Chapter Theme: Miss you like hell - Nightly

"Bye Sweetie!" Mom smiled and waved goodbye as she drove off.

 I waved back with the biggest smile on my face as I stood by the sidewalk. I felt like a little kid being dropped off at school again, only Mom wasn't with Dad anymore unlike before. Still, my chest felt so light.

I heaved a deep sigh, the smile still on my face. Who knew having her around would make me feel so good. The only setback was that I wasn't in touch with Dad and I was still guilty over Grandpa not knowing anything. Still, Mom's presence was enough to temporarily make it go away.

The entire day, I felt warm and light on the inside. I never had the urge to slap or punch anyone, instead I wanted to smile and high five everyone—which I never did of course. That would've been crazy.

I listened to class diligently and even got to share my insights through class recitations. Silver wasn't kidding, doing good in class felt so fulfilling. It was tiring but very rewarding. 

When the bell rang, I grabbed my things and ran out the room like an excited little kid. I went straight to our campus mini-park and as expected, I found Slade sitting in one of the benches. 

"Hey!" Naupo agad ako sa tabi niya.

"Ilang minuto bago ang next class mo?" Pabiro siyang bumusangot.

"5 minutes." Bumusangot din ako pabalik. "Mag seat-in ka na lang kasi sa klase namin." Pamimilit ko pa.

"Rei, hindi ka makaka-focus dahil sa akin." He smirked cockily so I jokingly punched him in the stomach.

Ever since I moved out of their house, lagi nang pumupunta si Slade sa University para tumambay. Umaarte man siya, ni minsan naman hindi siya nagreklamo kahit pa palagi siyang naiiwang mag-isa sa mini-park habang may pasok ako. 

It wasn't long until I had to go my next class, leaving him alone again.

Laging ganoon. Pagkatapos ng bawat klase, dinadaanan ko lagi si Slade sa mini-park na malapit lang din naman sa building namin. 'Yon nga lang, kinakailangan kong umalis agad.

Nang matapos na naman ang klase ko, bumalik agad ako sa park pero nagtaka ako nang makitang hindi na siya nag-iisa. 

Standing right in front of Slade were two giggling female species. Halatang kilig na kilig ang dalawa habang kausap si Slade. Kung alam lang nila ang baho ng demonyo. I observed their body language and by the looks of it, they seemed to be curious about Slade's injury dahil panay ang turo nila sa cast nito.

I heaved a deep sigh. Kahit papaano nasanay na rin ako sa mga fans niya. Wala rin naman akong karapatan para mainis. If I'd meet the members of my favorite band, I would freak out and fangirl too. 

All of a sudden, Slade turned to my direction. He smiled and waved the moment our eyes met. Agad siyang nagpaalam sa mga babae at tumakbo patungo sa akin. Halatang nagulat ang mga babae sa pag-alis niya kaya napalingon ang mga ito sa direksyon ko. Nanlaki ang mga mata nila at agad na nag-alisan. Natakot ata sa akin kahit wala naman akong ginagawa.

"Looks like they kept you company." I smirked.

"Looks like someone's jealous?" Slade grinned as his eyes danced in mischief. He bowed his head a little to level mine.

I smirked and shook my head. "Nope, boys talk to me as well."

Slade's face hardened as he looked at me flatly. "You really don't want to lose huh?"

Natawa ako sa reaksyon niya at hinila na lang siya patungo sa isa sa mga upuan. Binitiwan ko siya nang maupo na kami pero hinila niya ulit ang kamay ko at hinawakan ito. Tumagilid siya ng upo at hinilig ang ulo sa upuan para humarap sa akin. Tumagilid din ako sa pagkakaupo upang magkaharap kami.

"Ilang minuto pa?" Pabiro siyang bumusangot.

"1 hour break." It was my turn to grin.

"Hell yeah." He beamed.

Habang nagbabasa ako ng libro, ginawa namang unan ni Slade ang hita ko. Sa huli, hindi ko pa rin naintindihan ang binabasa ko dahil panay ang pag-uusap namin ni Slade. Lagi kaming magkausap sa cellphone pero hindi pa rin talaga kami nauubusan ng mapag-uusapan.

"Akala talaga nila makakabalilk pa ako sa Wave Syndicate." Humalakhak si Slade. "Panay sabi sa akin na get well soon eh kahit pitik ng daliri di ko nga magawa." Pabiro niyang sambit.

"Well, look at your left hand. Noon parang imposible pero kita mo naman, nakakapagsulat ka na ngayon gamit 'yan." Paalala ko naman. Hinding-hindi ako mapapagod sa pagpapaalala sa kanya sa mga posible at kaya niyang gawin kasi naniniwala ako sa kanya. 

"Nga pala, nag-sorry ka na ba sa Mommy mo?" Tanong niya.

"Para saan?" Tanong ko naman.

"Ikaw na mismo nagsabi, you said some pretty mean stuff to her when she took you back a few weeks ago. Guilty ka pa nga na pinaiyak mo siya diba?" Paalala niya kaya agad akong ngumiwi.

I suddenly regret confiding to Slade about everything. Lakas mang guilt-trip. Daig pa ang konsensya ko. 

"Kumukuha lang ng tyempo. Besides, I'm being good to her now. We're civil and taking things slowly." Giit ko. "Ikaw, have you patched things up with your folks?" Pabiro ko namang tanong pabalik.

"About that." Biglang bumangon si Slade at humarap sa akin. Inalalayan ko pa siya dahil sa injury niya. 

"Bakit?" I chuckled lightly as I closed and put down my book.

"I'm planning to go home and make amends with my parents." He sounded hesitant.

"Mabuti naman! It's about time, Slade." I couldn't help but feel happy for him. "But what's with the face? Kinakabahan ka?"

"That and I'm going to have to leave Filimon Heights for about a month." Aniya pa kaya naiwang bahagyang nakaawang ang bibig ko. Sa kabila nito, tumango pa rin ako at ngumiti.

"Dude, 1 month lang naman pala. Mabilis lang yan!" Komento ko pa.

****

2 months later, Slade still hasn't returned.

Sa loob ng dalawang buwan, sobrang daming nangyari at sobrang daming nagbago. 

Gramps found out about Mom's return to Filimon Heights. Umuwi agad ito at nagulat siya nang makitang nasa iisang bahay kami nakatira. Noong una natakot ako dahil akala ko galit siya sa akin dahil hindi ko sinabi ang tungkol kay Mommy pero hindi naman pala siya galit. Gramps still treated me the same. He even assured me that whatever happens, I can always run to him for comfort or any kind of help. Kung anong bilis umuwi ni Gramps, ganoong bilis din niya umalis. 

Unfortunately, I still didn't have the courage to tell Gramps about Dad. Even Mom, hindi rin niya sinabi kay Lolo ang tungkol sa pagbabalik ni Daddy sa buhay ko. Maybe it was because we both knew how much Gramps loathed Dad.

My relationship with Mom improved a lot lalo na't lagi kaming magkasama. Akala ko noong una magta-trabaho si Mommy sa company ng parents ni Magno pero hindi siya tumuloy. She became a stay-at-home Mom and because of that, we grew even closer.

Silver was basically living with Mom and I. Minsan na lang kung umuwi sa kanila ang elemento lalo't mag-isa na lang siya. 

Dad still hasn't returned to Filimon Heights pero sa kabila nito nagagawa na naming makapag-usap sa telepono. I wanted to see him again but I didn't really have the courage to ask. 

And Slade.... well our communication never stopped, iyon nga lang naging madalang ang pag-uusap namin dahil busy daw siya. 

Slade kept saying he missed me but it didn't really felt like he missed me... because when you really miss someone, you do something about it.

▬ end of 48// thank u ▬