Aurora Borealis

Chapter 63 - Winding Road

>> • TOHRU • <<

The wind was never this aggresive.

Dust particles almost got to flick my eye. Good thing I lowered my head and guarded it with my arm.

Everyone gathered at the field, all in black. I just stared as people, once strangers to each other, shake hands and ask about their particular memories regarding the person who's the reason why we're here to this day.

Vloggers, classmates, friends and her father. Those were the ones that I saw. I knew some of the faces while some aren't.

I stood there and watched as Wendy's father took everyone's attention when he walked in front. He must've been sleepless for the past nights.

He grimaced at Wendy's portrait decorated with flower garlands. A weak smile showed in his face yet it didn't last.

"Gusto kong magpasalamat sa mga naglaan ng kaniya-kaniyang oras para sa araw na 'to. Sigurado akong matutuwa ang anak ko kung nakikita niyang maraming nakakaalala sa kaniya." his voice started sounding breathy.

"Walang nag-expect na mangyayari 'to. Sobrang biglaan yung nangyari. Parang gano'n lang din noong dumating siya sa buhay ko."

Jamila, Aero, Tiffany and Peyton were sitting in our row. But ever since they came, no one dared to speak a word. We exchanged nods earlier, and that's where it also ended.

"Noong una, hindi ko malaman anong gagawin ko. Mapapalaki ko ba siya ng tama nang ako lang mag-isa? Wala akong ideya pa'no magpalaki ng bata."

As moments passed, his voice broke. In a hoarsed tone, he viewed every one of us while uttering the words, "Hindi ko alam kung anong personalidad ang mayro'n ang anak ko kapag ibang tao ang kaharap niya, pero panatag ako ngayong nakikita ko kung gaano kayo karami rito. Napalaki ko siya ng ayos."

I can hear people from the back row tearing up so hard that it almost distracts the silence.

"Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan pa bago ko matatanggap na wala na siya. Wala namang tiyak na oras kung hanggang kailan lang dapat nagdurusa ang tao kapag namatay ang mga mahal niya sa buhay." he looked up at the gray sky.

All we heard that time is the sound of the sky groaning softly as the globe rotates.

"Proud na proud ako sa anak ko. Sobrang tapang niya. Heto naman ako, ako 'yung tatay kaya pinipigilan kong humagulgol. Pasensya na... hindi ko lang talaga maiwasang maging emosyonal..."

Seeing her father in too much pain, it makes me want to cry too. I heaved a breath to not let out a tear.

A hand reached out to me with a napkin. I gazed where the hand came from and saw a red-faced Jamila looking away, sniffing and twitching.

Kinuha ko ito at ipinunas sa sulok ng mga mata ko. "T-Thanks..."

"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm still mad at you." wika niya.

"I know."

Nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako sa iba pang nagbubulungan sa likuran. I tried focusing on Tito's speech.

He's still bawling. "Kung papipiliin man ako sa susunod na buhay, siya pa rin ang pipiliin kong maging anak. Wala nang iba."

Sinubukang magpatuloy ni Tito sa pagsasalita, pero puro paghikbi na lamang at pagtangis namin sa mga sumusunod na sa sandali. Hindi na rin niya natiis at inabot sa iba pa ang mic para sa mga gustong magsalita.

Others volunteered to deliver eulogies. Some of them came from the back row. May isang beses na napalingon ako sa likuran upang tingnan kung sino ang susunod.

Instead, what I saw from afar is someone I knew. Standing apart and too far away.

Lauren.

She's holding a bouquet of flowers.

Napansin niya na nakatingin ako sa kaniya kaya't dali-dali itong tumalikod at naglalakad patungo sa isang kotse.

"Is there a problem?" tanong ni Tiffany na nakasilip na sa 'kin.

I was turned aback. "No, nothing. I thought I saw something."

Soon, we approached the casket for the last time habang ibinababa ito sa hukay. I threw the flower that I'm holding on the dugged ground. The others who saw me did the same thing.

It was then buried with the soil from the surface where we stood. I tried not to look at it for too long.

That wasn't Wendy, that was just a wooden box.

That wasn't Wendy, that was just a wooden box.

That wasn't Wendy...

"Are you okay?" sumulpot sa likuran ko si Aero. "You're sweating profusely."

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. "H-Huh? Me? I'm fine. Wag ka namang nanggugulat, dude."

"I didn't. You just seem to be lost in your thoughts that you didn't notice me walking near you." katuwiran niya at naglapag ng dalawang puting rosas at isang maliit na itim na kahon.

He knelt on one knee and threw a red rose, making it stand out among the white flowers thrown over the casket.

"What are those?" tanong ko. "Prepared na prepared, ah? Don't tell me may dala ka ring kalapati at sumbrerong may lamang kuneho?"

He smirked. "Funny, but no. Those weren't mine."

"I see."

"Aero, why do you think this happened to all of us?"

He shot a curious glance. "What do you mean?"

"We're all at crossroads. Just how did this happen?"

"I'm not sure my answer will be the answer that you're looking for." he answered.

I just remained silent.

"Anything can happen. This is reality. Sometimes, it doesn't make sense. Everything doesn't make sense in a way. We're just left with interpretations so that we could at least pretend everything is related at some point. That way, it's easier to accept that our conclusions about things are there to make us feel slightly enlightened."

Tinapik ko ang balikat niya. "You must be a former hermit in your past life."

"No. I just overthink a lot."

Hindi nagtagal, isa-isa na ring nagsi-alis ang mga tao. Tanging si Tito at kaming apat na lamang ang natitira.

"Salamat sa pagpunta, ha?" aniya.

"Wala pong anuman. Kung may kailangan po kayo, puwede niyo po kaming sabihan." I reassured him.

The merger contract has been terminated a year ago along with the bankruptcy of my company. It took me a while to pay the loans, but I've been earning again so that I could start a new business.

Tumingin akong muli sa pila ng mga nakaparadang sasakyan at hinanap doon ang kotseng sinakyan ni Lauren ngunit hindi ko na ito makita.

Seems like they've gone so far away from us.