mo. Hayaan mo na 'yon—"

"Ma, she's serious," paninindigan ko.

Mama sighed.

"Fine, kauusapin natin ang papa mo, okay? Sa maayos na paraan," she assured me.

All I did was to nod.

"I will tell Lukan about it. He really wants to talk with dad. Iyon ang lagi niyang sinasabi sa akin tuwing ito ang pinag-uusapan namin," I said.

Mom nodded back and said, "Mas maayos nga kung kasama si Lukan. I'm glad that both of you are holding onto each other."

I pouted and looked away. I somehow gained confidence and bravery knowing that mom supported us. It wouldn't be that hard telling the truth now. All we needed was the right time.

"Pero ma, paano mo ba nalaman?" I suddenly asked.

She smiled widely.

"Lukan told me," she answered.

My jaw dropped. Sinabi ni Lukan?

"K-Kailan pa?" tanong kong muli.

"Mula noong sinimulan ninyo ang pagkikita ng patago, anak," mom answered me with a smiling face.

Lukan really had his own ways. I still couldn't believe he had the courage to tell the truth to my mother habang ako. . . walang araw na nakipagtalo sa sarili upang sabihin ang totoo ngunit sa huli ay hindi masabi-sabi.

Worry consumed me too much to the point I let it block my actions and pull my words from going out. Lukan worried too yet in the end, he said what he needed to say.

He proved me that fear didn't come from anyone or something, it came from you. I let myself fear the truth to avoid getting hurt... without thinking that falsity was way painful.

"Lukan is a brave man, Mia... I just hope he won't go very far," mom said.

That night, I slept with a peace of mind.

"M-Manong, hindi po ba sasabay si Lukan?" tanong ko sa aming driver.

"Hindi raw po, miss. Maaga rin ho siyang pumunta sa esk'welahan," our driver answered.

Ganon? Ano kayang ginawa niya? Wala siyang sinabi sa akin kagabi na hindi siya sasabay o mauuna. I was on the cliff of texting him pero pinigilan ko ang aking sarili. I needed to calm down, really. Texting him won't be the right thing to do now at baka mahuli pa kami nang wala sa oras.

Naabutan ko si Trojan sa gate ng school nang ako'y nakababa

"Oh? Ginagawa mo r'yan?" I asked him.

Inakbayan niya ako at sumagot, "I was waiting for you."

"Ah... nakita mo ba si Lukan?" I asked him while we walked through the campus.

"Yes. He was with Carthage when I saw him. Ewan ko kung na saan na sila," Trojan answered,

Totoo ba 'to o nagbibiro?

"Do you have Lukan's number?" I asked my cousin.

He faced me with a disgusted look.

"What do you think of me? Stupid?" he asked back.

I rolled my eyes, I was just asking!

"I want to text him something. Bawal sa phone ko dahil nat-track," I said.

"Paano kung ma-track din sa akin?" he asked.

"I know you won't let that happen," sabi ko.

Trojan sighed and in the end, he let me text Lukan.

"Magpakilala ka, ha, baka anong isipin no'n," Trojan ordered me.

You with Serin? prncs.

Nang nakapasok kami sa room ni Trojan ay saka dumating ang kanyang reply.

Unregistered number:
Kanina, nag-usap kami para sa designs ng campus this English month.

Oh, kaya pala. I deleted the conversation before giving it back to Trojan.

"Salamat," I told him as I gave his phone back.

"Selos ka lang, e," bulong niya na aking narinig.

"Why would I be jealous?" natatawa kong tanong.

"Because Lukan was once close with Serin," Trojan answered, teasing me.

"Maliit na bagay," I commented.

"Sus! Huwag ka ng magkunwari, selos lang 'yan," ani Trojan.

After class, sina mama't papa ang sumundo sa akin. We ate dinner at a fancy restaurant to bond with each other too. My sister didn't come with us and I didn't know why. It would be much fun if she was here.

"Please, dad? Mommy," I turned at my mother to convince dad to let my birthday be simple this year.

"Why do you want it to be simple anyway?" dad asked.

"Let's save the money for other things. I don't feel to celebrate a big event at the moment," I answered my father.

"We have a lot of money and we don't really need to save," dad hissed with so much sarcasm.

"Please?"

My father had fun as I told him my recent school activities. He was proud of me joining the school's chess team kahit hindi pa naman nagaganap ang mismong competition.

How I wished he would also be this proud and happy when he knew the truth.

Nang nag-Friday ay saka kami nakapag-usap ni Lukan and worst sa uwian pa. Friday, ito na ang last chance ko sa sampung araw na bigay ng aking kapatid.

"So, tita told you that," he said that made me back to reality.

"Oo... why didn't you tell me before?" I asked him.

Lukan sighed.

"Baka kasi magalit ka o mas kabahan sa ginawa ko," he answered.

I swayed my head and smiled at him.

I said, "It relieved me. Masaya akong alam ni mama... and I plan to tell the truth on my birthday."

Lukan shifted on his seat.

"Are you sure?" he asked me.

I nodded.

"You'll be there, right? We'll do it together," I effused.

He continuously nodded.

"I realized that I worried too much and it didn't help me. You were patiently waiting for me and this time, we'll do it," I added.

"Oo, pupunta ako ngunit sabay nina Eros... para hindi ako palayasin bigla ni tito," he answered.

"Okay na kayo... ni Eros?" I asked as I heard his brother's name.

Lukan smiled and responded, "Okay naman talaga kami."

I rolled my eyes because it was always their answer. Maybe, I would never get their language.

Bago siya bumaba ng aming sasakyan, may ibinigay siya sa aking flash drive.

"Okay? So, para saan ito?" tanong ko kay Lukan.

"Just open the file sa mismong birthday mo," he answered instead.

I arched my brows because of confusion. He pinched my nose before he fully went out.

Oh, Lukan, you were so full of surprises.