Somewhere Between Friends

3rd Stop

"Mom, I don't know what is wrong with Cameron.  Parang lagi akong may nagagawang mali sa kanya at hindi niya ako pinapansin,"  natawa si Mommy na nasa kabilang linya.

"Anak, hindi ka pa nasanay diyan sa kaibigan mo. Alam mo naman iyan, supladita talaga but you also know how sweet that girl is.  Approach her.  Ikaw naman ang lalaki.  O baka naman kinukulit mo pa rin katulad ng dati?"  napakamot ako ng ulo.  Iyon naman kasi talaga ang ginagawa ko.  "Am I right?"

"Hindi naman po masyado, Mommy.  Konti lang," I heard her laughter again.  "I miss you, Mom.  When are you coming back?"

"You know the situation, Mason.  Until now......your Dad and I are still not on good terms.  We hardly see each other though we are living in the same house. Masyadong busy ang Daddy mo sa trabaho, ganoon din ako.  You know that I am still adjusting to my new job."

"But Mom, if that is the case between the two of you, just come back in here instead,"  I heard her sigh.  I really miss my mother.  She's trying to win my father back no matter what.  Gusto niyang mabuo ang pamilya namin lalo na para kay Alexa.

"I will, in due time.....with your father.  I will come back to our house with him,"  she's really hopeful.  "Oh well, I should be going now Maze.  Take care Kuya.  I love you. Give my love and kisses to Alexa.  I will call her later."

"I love you too, Mom.  And sure.  I will tell the rascal,"  I took my books from the shelves and started reading after she cuts the line.  Hindi ko kasi ugali na magdala ng libro sa school.  I'd rather read in the house than to take my heavy books at school.  

"Kuya,"  I raised my head and smiled.  It's Alexa.

"Come here, Rascal,"  she's grinning and ran to me.  "What do you need,"  I kissed her head.  

She laid her book on my study table.  "I perfect my assignment, Kuya.  I am the one who answered all of these last night, remember?"  I nod.  "See?  I can do well at school like you."

Ginulo ko ang buhok niya at muli siyang hinalikan sa ulo.  "Of course, Rascal.  You can and you can do better than your Kuya.  Just study and enjoy school because that is important.  And make friends as well.  Teka, meron ka na bang mga kaibigan?"  She nods and smiles.  "Make more, okay.  Believe me, Alex, you will enjoy your life."

"Opo.  But Kuya, Mommy hasn't called me yet.  Did she call you?"  I nod.  She frowns and pouted.  "Then why she didn't talk to me?"

"She said she will call you later.  Mukhang busy si Mommy, eh. But she said to give you this,"  I kissed her cheeks.  "And that she loves you."

"I love her too.  But when she will come back?  Tska, nakita na po ba niya si Daddy?"  tinitigan ko siya and she's waiting for an answer.  "Kailan ko siya makikita, Kuya?"

I hold her hands and smiled.  "You will meet him soon, Rascal.  But if you will ask me when, that, I cannot answer."

"Oh well.  I really have to wait for that but I know, it will happen soon,"  she took her book and gave me a kiss.  "I will go to my room and sleep or can I sleep here with you?"

"Sure. Tell Lola that you will sleep in here tonight.  We are going to church tomorrow so you better wake up early.  Clean yourself first then come back.  Maybe by then, I am done studying," and she happily left the room.

 "Do I really need to write in these notebooks?"  this is what I hate most.  Writing.  Hindi ako sanay na nagsusulat sa notebooks.  Pinapabayaan lang naman ako ng mga teachers ko before as long as I am coming to school and can answer their questions.  Pero ngayon, wala akong magagawa dahil required akong gawin iyon.

~~Cameron's POV~~

"Cam,"  I looked at my Mom who's standing at the entrance of my room.  She's holding a tray with a glass of milk and some cookies.  "Midnight snack, Honey."

"Thanks, Mom,"  I returned my eyes on the book that I am holding but she took it from me.

"Eat first, Baby then read again.  Lalamig ang gatas na inihanda ko sa iyo,"  she smiled when I rolled my eyes.  "Take this,"  inabot pa talaga sa akin ang baso kaya napilitan akong kunin iyon.  "Ikaw bata ka, kung hindi pa kita babantayan, hindi ka kakain.  Do you think that is good, young lady?"  she raised her brows.  "You are not going to skip your meals just because you want to study.   Ilang beses ka na daw nahuli ni Manang at hindi ako natutuwa, Cameron."

I sipped the warm milk.  I grew up with my parent's strange setup.  They are living together in a strange way.  How strange?  Well, they are sleeping together but they are not sleeping in the same room.  Magulo, yes, it is. Sabi nila, they want me to have a complete family kaya magkasama sila sa iisang bahay which I think is stupid.  Si Daddy, he will date whoever he wants to date while my Mom is waiting for him patiently in this house like a loving wife which is absurd.  I just don't want to voice it out. Pinapabayan ko na lang sila. Bata ako, matanda sila kaya they know better what they are doing.  

"Are you listening, Cameron Marie?"  I just nod.  "Nga pala, how was school?  You and Mason?  I hope you are getting along with him."

"He's annoying, Mom.  Sabihin ba naman sa school na mahal niya ako and I am his Princess,"  hindi ko na itinago ang inis ko lalo na nang tumawa siya.  "It's not funny, Mom."

"It is, actually,"  hindi mawala wala ang ngiti niya. Mas nagmana yata ako sa Daddy ko.  Hindi ko namana ang pagiging masayahin ni Mommy.  "Hindi ka ba natutuwang ganoon ang treatment sa iyo ni Mason?  Isn't it sweet?"

"MOM!"  again, she laughed.  "Nakakainis kaya iyon."

"You know that I want Mason for you, Cam and as of this early, I am telling you that I am really rooting for him to be your boyfriend......pero mas maganda kung magiging husband mo siya,"  hindi ko na maiwasang matawa ng kiligin siya.  "Kaya huwag mo namang masyadong sinusupladahan si Mason."

"I will not kung hindi siya masyadong papansin.  Alam mo yun, Mom.  Feeling niya, he's a celebrity and everybody likes him....."

"Which is true,"  napasimangot ako.  Hindi ko alam na pati si Mommy, fan din ni Mason.  "He is one at pwedeng maging matinee idol if he wants. At ikaw ang magiging leading lady niya."

"Mommy........" pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. "Stop it, will you?"

She took the empty glass from my hand.  "Okay, I will but promise me, hindi mo na susupladahan ang aking son in law, okay?"  inabutan niya ako ng cookies pero nang umiling ako, isinubo niya iyon.  "I will keep these cookies in here.  Kapag nagutom ka, just eat."

"Dad will be home when?" natigilan siya at pilit na lumingon sa akin.  I knew it.  She doesn't know the answer.  Tumayo ako at hinalikan siya sa pisngi.  "Don't bother to answer me, Mom.  Hhhmmm.....why don't we sleep together tonight?"

She sighs and smiled.  "Thank you for the offer, Cam.  But I know that you are studying.  Ayoko namang......" sumimangot ako dahil sa pagtanggi niya na ikinatawa naman niya.  "Okay. Okay.  I will sleep in here.  Keep your books on the table and get ready to sleep.  I will be back in a minute."

"Thanks, Mommy!"  mabilis kong iniligpit ang mga gamit ko.  I missed sleeping with my Mom.  I love the way she cuddles me.  

"Cam, dadaanan daw tayo bukas ng Lola mo.  We are going somewhere,"  ang somewhere na sinasabi ni Mommy is in the shopping mall for sure.  My grandparents are doing everything to please me since I am their only grandchild.  I am surrounded by people who love me but still, as a child, something is still missing.....