“Mom, what is the meaning of the word ‘love’?”

“Love is love.”

“Love is… love? Then what does “love” mean?”

“Love. You give your own definition of it. You get to decide what it means, and here’s the catch, you can do it multiple times. Unlimited. And always remember, Minjeong. Never let anyone entail you on how you should view love.”

“I can’t really understand it… but okay, it sounds fun!”

Reminiscing that short conversation with her mom makes her laugh talaga minsan. Sobrang vague, as if a child would really understand it. Sa sobrang vague hanggang ngayon napapaisip pa rin ako sa mga possible na definition ng love.

“Why are you laughing?” Tanong ni Giselle.

Ayan, ang hirap talaga tumambay sa garden napapa reminisce ka bigla.

“Sorry, may naalala lang.”

“Share mo naman ‘yan!”

“Naaalala mo ba na naghahanap ako ng mga possible na definition ng love? Naalala ko lang bigla.”

“Ilan na ba ang nahanap mo?”

“Hindi ko rin sure pero ito mga naaalala ko.”

I love hanging out sa bahay nila Giselle kasi they have a cute dog named Sebastian. I love Sebastian kasi naging bestfriends kami ni Giselle dahil sa kaniya. I also love Giselle kasi naging bestfriends kami ni Sebastian!

“Minjeong why do you keep on coughing ba?”

“I don’t know too…” I answered her while petting Sebastian.

“Mom! Minjeong is becoming a dog kanina pa siya umuubo, para siyang tumatahol like Sebastian!”

“I like that one, I want to become a dog!”

And then I saw Giselle’s mom running towards us sa garden nila.

“Minjeong! Why are you playing with Sebastian? Your mom said na allergic ka sa dogs.”

“What?! Why didn’t you tell me?” Giselle said habang kinukuha si Sebastian from my hands to put him inside their house.

“I’m sorry po tita… I just love dogs and ayaw ni Mama na magkaroon ako ng own dog ko.”

“Minjeongie, I understand pero what about your health? Just don’t play with Sebastian for too long, okay?”

“… unconditional love, Gi. Love ko si Sebastian, I still love dogs kahit allergic ako sa balahibo nila.”

“Wow, I didn’t expect na you would discover that one at a young age. Pero I really thought na magiging aso ka na kasi tahol ka nang tahol nung time na ‘yon.”

“Shut it, Gi.”

“Pikon! Well ano na yung next na definition mo ng love?”

“Yung next siguro is tough love?”

“Minjeong, why did you stab your classmate with a pencil?”

“Because she tried to get it from me! I don’t like it when people try to touch my stuff, Mom.”

“But that does not mean na you can stab her with a pencil, right?”

“…”

 I can’t meet my mom’s eyes, I know na I did something wrong.

“Answer me.”

“Yes po.” I said habang pinipigilan ko ang sarili ko na umiyak.

“Now you are grounded for one week. You can only use your gadgets kapag gagawa ka ng assignments, if you won’t comply alam mo na ang mangyayari. Naiintindihan ba?”

“Opo.”

“Why am I doing this to you, Minjeong?”

“Because I know po na I did something wrong and you want me to reflect sa mga ginawa ko po. I’m really sorry.”

“Okay go back to your room and take a rest na."

After going back to my room kumuha ako ng paper and crayons to make an apology card for my classmate. While making one, someone knocked on my door.

“Baby, I prepared some snacks.”

I opened the door for my Mom para makapasok siya. I saw her looking at the mess I have made while making a card.

“I’m sorry for the kalat, I’m making a card for my classmate…”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about, Mineongie. I love you!” Mom said while pulling me for a hug.

“I remember that one! You stabbed Ning kaya sa forehead with a pencil grabe. Pero yeah, I totally get why you called that one tough love.”

“Yep, kahit sobrang hirap intindihin ng parents minsan, right?”

“I agree. May nahanap ka pa bang ibang definition?”

“Oo, yung undying love or unchanging love.”

“Okay class, your grades will be posted tonight.”

Naiiisip ko pa lang ang gabi naiiyak na agad ako, hindi ko alam ang aasahan ko mamaya. Alanganin kasi ako sa isang major ko at sa ibang gen ed.

“I just want to say congratulations sa inyong lahat for finishing this semester, I know na it was stressful. Thank you for working hard, class! See you around the campus na lang ulit.”

Habang naglalakad pabalik ng dorm nag-iisip na ako ng mga pwede kong sabihin sa nanay ko or need ko pa ba sabihin sa kaniya…? Patuloy lang ako sa pag-iisip hanggang sa makarating ako sa dorm.

“Uy, Minjeong! Sakto favorite mo niluto ko ngayon, tara kain na tayo?” bungad ng roommate niya sa kaniya.

“Matutulog muna ako, Karina.”

“Okay ka lang ba? Halika nga.”

At hindi ko na nga napigilang umiyak nang yakapin ako ng roommate ko.

“Feeling ko hindi ako papasa sa isang major ko… hindi ko nga magawang mag compute ng grades ko kasi alam ko na hindi aabot. Ano na lang sasabihin ni Mama sa akin?”

“May natutunan ka ba sa major mo Minjeong?”

“Ha? Oo… marami, favorite ko yung subject na ‘yon.”

“Kung sure ka na may natutunan ka, sure