Declan Costellano
3 months after...
"Declan!" Aleah shouted.
"I'm coming!" I shouted before getting the key to my car.
When I went downstairs, I saw Aleah wearing her favorite dress.
She said that's her favorite 'cause it's from me.
"Ayan na pala siya." Nay Mabel said.
They all looked at me but my stares are locked to my beautiful beloved.
"Oh siya, tara na." Mom said before clinging her arms to Aleah.
I smiled when I saw the five of them.
Mom and Dad. Nay Mabel and Tay Dani. And my baby.
Just like what Mom wanted, umuwi sila three months ago. Nang makilala nila si Aleah, agad nila itong naging close.
Aleah has this charm.
Ginusto rin ni Aleah na dito tumira ang magulang niya pero hindi naman pumayag sila mom and dad.
May bahay naman daw kami dito. 3 blocks away.
We were neighbors years ago but our house is still our house.
So eventually, nahihiwalay lang sila sa amin kapag matutulog na.
"Let's go!" Sigaw ni Mom nang makasakay sa van.
Napangiti naman ako.
This is life now.
"Have you checked the house, hon?" Tanong ni Mom kay Dad.
"Yeah. It's locked, don't worry." Dad said.
Kinuha ko ang isang balot ng fruit candy sa glove compartment at hinagis 'yun sa likod. Agad naman nasalo ni Dad at binigay 'yun kay Mom.
Mom likes fruit candy most especially during trips.
Binigyan niya din sila Nay Mabel na tumanggi naman. Ayaw talaga nila ng mga pagkaing sobrang pag nguya ang kailangan.
I looked at Aleah who is now wandering outside of the window.
"You're okay?" I asked.
She smiled and nodded. "Yeah."
Tumango lang ako.
As we drove, they are talking about lots of things. They even planned to have an outing.
When we reached the entrance, the guard greeted us.
Nang makarating sa pwesto, bumaba kami at dinala ang pagkain namin para sa tanghalian.
Hindi masyadong mainit at may puno naman kaya hindi tutok sa amin ang sikat ng araw.
I placed the picnic mat and beside it was the basket for food.
I saw Aleah placed the two flowers in a basket beside her parents' grave.
When I saw her palm touched her cheek, I immediately step towards her.
I placed my arms to her waist.
"I miss them." She whispered while staring at the name of her parents. Tears were falling apart.
"I know you want to see them but please, not now, baby. I still want to be with you." Kunwaring biro ko kaya naman napanguso siya saka ako hinampas.
"I want to see them but that doesn't mean I want to go with them. Maybe at least in my dreams, that's enough." She said.
"But seriously, baby, I know you want to see them badly but remember that I'm just here, the four oldies are there." I looked at them and saw their bad glares. "We love you and we hope we're enough reasons to make you fight with your fear and sadness."
Tumango naman siya. "Pangako, sa susunod na iiyak ako sa harap nila, iiyak ako dahil sa saya hindi dahil sa pagkawala nila dahil alam kong mas malulungkot silang makita akong umiiyak sa ayaw nilang rason."
"But now, let me just cry a little more." Aniya at muling nag landas ang kaniyang mga luha.
I nodded frequently and kissed her nose. "Of course you can, I'm just here."
She placed her head on my chest and there she cried while staring and touching the grave of her parents.
Hinayaan ko lang siyang umiyak habang hinahaplos ang kaniyang mukha.
"I'm sure both of them are so proud of you, Aleah. You've been so strong. Imagine living your whole existence with only two people who made you and suddenly they left. I know it's painful but maybe in time, there will only be scars." Mom said when she sat beside Aleah at hawak ang kamay niya.
"I don't know. Masyado po kasing masakit na kahit ilang buwan na, hindi pa rin nag sisink in sa akin na wala na 'yung magulang ko. It's so hard to step forward even if I force myself to move." She said while crying.
Mom touched her cheek. "No one's forcing you, sweety. It's okay to cry more, to shout more but always remember that your parents will be happier if you will step forward with their memories when you are ready."
Tumango tango si Aleah saka umalis sa pag kakasandal sa dibdib ko at yumakap kay Mom.
"I miss them so much." I heard she whispered.
My jaw clenched. I can't do something to make her feel better. I'm such a useless boyfriend.
It's so fvcking hard to see her hurting this way.
"I know, so keep their memories and borrowed existence so you won't have to throw anything as you move forward." Mom said and kissed the top of her head.
"Thank you, Ma." Aleah said.
Just like what Mom said, maybe in time, it will only be scars. Pain will no longer be felt but that doesn't mean it's fully healed. But as long as she's being okay every time, that's a good process already.
I'll be just here as she found the way out of sadness. Babalik siya rito na hindi kalungkutan ang nararamdaman.
She will smile not sadly, but happily.
She will cry not because she's sad, but because she's happy.
She will.
She can.
And that day will come soon.
And when that day comes, I will still be his man.
BINABASA MO ANG
Tomorrow With You
Short Story(Completed) She tamed the beast inside of me. She's the light of my dark world. She's the rope of my hope. She's my everything. And I'm lifeless without her. Her existence is my everything.
