Novel & Cerita A Shoulder To Cry On

“Hmm… anak, hindi ko pa ulit siya nakakausap simula noong kinuha kita. Pero siguro naman ay maayos siya roon. Nandoon naman si Sarah, pati ang asawa at kapatid mo, hindi ba?” Ngunit lalo lamang nalungkot si Bridgette. Bumalik sa kanyang alaala ang masasakit na araw sa piling ni Rico—ang mga sigaw, ang pananakit, pati na rin ang mga pagkakataong si Grace mismo ang sinasaktan. Hindi na niya napigilan ang pagtulo ng kanyang mga luha. Agad iyong napansin ni Wilfred. “Nak, ayos ka lang ba? May nasabi ba akong mali? Sige lang, sabihin mo sa akin. Nandito si Tatay, makikinig ako.”

[WARNING: THIS CHAPTER IS RATED SPG] Nadatnan ako ni Adrian sa labas ng CR na parang batang umiiyak na nakaupo sa sahig habang yakap-yakap ang dalawa kong tuhod. Adrian hugged me tight, and he just let me cry while I lean on his shoulder. My cry turned to whimpers and my sobs echoed the hallway, Adrian's warm hug gives me temporary comfort. It took almost an hour before my tears started to dry and my eyes could no longer cry.

Nakakabaliw ng sobra. "Go on, cry out loud. Madadrive lang ako at pwede kang umiyak dito. You can tell me whatever you want. You can use me to ease that feeling. I can be your crying shoulder, Poena." Nagsusumamong sabi niya habang nakatitig sa daan at binalingan ako saglit ng tingin. This tears keep on haunting me. I am here again in my painful agonies and fatal feelings in a deepest ocean of melancholy.

“Ow! Why are you crying, Boss?” Napadako naman ang aking tingin sa kapapasok lang na aking kaibigan –si Exael. At bigla naman akong napahawak sa aking pisngi, damn! May tumulong luha nga rito, kaya agad ko itong pinunasan gamit ang aking palad at muling tinignan si Exael na nakalapit na pala sa aking harapan.

Yes, these are my demons, but I don’t have to battle them with my bare hands. Having Aquilono. Having a shoulder to cry on, a body to lean on, a soul in support of me does not make me weak. Reaching out to him, talking to him, letting him into my life, even at my lowest moments is not pathetic; it’s strong. "Baby, I want you to let me be here..." He said. "I want you to stop thinking that you have to carry all this heaviness on your two shoulders. I want you to stop believing that asking for help means you’re feeble. I want you to realize that there are people who care so deeply about you, and who will go to battle for you, without hesitation."

Pilit kong inaalo ang sarili ko, dahil wala namang gagawa no'n kun'di ako lang. Lagi akong nariyan para sa kanila, pero wala sila pag kailangan ko na. They don't even know that I'm crying. I don't have a shoulder to lean on. To share my problems, my misery, my pain. What if I'm gone? Are they gonna miss me? Or feel sorry about what happened to me? "Hush baby, you're strong and brave right?! Don't cry, it's okay... it's okay," muli kong saad habang pinupunasan ang sarili kong luha.

"Shoulder to cry on" Nang makilala ko kung sino ang bumungad sa aking harapan ay hindi ako nagdalawang isip. Lakad takbo ko itong sinalubong, pangahas ko itong hinarap. I knew I need him right now. I really do. When I reached him, I automatically leaned my head on his right chest without asking his permission and my tears bursted. I started to cry as much as could. Nilabas ko ang mga luha ko na kanina pa ko pa tinitimpi.

Dinig na dinig ko ang tibok ng puso niya habang hinahaplos ang aking likod. “Kung gusto mong umiyak... don’t be afraid to cry in front of me. Crying isn’t a sign of weakness. I cried in front of my mom, too—especially when I was disappointed or angry. Men don’t often cry, but I did. I’m not ashamed of it. I hope you won’t be ashamed either to cry in front of me. I’m here. I’ll be your shoulder to cry on.” Noong marinig ko ang mga salitang ’yon, hindi ko na napigilan ang hagulgol sa kanyang mga bisig. Mas lalo ko siyang niyakap.

"Di'ba Manong?" Tango lang ang isinagot ng lalaki sa akin. Umiwas ako ng tingin at hinaplos ang belly ko. I'm wearing a simple mint green dress. It's above the knee and off-shoulder, na bumagay naman sa akin. Maluwag ito at gusto ko ang klase ng tela dahil kumportable para sa isang buntis.

I don't know how to comfort a crying girl but maybe my hug will help. This beautiful kid cried on my shoulder at mas lalo niya akong niyakap nang mahigpit. I caressed her back para pakalmahin siya. Mukhang mahal na mahal talaga nito ang aso niyang namatay kaya niya iniiyakan.