Cue of secrets

Chapter 25

I'm looking for a big land for me to establish my house. Gusto ko ng lupa sa Makati, kaso, marami nang bahay doon and I can't find any lands there.

"Si Shaniah?" I asked them.

Kalilibing lang ni Papa kanina. Pagkatapos, dumiretso ako sa office para makisuyo sa secretary na hanapan ako ng lupa. Then, umuwi ako to check on Mommy, Shaniah and Janice if they are okay.

Kryz didn't even bother showing up. We don't even have a single idea on where that girl is.

"Nasa kwarto po niya, maga-aral daw."

"Pumasok na?"

"Opo. Gan'un yata ginagawa niya para maging busy e."

"Siguro nga po. Sige po, pahinga na din kayo. Ako na bahala sa mga plato."

"Salamat, Elle."

Paghugas ko ng plato, lumabas na din si Mommy ng kwarto niya, with her eyes swollen. She smiled when she looked at me.

"Mommy, I made merienda. Favorite carbonara mo. Kuha kita plate?" I asked her.

"Thank you, Elle."

"Welcome, mi."

"You didn't go to work?" She asked while waiting for the plate.

"Hindi po muna. I'm on a leave for three days." I said as I gave her the plate.

"Bakit naka-bihis ka, may pupuntahan ka?"

"Diyan lang po, Mi. Mago-grocery para kela lola."

"Ate gusto mo kasama? Tulungan na kita." Presenta ni Janice.

"Hindi na, okay na. Just stay here with Mommy. Ano gusto mo pasalubong?" I asked her.

"Shawarma? Anim?" She laughed.

"Noted, bata." I nodded.

"Tatlo saakin, three for Shaniah. Hindi ako matakaw ate ha!" She shouted while her mouth is full of food.

"Oo nga, hindi." I sarcastically answered her.

"Kuya Alistair." Turo niya sa likod ko.

"Alistair oh." Turo din ni Mommy.

"As if he'll go here? You know, Mommy, Janice, I would never stop loving him but enough is enough. I don't want to hurt him anymore, cause it'll cause me so much pain seeing him like that."

"Pero mahal mo pa di'ba?" Mommy asked.

"Sobra." I nodded.

"Yun naman pala e. Go and take her, Alistair." Mommy smiled.

"Mommy, tama na." I told her. She's not stopping with her jokes.

"Tara?" A familiar voice spoke.

I froze. I couldn't move at all.

"We'll leave you here. You two might want to talk. Tara, Janice, anak." Mommy said and pulled Janice out of the kitchen.

"You want to eat something?" I asked Alistair.

"How are you doing?" He asked instead.

"I'm fine." I nodded. "Look at that painting of Mommy and Papa." I said, pointing out their picture in the middle of our living room. It was Mommy and Papa, holding hands.

"What about it?"

"Some pictures are able to capture a moment in a person's life, but this picture captured a lifetime."

"And?"

"It helped me to cope up with Papa's death cause I know that he lived a happy life."

"Do you need a hug?" He asked.