The Path Towards Greatness (Youth Series #2)

Wakas

#TPTGWAKAS

Mom and I visited Dad at the cemetery. We were silent the whole time while staring at his tomb.

Umihip ang malakas na hangin. Some of the leaves of the trees fell to his tomb. The cold breeze of the afternoon made me shiver. Niyakap ko ang sarili at nilapitan si mama. She wrapped her arm around my waist to keep me warm.

Pinagmasdan ko ang nakaukit na pangalan ni papa sa lapida.

Fidel Romer Herrera was my father's name.

"Your father was a good person and a great father to you," my mother began

Nakatingin lang kaming dalawa sa lapida niya. We already gave our prayers earlier and lighted the candles that we bought. We also cleaned his tomb. Hindi na iyon nalilinis dahil sobrang tagal nading araw ang nakalipas.

"What's he like? I don't really remember any memory of him with me..."

I didn't even see his face. Was he a good man? Ano'ng naging trabaho niya? Ano'ng itsura niya nung kabataan? How did he and mom met? Where did they met? What's his family background? I have so many questions inside my head.

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked at me and held my hand. Naramdaman kong may pinatong siya doon. I looked at it and it was a piece of necklace.

"He wanted to give that to you.."

Pinagmasdan ko iyon sa kamay ko. It was a gold necklace with my initials in it.

"I kept that for so long. I'm sorry kung ngayon ko lang nabigay sa'yo," malungkot niyang sabi

I looked at her and smiled weakly. "T-thanks mom..."

Binalik niya ulit ang tingin sa harap. "He's brave and has morals. He's a man with principles. Sa kanya ka talaga nagmana."

My eyes started to water. Umiwas ako ng tingin at pinakalma ang sarili.

"Nakita ko kung paano talaga niya hinarap ang hirap ng buhay kahit na malubha na ang karamdaman niya. Kahit mahirap ang nagingbuhay namin noon, hindi siya nagkulang. Ang mga natitirang oras niya sa mundo ay binuhos niya lahat para sa'tin. He died the day after your birth."

I sniffed and stared at the necklace again.

"When he died, hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. I was still young back then. Hindi ko alam kung paano kita bubuhayin. Hindi matanggap ng magulang ko na nabuntis ako sa murang edad at hindi din nila magustuhan si Fidel dahil...alam nilang wala daw akong future sa kanya," she cried

"Natakot ako. I guess I became too greedy. Sabi ko sawang sawa na ako maghirap. Sabi ko gusto ko din magkaroon ng magandang buhay at para din sa'yo. I didn't want you to grow up poor and without a father. Kagaya ng kinwento ko sa'yo noon, nakilala ko ang governor. Noong una masaya pero...hindi din nagtagal. Nabulag ako. Nagpagamit ako. Natutunan ko na ang buhay ay hindi madali. Lahat ng bagay ay hindi nagtatagal. It was too good to be true..."

At first I hated my mom for lying to me and keeping everything a secret. I resented her. Isa din siya sa mga sinisi ko kung bakit naging miserable ang buhay ko...but then I realized that she also has been through so much. She sacrificed a lot. Nasaktan din siya ng lubusan.

I guess I became selfish. Iniisip ko lang ang sarili ko at ang nararamdaman ko noon. I just hated my life. I don't know why my life turned out this way.

"I'm sorry Fey. May parte sa'kin na pinagsisihan ko ang naging desisyon ko. I'm sorry because I couldn't share any memory with you and your father. Hindi ka na niya naabutan. I really wished he did. Kahit nahawakan manlang..."