Back To His Arms (Del Fuego Series #1)

Ang sabi nila masarap magkaroon ng kaibigan. May taong gagabay sa'yo, may taong magpapasaya at may taong magmamahal sa'yo. Having a best friend is great because there's someone who can understand you. Hindi ka iiwan sa lahat at lalong hindi ka papabayaan. Having a best friend means having someone who'll stay with you all the time. Despite your imperfections and flaws, that person will stay no matter what. Kahit maguho man ang mundo, hindi ka niya iiwan. I once had a best friend too. My one and only best friend. My childhood friend. We grew together. We grew up being with each other throughout the years. We grew up having each other through ups and down. Magkaroon man ng problema, sa kasiyahan at lungkot ng buhay namin, hindi namin iniwan ang isa't-isa. My childhood friend who stayed with me. Hindi ako iniwan. Hindi pinaramdam sa'kin na hindi ako nag-iisa sa mundo kahit na feeling ko lahat ng tao sa paligid ko'y mababa ang tingin sa'kin. My best friend who loved me despite my flaws. Nag-iisang tao minahal, nirespeto, at inalagaan ako. I once had a best friend… "Si Dash may girlfriend na?" Rinig kong tanong ni Belle. Kausap niya ang ibang pinsan ko habang nasa court ng subdivision namin. I stopped for a moment and looked at my cousins whose busy talking to each other. Nakatalikod sila sa'kin dahil sa exit ako pumasok kaya hindi nila ako napansin agad. "Jamie ang pangalan," Tugon naman ni Ate Nezy. "Don't ever mention it in front of Annalise," Suway naman ni Elle. "Maging sensitive tayo sa pinsan natin." "We know," Anang ni Aurelia. "of course, kakampi pa rin naman tayo ni Annalise. We don't want her to get hurt again." A small smile crept on my lips and continued walking towards them. When they noticed my presence, they all smiled. "Pagod sa mall shows niyo?" Tanong ni Ate Seline nang tumabi ako sa kanya. Tumango ako. "Kind of, but I had fun. I've got to see my fans." "Ate Annalise, kailan ang labas ng new album ng Sparkles? Need ko bumili agad ng album niyo," nakangiti na wika naman ni Felly. "Probably next month? We'll start shooting the music video next week." "Just tell us when and where is the fan signing event so we can all go," anang naman ni Elle. "I can clear my schedule." "Yes, Elle. I'll tell you pag nalaman ko na." "Hoping for more lines sa'yo, Ate! Maganda ang boses mo kaya sana mabigyan ka ng lines na marami. It will look unfair again if you still have a few lines." "Dahlia has a better voice than me. Kaya okay lang naman kung kaunti ang lines ko." Sumimangot si Felly. "Dahlia is the main vocalist kaya dapat lang na angat siya, pero maganda rin naman ang boses mo. Mas maganda kesa kanila Nicole at Cassy." Natawa ako sa pinsan ko. Ever since we were young, suportado naman talaga ng lahat ng pinsan ko sa lahat ng gusto ng isa't-isa. Malaki ang pamilya namin kaya marami kaming magpipinsan, pero mararamdaman mo ang pagmamahal ng isa't-isa. I know that they will support me despite na kaunti lang ang lines ko sa grupo. Isa akong member ng Sparkles, grupo na sumuusbong ngayon sa bansa. People called me untalented. That I only had my face to support my group. Na kaya lang ako na debut dahil sa mukha ko, aside from that, wala na raw akong talento. Kailangan ng Sparkles na may aangat hindi lang sa pagsayaw at pagkanta, kundi dapat ay sa mukha rin. Sad to say, ako lang talaga ang mukha ng Sparkles kahit na wala akong masyadong lines sa mga kanta namin. Aminado naman ako. I don't have a talent. Actually, hindi ko alam bakit ko pinili na maging singer at pumasok sa showbiz. I thought being a singer would makes me happy but now I realized I wasn't happy at all. Bata pa lang ako, hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko sa buhay ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong propose ko sa mundong 'to. Kaya bata pa lang ako'y naiinggit na ako sa mga pinsan kong babae. Kasi sila, alam na nila ang mga pangarap nila sa buhay. Felly is a nurse while Ate Nezy, Elle, and Ate Seline managed our family business now, while Ate Selise, Belle and Aurelia are making their own names too. Ako? Hindi ko alam kung masaya ba ako sa magiging singer ko. O ginagawa ko lang 'to dahil kailangan ko ng pansin. Kailangan kong mapansin ako ng mga tao sa paligid ko. Malungkot akong napangiti nang makita si Dash na kasama si Jaime papasok ng court. Suot niya ang jersey niya habang si Jaime ay naka-trouser at white tops. May kulot sa dulo ang mahaba at makintab niyang buhay. "Are you okay?" I looked at Ate Selise. She has this worry look on her blue eyes. Maikli lang akong ngumiti. "I'm fine, Ate…" maikling sagot ko. Nang huminto sila Dash at Jaime sa bleachers kung nasaan kaming mga babae ay nadapo ang tingin niya sa'kin. Pero saglit lang 'yon bago muling tumingin kay Jaime. "Upo ka rito," he said softly to Jaime and Jaime obeyed him. Jaime waved her hands and greeted my cousin too. "Hello, guys! Manonood din pala kayo ng laro?" "Oo… lagi naman kaming nanonood ng laro nila. It became our hobby now since we are all living in one subdivision," simpleng tugon ni Ate Nezy. "Great!" Jaime giggled. "Dash told me how close his family to the Del Fuego's. Ang sarap siguro ng ganoon, 'no?" Aurelia chuckled. "Yeah… masaya nga pero minsan nagkakagulo rin kami sa sobrang dami namin." Humalakhak ang iba sa sinabi ni Aurelia. Jaime let out a soft laugh and continued talking to my cousins. "Actually, I envied you guys because you had a big neighborhood. Tapos lahat pa kayo rito ay magkakakilala at magkaibigan. It's so nice having that kind of neighborhood." Napunta ang atensyon sa kanya ng mga pinsan ko lalo na noong dumating ang iba. They kept talking to her like she's a very special and important person inside this court. And just like that, I feel so small again in front of them. This is not the first time I've felt this way. Ever since I was growing up, nakatatak na 'yon sa puso at isip ko. I know they love me and I love them too, but sometimes I feel like I don't belong in this family. I will never be like my cousins. Iba ako sa kanila, sabi ng iba. People called me the outsider in our family. They don't like me and my presence at all. Mas gusto nila ang mga pinsan kong babae kesa sa'kin. I don't know what did I do to those people who kept judging me growing up. But I guess they're right. Isa lang akong sampid sa pamilya namin. Hindi ako nababagay na maging Del Fuego. Mapait akong napangiti. Slowly, I stood up, without them noticing my presence. I left the court, silently, with tears in my eyes. Mabigat ang pakiramdam at nanliliit ang tingin sa sarili. I once had a best friend. A lover and a protector, but I lost him. Now, seeing him happy with his new girlfriend makes me happy somehow even when it hurts. Dahil alam kong mas masasaya siya kay Jaime kesa sa'kin. Pabigat lang ako sa kanya at hihilahin ko lang siya pababa. I don't deserve his love because I'm a mess and I don't even know how to fix myself.