Aurora Borealis

Chapter 43 - Footprint Trails

>> • LAUREN • <<

It's like the wind itself has its own voice, howling in silence and finding its way to be heard and to let it be known that they're here.

I suppose I'm on the same boat, Father.

Kararating ko pa lamang sa Requiem Memorial Cemetery. Kahit pa magkakapareho lamang ang itsura ng mga libingan dito, kahit kailan ay hindi ako nagkamali sa pagtunton sa kaniyang himlayan.

I squatted in front of his grave as I placed a basket of white lilies in front of it. I also lit up a few white candles while immersing myself in the domain of silence.

Lorenzo Tobias A. Vergara
March 17, 1980 - September 23, 2012

Natatandaan ko ang lahat na para bang kahapon lamang nangyari iyon. I'm now 17, but my world feels like it's being pulled back to when I was 8.

You're the one who taught me how to love basketball. Mom and I were always watching from the sidelines as you're trying your best to offer every shot you make a remarkable one.

Naalala ko pa no'n, binibiro mo 'ko tapos ang sabi mo, nanghihinayang ka na hindi lalaki ang kaisa-isa mong anak. But then, you also told me that you're more than proud that I am your child.

Lagi tayong laman ng mga basketball court sa mga baranggay kapag wala kang laro sa national league. Palagi mo pa 'kong pinagtatawanan kasi nadadapa ako lagi kapag sinusubukan kong i-dribble yung bola habang tumatakbo.

Hindi ko pa naiintindihan no'n kung bakit mo 'ko pinipigilan na sumali sa mga liga, kesyo wala raw magkakagusto sa 'king lalaki kapag nakita nila na para akong tomboy dahil lang sa mahilig ako sa basketball. I mean, what kind of reasoning is that?

Hindi mo rin naipilit kasi palagi akong dumidiretso agad sa basketball court kapag uwian. Minsan tinanong mo 'ko kung sa'n ko makuha yung mga nagdurugong sugat sa tuhod ko tapos nagsinungaling ako na nadapa lang ako sa school, kahit pakiramdam ko alam mo na yung dahilan kung bakit. Akala ko papaluin mo 'ko no'n, pero hindi. Kumuha ka lang ng first-aid kit at ginamot iyon ng walang sinasabi.

"Lauren, do you love basketball that much?"

Those words of him is still engraved in my mind.

"Yeah. I want to be like you, someday."

"Don't."

"Huh? Why? I want to be like you!"

"All I can say is don't. You have potential, and you can't afford to waste it by walking in the trails of my shadow."

"Pinagsasasabi mo, Papa? Pagod ka ba?"

"I know you won't understand it yet. Basta tatandaan mo, you need to make a name for yourself. Pantayan mo 'yung mga nagawa ko, hindi lang pantayan, subukan mong higitan."

"Bakit naman?"

"Because you're my child, and I know you are more capable of doing the things that will surpass mine someday. A lot of people were born prodigies, but only a few were able to be recognized as one, that's because they have done something that will forever be marked into history. And to those who didn't, they were forgotten before they got a chance to be known."