Where The Magnolias Bloom [ONGOING]

Chapter 5

Refuse

I fidgeted with my fingers as I wait for the bus to arrive. Masakit ang paa ko kakalakad kanina. Mabuti na lang at natapos na rin ang screening. I can finally stretch out my back on the bed.

I got in. But it was never easy.

I almost got humiliated. I think.

"Hmm...another mestiza. Hi, Miss Tatlonghari. By the way, you look really pretty up close." Puri saakin ng isang panelist. I know her, I think she's a faculty from the College of Engineering. Nakausap ko na sya dati, hindi ko lang matandaan kung kailan. I smiled.

"Thank you po,"

I looked my friends and gently waved.

"Okay, following the question of Mr. Peterson, this is still about love," aniya.

"Ma'am wala pa po akong karanasan about d'yan." Dugtong na sagot ko. Halos malaglag naman sa upuan si Marie nang diretso akong sumagot sa panel. Halos sapuin ko na ang ulo ko. Everyone found it funny so they laughed.

"MAGGIE! AYUSIN MO MALAKI IPINUSTA KO SAYO!" Sigaw pa nya. Pumikit ako ng mariin. God.

The woman who asked chuckled. "Alright, I see. So, Miss Tatlonghari. Here's your question. Would you love someone who has a lot of trauma in the past?"

Natigilan ako sa tanong na 'yon. Nangangapa ng sagot. I cursed multiple times in my mind. Magmamahal nga ba ako ng taong maraming trauma sa nakaraan?

"I-I..uhmm..." I stuttered. I can't even focus my eyes. I would take glimpses to the other representatives. Nagtagal ang mga mata ko kay Grover na malaki ang ngisi. Tinanggak ko rin naman 'yon.

"Relax. Take your time Miss Tatlonghari."

Saan ko ba ito irerelate? I have no experiences about this.

"For me, I would." I finally decided.

"When you are loving enough, you could fill the void that a person's trauma caused. I reckon that I am loving enough. I grew up, loved," saad ko.

"Loving isn't really about loving the person's positive points, parte rin ng pagmamahal ang pagtanggap sa kakulangan at insecurities ng isang tao. She might be broken, yes. But for a loving man's eyes, she's beautiful. Broken but beautiful. Lahat naman tayo may doubts, e. That's normal. But...doing what's right as a proof that you could be better, can eventually replace the trauma with something good and you would be a new experience for that person."

I almost didn't know what I was saying, ngunit sa huli ay nairaos ko rin ang idea na nais kong ipahiwatig. Even before I finished, I heard claps from the people from my department and after I did, more claps were added by the rest of the students. I smiled warmly.

"Thank you," I said. My heart jammed for a few seconds as I turn to go back to my seat, a pair of orb lingered all over me. They weren't amazed of what I've just said. They remained calm and not bothered. I swallowed hard.

Tatlong hakbang pa lamang ang nagagawa ko nang kamuntikan na akong madapa. Everyone screamed when I suddenly bended my knees. Halos mahulog ang bibig ko sa gulat.

"Hah... I'm okay! I'm fine. I'm fine," paniniguro ko. I stood straight and walkes as if I didn't almost kissed the freaking floor. I saw Russel almost standing, ready to rush to me. I kinda saw the same for Grover but maybe it was just my imagination. Bakit naman sya tatayo para saakin? Duh.

"OKAY LANG YAN MAGGIE! SUBUKAN N'YONG TUMAWA SUSUNGALIN KO KAYO NITONG T-SQUARE!" Sigaw ni Marie at hinablot ang T-square mula sa bag ng kakilalang Architecture. Loko'ng babaeng 'to.