Covered By My Own Umbrella

One Experience is Already Enough

(Indistinct chattering from downstairs)

The loud noise coming from downstairs startled me awake. It seems like there is something going on downstairs, causing me to wake up from my slumber. Thus, I get out of bed and ask Cathy, who is currently getting dressed.

“What's that noise? Tell Gabby to lower his voice, bestie. It's too early for him to wake others up,” I said to Cathy as I put back my sleeping mask.

“Early? Hello, bestie. Have you checked your watch? It's already 12 p.m., and you're still sleeping. I thought we were going to school to pass our research study assignment?” Cathy said this as she jumped on my bed and tried to wake me up.

“Why? What is the date today?” I asked quickly as I removed my sleeping mask from my eyes and stood up from my bed.

“It is April 30 today, why?” Cathy responded, looking at the mirror and choosing from the two outfits she was holding.

“Oh my gosh! I forgot to tell you, bestie, that Professor De Guzman sent me an email yesterday saying that the faculty will be unable to conduct classes from May 1 to May 31 due to a one-month seminar in Leyte,” I said as I took out my laptop from my backpack and searched the mail for her to see.

“Really? Were our classmates already aware of this news?” Cathy asked, covering her mouth to keep from joyfully shouting.

“It is, indeed. That's why we need to go to school today so we can pass our previous assignments and requirements to our professors,” I told her as I held her both hands in mine, beaming.

“That means we can really enjoy this month and spend more time with Jax and Abed,” Cathy exclaimed, jumping and giggling.

“Yes!” I yelled as we both jumped because we were overjoyed.

“But wait,” Cathy said, interrupting our happy moment.

“Why?” I asked as we stopped from jumping.

“So you jumped along with me and giggled because you agreed to spend more time with Jax and Abed this month?” Cathy asked, intending to tease me once more with Jax.

"No, I did not. I just jumped because we get a month off from school activities,” I explained, defending myself.

“Eliah, eliah, eliah, you can't lie to me. Hey, are you starting to like Jax now?” Cathy asked me as she tickled me around my waist.

“No, I am not,” I stated emphatically.

“I don't believe you; there's something in your smile today that makes me think this way,” Cathy said, her eyes fixed on me.

“It's just that we're getting along well, bestie. Besides, we've already patched up what happened to us. He apologized to me, and I forgave him,” I explained sincerely to her.

“Okay, if that's what you said,” she responded.

“So, bestie, which one?” She asked, showing me the two dresses she planned to wear.

“Hmm, I think the lavender one suits you best today,” I said, pointing my finger to the lavender dress I had chosen for her.

“Okay, so I'm going to wear this today,” Cathy said as she went to the mini dressing room in mom's old room, which is now mine for the time being.

“And how about you? Are you going downstairs now?” Cathy asked me again, this time quite loudly, because she is in the mini-dressing room.

“Yes, I'll just eat brunch before we leave,” I said.

While walking downstairs, I happened to notice Jax, who had just come out from his bedroom.

“Good morning, Eliah!” He greeted me.

“Oh, I guess it's already afternoon,” I chuckled.

“Oh, yes, it is. I'm sorry,” he apologized as he glanced at his wristwatch.

“By the way, have you eaten breakfast?” He inquired yet again.

“I haven't. I'm just about to eat,” I replied.

“Nice, I haven't had breakfast yet. May I invite you to join me?” He said.

“No, I don't want to. I prefer to eat alone,” I explained as I was about to walk into the kitchen.

“Oh, really? All right,” he said as he followed me.

“I’m just joking, let’s go!” I turned back my words.

We eat breakfast together and have some chit chat. Jax says something and invites me to go to the mall with him and his family.

Anyway, today, dad, mommy, Amriel, and I are going to the mall. Would you like to join us?” While we are eating breakfast, Jax asks me a question.

“Oh, I'm sorry, I won't be able to come with you. Cathy and I are going to the school today,” I said.

“Oh really? I thought you didn't have classes anymore because this month is already a vacation month,” he asked.

“Yes, but we still have requirements to pass, that’s why we need to go to school today to comply them before we go on a month off,” I explained, drinking the coffee he made for me.

“All right, but you can still come with us if you've already passed your requirements, right? What if I ask Dad to drive you to your school first, then we go to the mall? What do you think?” he asked, making ways for me to come with them.

“Hmmm, no need. Let us just put it this way. I will go to the mall where you are once I have passed my requirements. Is that all right?” I explained.

“Yeah, that's fine,” he said.

“So, just see you later. I gotta go now, because I still need to take a bath and Cathy is waiting for me upstairs. Bye!” As I rose from my seat, I said.

“Thank you for the coffee!” I said as I ran upstairs.

I was so nervous as I walked into my room that I decided to close the door.

“Oh my gosh! Why did he invite me to come with them? He's probably being nice to me because he wants to play a prank on me again,” I thought as I sticked my back on the door.

“Eliah, it's not like that. Have you forgotten about it? Jax has already apologized to you, but you still believe he intends to prank or fool you. Don't think like that. He just invited you to come with them because you're his step cousin and he wants to get along with you while he's still in the Philippines,” Another me reasoned out, whispering.

“I don't want to be fooled again. It has happened to me so many times that I don't want to become accustomed to it. I will only allow myself to be hurt if I let him into my life. I've recovered from my past wounded falls, and am now happily living today. Thus, I can't just let anyone punch me in that kind of snap,” I reasoned silently to myself.

“What? Over-thinker?” Cathy yelled.

“What did you say? I am an over-thinker?” I asked as she startled me by what she just said.

“Huh? It's not you, it's her; I just read in the news that Johnson Bieber and Nathasha Kiz split up because Nathasha is an over-thinker in their relationship. Look,” Cathy said as she walked over to hand me her phone so I could read the article.

As I'm reading the article, Cathy approaches me to explain her views about it.

“So the rumors about Natasha Kiz being an overthinker are all true. Perhaps Johson Bieber got tired of her attitude, which is why she broke up with her. You know what, that is one of the major issues that girls face in their relationships: they tend to overthink things. They tend to brood over issues and anticipate negative outcomes. They are constantly worried about things that may or may not happen in the future, which prevents them from going with the flow in their relationship and becoming the best versions of themselves,” Cathy expressed her opinion, combing her hair.

“If I were to be in a relationship someday, I would not let overthinking kill it, especially if both of us agreed to always find a solution to make our relationship work. I'll try not to be an over-thinker who tends to bottle up emotions by constantly second-guessing about things and suppressing my own feelings,” she explained as she continued to fix herself.

“Oh, I see. But what if Natasha Kiz overthinks and complicates small things because she wants to be ready for anything before anyone hurts her? She doesn't want Johnson Bieber to hurt him, which is why she tried to figure things out ahead of time. Is it wrong for her to be concerned about what might happen in the future so that she can be prepared?” I inquired as a response.

“No one is prepared to be hurt, bestie. Nobody. We will all be hurt because that is a natural part of love. If you don't want to be hurt, don't love or put yourself in a relationship. Remember that you are two imperfect and different human beings who make mistakes that might hurt each other, but that does not mean that you will quit if you’ve been hurt by him. Hurt is a necessary part of love in order for you to grow and learn, and to accept that love, despite differences, conquers all,” Cathy explained as she confronted me.

“Oh, you're right. But it's still difficult not to overthink,” I sighed.

“Hmmm, I think what you said wasn't really about Nathasha Kiz and Justin Bieber splitting up. Is there another problem? She asked me.

“There isn't. I just have a difficult time dealing with overthinking. That's it. But for now, I just need to go to the comfort room and take a shower, so we don't be late. See you later, bestie!” I yelled as I ran into the comfort room.

“O-okay!” Cathy said, perplexed by my actions.

We went straight to our school after I fixed myself to comply with our requirements. After that, Cathy invited me to go shopping with her because she needed to buy a gift for her mother, who works as an Executive Secretary in the United Kingdom.

“Finally, we’ve finished dealing with those requirements. They truly are legends in providing us with so many requirements, but I thank the universe because we are legends in completing those!” Cathy said as we waited for the cars to pass through the pedestrian crossing, feeling satisfied.

“Yeah, by the way, bestie, do you have any other plans today?” I said this as I was about to invite her to the mall to meet Jax, uncle Richard, his mother, and Amriel.

“Yes, I am going to the mall today to buy a present for Mommy. Let's go, come with me,” Cathy said as she turned to face me.

“Hmmm, I have plans as well. I'm going to meet Jax at the mall,” I told Cathy.

“Jax? Don't tell me you two are dating. Are you dating him?” She was taken aback and asked.

“NO! I am not. I'm just going to meet him at the mall because I didn't get the chance to refuse him earlier when he asked me to join him. Oh, I'm gonna tell you now, I'm not meeting him alone. He is with his dad, his mom, and Amriel. Okay?” I said to make it clear that we’re not dating.

“All right, then, let's go!” When the traffic light turned green, Cathy began walking on the pedestrian lane.

“Are you saying you'll accompany me?” "I'm following her," I said.

“Yes, I am. What mall are we going to? Did he tell you?” When he reached the end of the pedestrian lane, she asked as she stopped.

“No, he wasn't. But uncle Richard texted me that they are in the Uptown mall, third floor, in front of the J & M clothing store,” I replied as I stopped as well.

We arrived at the Uptown Mall at 3 p.m. We find the J & M clothing store but do not see them. Until we wandered around the third floor and found him in a Kidzoona Playtime store with Amriel, who was playing inside.

“Eliah, are you done with school?” uncle asked as he paid bills at the store counter.

“We are, uncle. We’re sorry for being so late,” I stated flatly.

“You don't need to apologize because we just finished meeting your aunt Cristina's college friends. Right now, we're just going to leave Amriel here to play for a few hours while we shop and explore the mall. So, let's go?” As he began to speak, he stated.

While we are walking, Jax comes up beside me and begins to annoy me again.

“Hey, what’s up? So you've come to spend more time with me, right?” Jax spoke, trying to lower himself down to be leveled to my height.

“What? No, you were the one who asked me earlier, that is why I came,” I said, not turning to face him.

"Come on Eliah, I know that you've come all the way here because you're craving for my presence. Don't try to deny it. I knew it already," Jax said, boasting.

“Huh? Have you gone completely insane somewhere? Or did you forget to properly screw your brain? 'Coz it doesn't seem to be working,” I said as I elbowed him.

“Ouch!” He reacted after I elbowed him in the waist.

“Jax!” Uncle Richard, who was in front, turned and faced us.

“Yes dad?” He replied.

“Your mom and I are just going to the KM department store to get clothes and souvenirs for your uncles and aunts. Would you mind hanging out with Eliah and Cathy for a while?” uncle Richard asked Jax.

“Sure, dad,” he said immediately.

“All right, so take this. Spend this on whatever you want,” uncle Richard said as he handed Jax some money.

“Eliah, take care of Jax ‘coz he is not familiar with this place,” uncle Richard commanded me.

“OK, uncle,” I said.

As we continued to walk and explore the mall to see what we could find, we came across an ice skating rink on the second floor. Cathy, Jax, and I decided to stand on the glass window and watch the people inside who are having a great time skating.

“Wow, I remember sneaking out of the house with Abed to come here and try ice skating. I was only 13 years old at that time and was eager to try out ice skating after seeing it on television. Even though I had no idea how to ice skate, I gave it a shot because I thought it would be fun and interesting. Until I tried it and got bruised. So, when I returned home, my mom noticed the bruises and became mad for the first time to me. At that moment, I proved to myself that my mom loves me because she doesn't want me to be hurt,” I recalled.

“Why? There is nothing unusual about your memory; mothers are expected to behave in that manner when their child is hurt. It comes naturally to them,” Jax explained.

“No, you don't know my mom. My mom is different, and she loves me differently than she loves my siblings,” I explained as I motioned Cathy for us to leave at the ice skating rink.

“Oh, I see?” Jax inquired, looking so curious.

“But wait, I want to ice skate,” he said abruptly.

“All right, go ahead. We're just going to leave you there and come back after we buy some skin care products from that drugstore,” I said, pointing to the drugstore.

“No, you're not going to leave me here because you two are going to ice skate with me as well,” he said as he drew me to the rink's counter.

“No, did you hear what I said earlier? I don't know how to skate, and I don't want to get bruised again. One bad experience is already too much for me,” I declared boldly.

“Yeah, I know, but I would teach you. Before, you got bruised because you didn't know how to do it and didn't have anyone to teach you. So I'm going to teach you today. Let's go!” Jax said as he ordered three ice skating rink tickets from the counter staff.

“No, I don't want to. I can’t trust my life with you. You might just make fun of me or harm me,” I refused.

“No, I’m not. I can’t do that to you. Let’s go!” He said as he walked towards the ice skating rink’s entrance.