Loving the Dark Sky

CHAPTER 32

I can't believe that they're here! They're here in Spain! But, where's Kuya?

"I tried to stop them but they really want come here," malamig na wika ni Tita.

"It's okay, Alejandra. We understand," si Lola.

"Let's all go inside. We need to talk about everything that happened involving our families," si Lolo.

Sumunod sina Mom at Dad sa'min papasok ng bahay. Pareho silang nakatungo at hindi makatingin sa'min ng diretso. Halatang pagod na pagod sila. Siguro ay na-stress din sila sa lahat ng nangyari.

Pagdating namin sa sala ay umupo kami nina Tita, Lola, at Lolo pero hindi umupo sina Mom at Dad. Nagulat ako nang bigla silang lumuhod sa harapan namin.

"Please... forgive us..." naiiyak na wika ni Mommy. "We're very sorry about what we did... We're sorry for taking your granddaughter... We're sorry for abandoning Sandra and Ellison..."

"Pinagsisisihan na po namin ang lahat ng nagawa namin..." naiiyak din namang sabi ni Dad.

Agad akong tumayo at lumapit sa kanila. "Please stand up... both of you..."

"Hindi kami karapat-dapat sa'yo, Andria... Ang laki ng kasalanan namin sa'yo at sa pamilya mo," si Dad.

"We don't deserve your kindness," si Mom.

"Talagang hindi!"

Napatingin ako kay Tita nang bigla siyang nagsalita.

"Layuan mo ang dalawang 'yan, Andria!"

"Calm down, Alejandra," wika naman ni Lolo.

"Alejandra," pagtawag naman ni Lola.

"We're truly sorry about everything we did——"

"Your apologies will never change the past!" wika ni Tita. "You're gonna pay big-time in jail! I'll make sure of that!"

"Alejandra..." mahinang tawag ni Mom sa kanya. She looked at Tita straight in the eye. "I-I... owe you an apology for a long time... I'm very sorry for being so mean to you since we were kids... I'm sorry for taking your sister away from you... and so as your niece... I-I was so jealous of you because you have everything I ever wanted... And that jealously of mine reached the point of doing serious crimes... I know that our sins are u-unforgivable and we're ready to face the price of everything we've done..."

I looked at Tita. Nanginig siya sa galit. Her tears are flowing. Nagtagal pa bago siya nagsalita. "I hired an investigator but I'll still ask you. Did you plot Alessandra and Ellison's death?"

Agad na sumagot si Mom. "No, we didn't!"

"Hindi namin pinlano ang pagkamatay nila! Wala kaming kinalaman do'n! Nagkataon lang na nakita namin sina Alessandra! Kinuha lang namin si Andria at iniwanan na namin 'yong mag-asawa!" si Dad.

"Aksidente ang nangyari sa kanila," si Mom.

Tita raised an eyebrow. "Aksidente nga ba talaga?"

I looked at the floor. Kung hindi aksidente ang nangyari 18 years ago ay hahanapin pa namin ang mga taong nanadya para matuto sila. Para hindi na nila 'yon magawa sa iba. Hahanapin lang namin sila at ipapaubaya na sila sa mga awtoridad. Dati ay gusto kong pagbayarin ng todo ang mga taong may kinalaman sa nangyari lalo na kapag nalaman namin na hindi talaga aksidente ang nangyari pero nabago 'yon nang makilala ko sina Lolo at Lola. They taught me not to retaliate against others. Don't put justice in our hands because nothing good will happen in the end. Do not retaliate badly against others but reciprocate them with kindness. Let God do what is right for those who do evil.