AUGUST JAMESON CHAVEZ

CHAPTER 5

Masaya ako sa mga nagdaang araw dahil nakakapunta na ulit ako sa tindahan nila Gus. Sometimes, Kreselle was always there too, but I tried my best to ignore her.

"Ang saya natin, ah," wika ni Trevis habang nasa UP Town Center kami.

Tapos na ang klase at ngayon lang ulit kaming nagkasama na tatlo. Celeste is busy with her own love life, Trevis too and I am too.

I just shrugged my shoulders. "Well, Gus and I are fine now," tugon ko.

He chuckled. "Good to you."

"At dahil masaya ako, libre ko kayo," nakangiti na sabi ko. "let's go shopping and relax!"

Celeste hold my hand. "Come on, let's go! I still have enough money para makapag-shopping."

Umiling ako sa kanya. "Cel, I'll just treat you. Huwag mo nang galawin pa ang pera mo."

Ngumuso siya pero nakangiti. "Okay, but I promise, I'll treat you too someday. Ikaw na lang palagi ang nanlilibre sa'kin."

I flicked her forehead. "Kahit 'wag na," tugon ko. "I know how hard your situation is with your family, so don't. Just treat me na lang pag may trabaho ka na."

Humalakhak siya. "Gaga! Matagal pa 'yon."

"Why? Our friendship is for forever, so just wait," sambit ko. "treat me when you can, I don't mind naman."

She giggled. "Thank you."

"You're always welcome," sabi ko bago tumingin kay Trevis na busy a cellphone niya. "Trev, stop looking at your phone. Halika na."

He put back his cellphone and looked at me. "I can't," sagot niya bago napangiwi. "my Mom has been forcing me to fetch Lauren and work things out with her."

"Then, fetch her," wika ni Celeste. "siguro naman mabait 'yang fiancée mo."

"Siputin mo na kasi 'yang date niyo," dugtong ko naman. "I bet your Mom's right. Hindi ka naman ipagkakatiwala no'n sa kung sinu-sinong babae."

Paano naman kasi, last week niya lang sinabi ang dahilan bakit siya laging wala tapos ayon, engagement na pala sa taong hindi niya kilala. Worst, hindi siya sumipot sa unang date nila ni Lauren last week.

Trevis just sighed. "Do you think we'll get along?" hindi siya sure sa sinabi.

"Work things out nga, eh," bulaslas ko sa kanya. "you should try it first but if nothing happens, then just be honest to Tita and tell them you tried your best."

Ngumiti siya bago inayos ang salamin. Itong gwapo kong kaibigan, wala ibang ginawa kundi ang mag-aral ngayon susubok sa isang relasyon na diretso kasalan agad.

"Chelseah is right," tugon naman ni Celeste. "hindi ka naman siguro ipipilit ni Tita at Tito lalo na kung sinubukan mo naman."

Trevis smiled and went to us to give us a warm hug. "Thank you," he said, softly. "mag-ingat kayong dalawa. Solaire ba kayo?"

"Of course," I proudly said. "mas maganda roon mag-shopping."

He chuckled again. "I forgot that you're Chelseah Bennett," he said with sarcasm.

"Sige na at baka ma-traffic ka pa sa papuntang DLSU," anang ni Celeste. "ingat ka, Trevis and good luck to your first date."

Umiling si Trevis na may ngiti sa labi. "I'll go now. Be careful too."

"Si Mang Juan na lang ang susundo sa'min dito," sabi ko.

Tumango siya. "Okay. Alis na 'ko."

"Go and be nice to your girl."

Natawa lang si Trevis bago umalis. While I grabbed my phone to dial Mang Juan's number. Hindi ko dala ang kotse at mas okay na kung nandito siya dahil sigurado akong marami kaming mabibili ni Celeste.

Nang makarating si Mang Juan ay agad kaming umalis. When we finally get there, I immediately show them my card. And because I'm a Bennett, may tatlong bodyguard kaming kasama papasok sa loob ng Solaire.

"Cel, just get anything you want, I'll pay."

Alam kong nahihiya pa rin si Celeste sa'kin. Ever since we were in High School, ako na ang palaging nanlilibre sa kanya. She's the only person who treated me nicely.

Na kahit na hirap din ang sitwasyon niya sa pamilya, she's very kind and a good friend. I think kaya kami mas naging close dahil parehas kaming may problema sa pamilya. That is why I don't mind having a lot of friends. Silang dalawa lang ang kaibigan ko, aside from Daniel, my friend who's in America right now.

"Here," wika ko nang nakangiti habang kinuha ang isang small Dior caro bag. "bagay 'to sa'yo."

She gasps. "No, Chelseah," anang niya bago umiling ng ilang beses. "damit na lang. 'Wag 'to. Sobrang mahal nito."

Sumimangot ako. "No, I'll give this to you," sambit ko. Hindi pinansin ang ang sinabi niya.

"This is three thousand eight hundred dollars, Chelseah!" nanlaki ang mata niya sa'kin. "worth two hundred thousand in Philippine peso!"

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "So?" I said without unabashed. "Celeste, just accept this. At 'wag mong i-compute sa bansa natin ang presyo. Mura na nga 'to ngayon."

She bit her lip but she can't argue with me. Kahit naman anong sabihin niya, bibilhin ko 'to para sa kanya.

"Celeste, Ilan lang ba ang mga ganitong gamit mo?" sarkasmo na tanong ko. "'yong ibang gamit mo pa, pinaglumaan na ng kapatid mo."

Napanguso siya. "This is too much, Chel."

"You deserve this naman," wika ko sabay ngiti. "para sa date niyo ni Theo, maayos naman ang gamit mo."

She was still pouting her lips but nodded her head. "Thank you. I don't know how to repay all the things you've done to me."

Kinurot ko ang pisngi niya. "Marami ka rin namang magaganda na ginawa sa'kin," wika ko.

After naming bumili sa Dior, we went to Versace and brought some clothes too. We ate dinner in a high end restaurant here in Solaire and before we went home, I also brought us a necklace.

"Mang Juan, kanina Celeste po muna tayo," sambit ko sa family driver namin habang inaayos ng guard ang mga pinamili namin.

"Chel, thank you again," wika ni Celeste nang makarating kami sa bahay nila.

"Wala nga 'yon. And don't repay me okay?"

Natawa siya. "Sabi mo pag may trabaho na 'ko, saka kita lilibre," natawa siya. "kaya thank you na lang muna."

"It's fine. Sige na. Bye, Celeste!"

I wave my hands at her before I hop in inside the car. And while we're on our way home, I can't help but smile. Bukas kasi makikita ko na naman si Gus.

Everytime I think about him, I always find myself smiling. Siguro nga malakas ang tama ko sa kanya. Sa gwapo ba naman ng engineering student na 'yon, sinong hindi gugustuhin ang kagaya niya.

Nang makauwi ay agad akong pumasok sa bahay. I let our maids carry all my shopping bags. Nakapasok ako sa bahay at nakita si Mommy.

My eyes widen. "Mommy!" I exclaimed and ran towards her.

Mahigpit na yakap ang bigay niya sa'kin. Napapikit ako sa sobrang pagka-miss sa kanya. It's been three months since the last time we saw each other. She's been busy managing our company.

"I miss you, my daughter," she said softly and her hug tightened.

"Me too, Mom," tugon ko.

When we pulled away she cupped my cheeks. "Is my daughter okay?" malambing na tanong niya bago ngumisi. "Yaya Lia told me that you're into this engineering student?" nagtaas-baba ang kilay niya sa'kin.

I smile at her. "Well… I like him. He is a good man. Smart and intelligent too."

"What's his name?" tanong pa niya bago ako inaya na umupo sa sofa.

"Gus," sagot ko. "August Jameson Chavez."

"So, tell me? What's the score now?"

"Wala pa po, 'My," tugon ko. "he wants to graduate first bago pumasok sa isang relasyon. He's very focused on his family first. Mahirap ang buhay nila at siya pa panganay kaya naiintindihan ko ang sitwasyon nila."

"Do you like him that much to wait for him until he's ready?"

Nakangiti akong tumango. "Yes, Mommy. This is the first time I've felt this way before. Iba siya sa mga lalaking kilala ko, aside from Trevis… so yes, Mom, I will wait for him."

She smile too and caressed my cheeks. "I'm so proud of you," she said, softly. "you've been a strong and independent woman despite everything happened. Kahit anong sabihin ng mga tao sa'yo, you stay positive."

"Well, mana ako sa'yo, eh," malambing na wika ko bago ngumiwi. "but there's Kreselle."

Nagbago ang ekspresyon mg mukha niya. "May ginawa na naman ba sa'yo ang Constancio na 'yon?"

"Weeks ago," sagot ko. "she is Gus' childhood friend and she says those hurtful words towards me. Malandi raw ako."

Tuluyan na siyang nagalit at nayukom ang kamao. "Ang mga Constancio na 'yon," galit na wika niya. "hindi talaga sila titigil sa paninira sa pamilya natin. Sa susunod na sabihan ka niya nang mga gano'n, tawagan mo 'ko. Lagi na lang ganoon simula noon!"

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. "I'm fine, Mom," marahan na wika ko sa kanya. "hindi ko naman hahayaan na tratuhin at gawan ako ng masama nang mga tao."

"I'm sorry, Anak," malungkot na sambit niya. "hindi mo dapat pagdaanan ang mga ganito. You're too young for this."

"Mommy, I'm your daughter. A Bennett, so they couldn't drag me down."

"As much as I want to spend time with you, I can't. Ako lang ang inaasahan ng kompanya natin and we're still recovering of what you Father did to our company years ago."

"It's fine, 'My," sambit ko. "I understand naman and you always tried your best to be with me when you have time."

"After this, sa'yo ko na lang itutuon ang buong atensyon ko."

Tumango ako. "But, for now, you have to work hard. Kailangan makuha natin ang mga ninakaw ng mga Constancio sa pamilya natin."

She kissed my cheeks. "I promise to you, hindi na sila manggugulong muli sa'tin."

Kahit sobrang daming masakit na nangyari kay Mommy, she didn't gave up. She has taken care of me and our family since she's only child. Mahirap maging single parent especially when she's going through a lot too.

Lumaki ako na palaging siyang nakikitang umiiyak tuwing gabi. My family is so messed up while I'm growing up. Palagi silang nag-aaway at nagsisigawan ni Daddy. Kung minsan nakikita ko pa kung paano siya saktan ni Daddy.

I don't have good memories with my own Father. Lumaki akong takot sa kanya. Sinong hindi matatakot sa isang batang tulad ko, lagi siyang galit sa'kin. At the age of eight, naranasan ko nang masampal ng sariling Ama.

Tears slid from the corner of my eyes when I remembered the past. Again. Mariin kong pinikit ang mga mata at niyakap ang sarili. At tulad ng nangyayari tuwing inaatake ako ng trauma ko dahil sa nakaraan, mahina akong umiyak habang nakatukbong ng kumot.

I felt someone hug me. "Shh… no one's going to hurt you, Anak," I heard my Mom's soft voice trying to calm me down.

I soft sob escaped from my mouth as she hugged me tightly. Marahan ang bawat paghaplos niya sa likod ko. Nakabalot pa rin ako ng kumot. Ayaw makita niyang ganito ako.

"He's not going to hurt you again, Chelseah," bulong ni Mommy. "wala nang mananakit pa sa'yo."