Chapter 23

CHAPTER XXIII

Two weeks have passed since Kade proposed to me.

We went back to the city the night after the proposal. The issues are not yet over and he promises to fix it as soon as possible.

“I thought everything is now fine.”

“Something went off and I need to fix it. I promise I’ll be with you once everything is over.”

“Pinky promise?”

“Pinky promise.” And we wrapped our pinky fingers to each other.

I am now staying at my parents’ house. They were so worried about me.

“Honey, how are you? Okay ka lang ba?”

“Princess, tell daddy when something is bothering you, okay? I’m willing to listen.”

“Ate, need someone to keep you away from boredom? Just call me, your brother. And I’ll get you out of that boredom world in no time.”

They didn’t let me back into my own house since it’s still a mess and unsafe there.

“Baka may makapasok na masamang loob doon.”

“Oo nga, anak. Listen to daddy.”

I am currently on my way to a psychiatrist recommended by a family friend. My dad drove me there.

There are no paparazzi’s on the way. Seems like they got what they needed or maybe I lose the lime in the limelight.

“Good morning, Ms. De Catalina. How are you today?”

“Good morning, Dr. Cabrera. I’m fine though.”

“Any hallucinations?”

“Well, I have once or twice this week.”

“And what is she doing?”

“Nothing much. She was just staring at me.”

“Okay, any other thought you want to tell?”

“No, thank you.”

It was an hour session then I texted dad that I’m done. He was already at work so he sent our family driver, Mang Carlitos.

“Uuwi na po tayo, ma’am?”

“Yes po,”

Upon arriving home, I changed into my home clothes and went to the kitchen. Mama was there baking.

“Mama, can I help?”

Bumaling ang atensyon niya sa akin.

“Sure, baby. I’ll make a cake for later.”

“Yehey!”

After mama baked some crinkles, I helped a bit in making the cake. I don’t really know that much in baking pero baka mag-start na ako mag-learn for the future. I’ll bake pastries for Kade and our kids.

Nang maluto na ang cake, I let mama apply the icing. I don’t want to ruin the cake.

“Ayaw mong i-try?”

“Next time na lang po. I’ll make aral pa.”

“Okay, sweetie.”

I also help her clean up everything in the kitchen. Pagkatapos, dumiretso ako sa backyard. I sat on a small chair and started gardening. I just got interested in this a week after I got home. I was bored and my brother wasn’t here so I joined mama in her hobby. I knew just a few plants pa lang and I am really careful in planting them. Ako din ang nagdidilig minsan if maaga akong nagigising.

It took me long hours there and I didn’t notice that it was already hapon. I skipped lunch and meryenda.

“Hay naku kang bata ka, saan ka ba nanggaling?”

“Nasa backyard lang po ako, Manang Rosal.”

“Nag-aalala ang mama mo dahil hindi ka daw mahanap.”

“Where is mama po?”

“Nasa living room.”

“Salamat po, Manang Rosal.” I walked towards the living room to see mama almost tearing up.

“Mama!”

Biglang siyang tumakbo papunta sa akin at niyakap ako ng mahigpit.

“Where have you been, ha?” Worry is visible in her face.

“I’m sorry for making you worry, mama. I was just in the backyard.”

“I was just afraid na baka may ginawa ka. I don’t want to lose my eldest, okay?”

“I’ll not kill myself anymore, mama. Dr. Cabrera said na I’m almost on the finish line of my session na daw po. I will not leave you, mama.”

“Promise me, sweetie.”

“Promise po.” Mama hugged me even tighter and I just let her. It’s my fault she’s being frantic when I am not around and I feel very sorry.

After that, mama never left me. She would always want to see me. My dad even put CCTV camera all around the house. He is also quite afraid to lose sight of me.

Wala pa rin akong balita kay Kade.

I wans’t allowed a phone nor any electronic thing. I couldn’t watch T.V, so I spent the spare times reading books. I’ve had a collection for a while. Dad always buys me either 5 or 3 books whenever he gets home.

I don’t easily get bored.

I have a collection of the Twilight, Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings series books in my shelf inside the room.

I had quite the fun reading those things.

Nagsimula na din akong magjournal. I requested my brother to buy some things for me since I was forbidden to go to the mall since that is a place where a lot of people go.

I had a box full of my journal things. It also helps me free thoughts that are stressing me out.

Pagka-gising ko sa umaga, I would meditate and then sit down to write on my journal while sipping some hot chocolate on the balcony.

I had fun though.

I hadn’t seen Kade and whenever I miss him, I would request my brother to play songs of him on the speaker. He was the one controlling it and not me.

Somehow, his voice calms me and makes me feel okay.

“Anak, pupuntang mall si mama. Do you want to request something?”

“An avocado cake, ma. Can you buy me two avocado cakes?”

She gave me a weird look. “Sure, sweetheart. Aidan?”

“Just some chocolate cereals with toy freebies, ma. Thank you!”

“I’ll be back. Your dad will be home in any minute. Stay inside, okay?”

“Yes, mama. Take care. We love you!”

Aidan and I are currently playing snakes and ladders.

“You’re going down, Aidan.”

“Nah. Babawiin ko ang pwesto ko kanina. I’ll make sure I win.”

“Na-uh. Ako ang mananalo.”

“We’ll see.”

“Sure,”

It was full of ups and downs between me and Aidan. No one has ever gotten close to the finish line.

“I’m getting hungry. I’ll just grab some snacks.”

When he came back, he was holding a bowl of cheese-flavored fries.

“Want some?”

Inilapit niya sa akin ang bowl. The second I smelled the cheese, I rushed to the sink and barf.

That was not normal.