Loving the Dark Sky

CHAPTER 30

Hindi pa sila nakakalapit sa'kin pero kitang-kita ng mga mata ko na naiiyak din sila katulad ko. Katulad nila ay hindi ko na napigilan ang emosyon ko dahil sa labis na tuwa. Agad na akong tumakbo papunta sa kanila. Wala na akong pakialam kung nakasuot ako ng high heels. Wala na akong pakialam kung may mga nanood sa'min.

Nang makalapit ako ay agad ko silang niyakap. "I'm so sorry if I kept you waiting for years... I'm really sorry... I didn't know you had been waiting for me for a long time... I wasn't aware... I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, apo. The most important thing for us is that you're now here," wika ni Lolo.

"Thank you for bringing her home, Alejandra," pasasalamat naman ni Lola kay Tita.

Dahan-dahan akong umalis sa pagkakayakap kina Lolo at Lola bago humarap kay Tita. "I've been with you for weeks.. but I haven't got to say how grateful I am for you bringing me here. Maraming salamat po, Tita."

She just smiled back at us, with her tears falling off as well.

I spent the whole day with them talking about everything about our lives. I told them my hobbies, my favorite foods, my experiences and favorite places in the Philippines... all about my life that my memory touches. They told me a lot of things too. Especially about my parents.

Nalaman ko na dito sa Spain pinanganak sina Mama at Tita pero sa Pilipinas sila lumaki. Nagkakilala sina Mama at Papa sa Pilipinas. They were childhood sweethearts. They started from friendship and ended with marriage. Sa Pilipinas sila nagpakasal kasi do'n nangyari ang love story nila. Pero sa Pilipinas din sila namatay. And the most painful thing in my heart is that they died at the time of my birth.

We were eating breakfast when Tita told me something.

"Andria, your grandparents and I are thinking about throwing a party for you... You're already eighteen but we're still thinking about celebrating your birthday.... W-Well, we can still celebrate it... W-What do you think?"

Natigilan ako sa pagkain dahil sa sinabi niya. My eighteenth birthday...

Before any of this happened, I was dreaming about my 18th birthday just like everybody else. I wanted it to be special. I wanted to match the theme to what I love. And I'm in love with the dark sky... The moon ... and stars ... But, now... I don't think I want to celebrate it anymore. Not just because it was too late, but also because I will always remember that my parents died at my birthday. I don’t want to celebrate not only my eighteenth, but also my next birthdays.

I don't want to celebrate my birthday ever again.

"No need, Tita. Thank you but I don't want to celebrate it."

"Hija, I know it's hard for you but I know that your parents are happy that you're alive," wika naman ni Lola.

"Make your life worth living, apo. Enjoy it, because that's what your parents will say to you if they're still here," sabi naman ni Lolo.

I just gave them a small smile.

Nang sabihin sa'kin ni Hugo na namatay sina Mama at Papa sa oras ng kapanganakan ko ay hindi ko nagawang umiyak. I was so shocked about everything that happened. Hindi ko naramdaman noon na nawalan ako ng mga magulang kasi inalagaan ako ng mga Monteverdi na parang tunay nilang anak, without knowing na sila pala ang dahilan kung bakit hindi naligtas sina Mama at Papa sa aksidente. Hindi man lang sila tinulungan nina Mom at Dad. They stole me from them. Sinadya nila akong kunin kasi gusto nilang magkaroon ng anak na babae. Dahil hindi na sila nabiyayaan. Saka ko lang nalaman na ang mga Monteverdi pala ang dahilan kung bakit hindi naligtas ang mga magulang ko.

They gave me their everything pero may ninakaw din naman pala sila sa'kin. I knew that they stole me but I still wanted to go back there because I never got to say goodbye. All I knew was that they stole me but I never knew that they left my helpless parents in that accident. And that they were friends.