Everything With You

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"How old are you, Avery?"

I paused from putting foods on my plate when I heard someone ask that to me from behind. I was busy getting some shanghai to peacefully eat at the corner when Tita Maurice went to me. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko bago nagpakawala ng ngiti sabay talikod upang harapin ang ginang.

"Hi, Tita! I'm 26 po," I answered.

"Oh God you are 26? And you are still unmarried? No boyfriend even?" She continued.

Sabi na nga ba dito na naman mapupunta ang usapan.

I left the smile I plastered on my face. "Naku, 26 is still young Tita. And I'm not really in a hurry to get a boyfriend and marry. I'm still enjoying myself being free,"

"But still! Paano kung hindi ka na magka-anak? Paano kung tumanda ka na lang mag-isa? Who will take care of you?" She continued to ask. Hindi ko mapigilang mapalunok dahil sa magkakasunod na tanong ni Tita Maurice. To be frank, her questions we're a bit disappointing. I mean, she shouldn't care about those things because this is MY life, not her's. I would be the one to decide whether I would like to find a boyfriend, to get married, or to have a family of my own, not her at all.

But since I was looked up as a good daughter and nice woman, I couldn't be frank to her. It'll make my parents furious and will get out family at the center of gossips.

Due to that, I just smiled at Tita Maurice. "I don't know what life will bring me so I'll just go with the flow, Tita. If heaven forbids me from love, then so be it. For now, I don't want to rush things and be miserable for every wrong life decisions I would make. I'll let time decide for me," I answered using a low yet hard tone which made her left brow curled. I said I won't be frank to her, but I never said that I'll let her get away from trying to humiliate me with that. I know how to play with words, and I know how to win without being savage and disrespectful. "Do you want some Shanghai, Tita Maurice?" I follow-up to get rid of the building tension between us, and I thought Tita Maurice will let it slide too, but I was wrong.

"If you' ll let time decide for your life, then be ready in being alone forever. My daughters are already married and has two kids, while you? You're still here, single and crashing alone a party. Are you happy with it? Oh, its a shame. Maybe the real reason why you can't even get yourself a boyfriend is because your beauty isn't that eye-seeking. Just an advice Avery, if you won't move, you won't get a good life or a good fortune." She said using a very intimidating voice and just turned her back on me so disrespectfully. I felt the building rage inside my heart heated up, and I want to get back at her. I want to answer her, I want to burn her with words, but I forced myself to not to.

Kung bastos sya, pwes ako hindi.

I closed my eyes for a moment and took several heavy breaths before continuing to get food for me. After that, I decided to eat at the garden located at the back of the event hall. Oh, I forgot to tell that I am attending a debut party of my cousin, Serena. I didn't gate crashed, I was totally invited!

I sit down on a bench and started picking the Shanghai and eat it while looking at the moon. Its a waning crescent and it looks real beautiful, with some start surrounding it. The delicious crisp of the food I am eating is the only sound I could hear from where I am, when suddenly, a memory of someone totally gate-crashed on my mind.

I once again thought of him. Its been 5 years.

"Kamusta na kaya sya?" I whispered asking myself. "Is he happy? Naaalala nya pa kaya ako? O, gusto nya pa rin kaya akong maalala after what I did to him?" Siguro hindi na. Siguro masaya na sya kapiling ang taong mahal nya, just like what I wished for him to have. Siguro malaya na sya sa ala-ala naming dalawa, habang ako...nananatiling nakakulong. Hindi makalabas, hindi makatakas dahil ayoko...ayoko siyang kalimutan.

"If we see each other again, I hope I already have the courage to talk to you. I hope you'' still face me, without anger or remorse," I spoke, then a tear fell from my eyes. "And if possible, I hope we'll have another chance together." I continued followed by my consecutive sobbing. Muli, naramdaman ko na naman ang bigat. Hindi iyon mawala-wala sa isip ko. Hanggang ngayon, pinagsisisihan ko lahat.

That's the reason why I said that I don't like to make rush decisions, because when I did once, It pained me for so long...until now. The pain do not disappear, it just gets buried, then when it resurfaces, the pain doubled and so hard to control.

I made a mistake, and I hope I could do something to correct that.

"I am hoping that I can still meet you again, and correct my wrongs, love." I whispered before looking at moon. "I hope that our path's cross again, Rencis. I hope you'll give me a chance, and a chance to continue the love that I mistakenly ended before. I still love you, endlessly and severely." I added before biting my lower lip and starts wiping the tears away.