Kabanata 8
Lola is peacefully sleeping when I arrive in the room, kaya hindi nalang ako gumawa ng kahit na anong ingay para hindi na siya magising. Ganoon lang din ang routine namin araw-araw pagkauwi ko maglilinis ako ng room, pagkagising breakfast ni Lola, tapos kakain pa rin kami ng sabay, tsaka ako uuwi para maligo at magbihis.
Nakausap ko na rin ang doctor ni Lola na pwede na siyang makalabas basta iwasan lang ang mabibigat na gawain. Iniwan ko muna si Lola para sa last day ng pagdedesign namin ng stadium dahil bukas na ang night party and makakalabas na rin siya bukas ng tanghali.
Pagkadating ko sa school pina-finalize na nila ang designs ng bawat table. The table has gold candelabras and a set of flowers, along with that hindi kami naglagay ng disco ball to maintain the stadium's vintage style of the stadium nag-arkila lang kami ng mga movable chandeliers and some floating artificial flowers.
Next is the stage, hindi kami naglagay ng stage kung saan tatayo ang mga facilitators kundi isang vintage microphones lang para makita rin ang naggagandahang outfits nila. Then the lettering of Athena surrounds the whole wall on stage. Ang perfect na ng lahat, everything went exactly the same in my plan.
Pinauwi na agad kami ng head namin to get ready for the night party tomorrow, the food will be facilitated by the PTA and departments. So wala na sa amin ang power and stress to think about that.
Athena and I settled to fix each other rather than hire a beautician to put on a lot of makeup. Since we both took the make-up class in Junior High at St. Jerome.
After a long discussion and briefing, we all get ready for tomorrow's big night.
Again for the last time, I went to the hospital to fetch Lola since she's getting discharged for almost five days staying at the hospital. Before I go to school surely clean every inch of the room to maintain the cleanliness.
Nothing happened that night because Lola is still overpowered by the hospital feels and she chooses to rest.
I wake up being nervous for the big night. Today will be a long day and night for us to enjoy and fully recognize every effort we exerted during senior high and we're bound to face the reality of doing choices and doing what's good for us.
The call time was 3 pm so Athena will arrive at 11 am, she will eat her lunch na here sa bahay to avoid the rush for the both of us. Our technique is while Athena is tying my hair, I will start the simple make-up for me to be prepared and also same for here.
After the hair and starting makeup, I started to put make-up of her soft and small face. Her theme was purely the color of the carnation because she symbolizes the purity of the pink gown and along with her accessories.
I was hesitating to do my theme because it is kinda tricky din for me. It was Mystical, my black gown symbolizes the outshining darkness while shining light using the sequins that symbolize stars in the night. After the whole session, I open my eyes to see the beauty that Athena unleashed within me.
Lola was in awe when she looks at me. Mahal na mahal ko siya kasi siya ang naging karamay ko all throughout the battles I've been through. Athena is busy fixing her hair to maintain the wavy structure.
A shining necklace caught my attention when Lola brought me to her room, "Yve, I want you to wear this accessory because you're so beautiful." she went to my back to put the shining necklace. "Lola saan po galing ito?" I asked her, "Ang Lolo mo ang nagbigay sa akin nito noong kasal namin." she started to tell her story to me and it was very wholesome, I can tell that the purity and sincerity of love from the old time.
They live simply during that time, with no money to use to buy kinds of stuff only love and contentment. Lolo is a journalist in Philippine Star when that company is starting, just look at them now successful and went through hardships. But then no relationship is perfect, there is a time when Lolo can't go home to Lola because of workloads, but then she never misunderstands and let go of their promise that they will live together until death chase them apart.
"Ngunit apo matapos ng ilang taon masaya naming pagsasama, masasabi kong hinabol talaga kami ng kamatayan subalit hindi kami nagpatinag. Isang isyu na sikat noon ang ibinagay sa kaniya kaya layunin niya na suungin ang kamatayanupang mabigay ang katotohanan sa bansa." tears started to pool in her eyes, longing and willingness to be with him again is evident to her eyes. I can't believe that they both promise to be with each other when hardships come, but then someone left and suffer alone. "Hinabol kami ng pamilyang 'yon dahil lubos nilang pinangangalagaan ang imahe nila. Sa harap ko mismo nila pinatay ang Lolo mo. Wala akong nagawa.." hindi na niya napagpatuloy kaya agad ko ng inalu si Lola dahil ngayon ko lang narinig na kuwento at pakiramdam ko hindi niya pa rin kaya ikuwento ito ngayon.
Nang kumalma na si Lola lumapit ito sa akin at hinimas ang aking buhok, ngayon pa lang damang-dama ko na ang pagiging proud ni Lola sa mga nararating ko at sa pagpili kung ano man ang gusto ko para sa sarili ko. " Apo, bantayan mo lagi ang puso mo, pumili ka ng tao na kaya kang ipaglaban sa kahit anong paraan dapat hindi n'yo susukuan ang isa't isa sa kabila ng mga lalapit sa inyong problema pagdating ng araw na kayo ay pag-isahin sa ilalim ng gabay ng Diyos." naluluha ako sa sinasabi niya dahil nakakalungkot at napakasaya sa pakiramdam.
The accessories of Lola is perfectly fit to my theme. I'm like a walking star that is bonding with the darkness. After minutes of preparing, we bid our goodbye to Lola and surely we'll enjoy this night. "Mag-enjoy kayo! Pakitaan mo sila ng galing mo apo at Athena." a car from Athena fetches us in front of our gate. Along with my stunning black slitted gown is my guitar case that is now filled with excitement to be with the stage and doing what it tends to do.
