Loving the Dark Sky

CHAPTER 35

"Andria!"

Agad akong niyakap ni Kuya Adrian nang makalapit.

"I'm really sorry for everything I did to you. Nabigla lang talaga ako. I'm really sorry."

"It's okay, Kuya. Kalimutan na natin 'yon."

Bumitaw siya sa'kin nang makita ang mga maleta kong dala ng isang kasambahay.

"You packed your things. Does that mean.."

"Yes, Kuya. I accept your offer."

Dahil sa sinabi ko ay agad siyang sumenyas kay Kuya Derrick.

"Oh! Okay. I have to go," sabi ni Kuya Derrick bago lumapit sa'kin. Bahagya akong natawa nang guluhin niya ang buhok ko. "It's nice to see you again, Andria!"

"Masaya rin ako na makita ka, Kuya."

He smiled at me before he left.

"I want to show you something," wika naman ni Kuya Adrian.

Lumapit ako sa kanya nang makita ang hawak niyang papel.

"It's been years and I just found this recently."

"What's that?"

"A letter from Dad."

Binigay niya sa'kin 'yon.

                                                      June 2018
Adrian,
Maybe I’m gone when you read this letter. I have a lot to tell you that I can't tell you directly so I'll just say it in a quiet way. I'm sorry if your mother and I are always busy at work and we don't have time for you. We are so blessed to have you as our son. As I watch you grow day by day, I know you'll grow up as a fine man and I'm sure you can handle the responsibilities that will be left to you when the day comes. We have committed a great sin against you. To all of you. I know that material things and simple words cannot pay for the sins we have committed. But I want you to know that your mom and I are really sorry for everything we did. We love you as much as we love Andria. I don't know when we will be gone. So in case we die, I want you to visit our resorts that you have never been to with us. We didn't want to take you to our other resorts because that's where it all started. I hope you understand why I just said these things here.
We love you so much, son.

Kay Dad nga 'yon nanggaling kasi may pirma pa niyang nakalagay sa ibabang parte ng papel na 'yon.

"Don't get me wrong. I didn't call you just because of this. I'm not planning to use you. I called you because I really am sorry for what I did to you. I want you to come with us because you're still my sister no matter what. You're still part of the family. At gusto ko ring makabawi sa'yo," seryoso niyang wika.

I smiled at him. "I know. But where will we go first?" Sa dami ba naman ng resorts ni Dad ay hindi ko na alam kung saan magsisimula.

May inabot ulit siya sa'kin na papel. At 'yon ang listahan ng mga resort na kailangan naming puntahan. Nahalata ko na kay Dad rin nanggaling 'yon dahil pareho ang handwriting no'n sa letter na sinulat ni Dad para kay Kuya.

"Susundin natin ang pagkakasunod-sunod ng mga resorts sa listahan kaya magsisimula muna tayo sa Batangas."

'Yong resort sa Batangas ang nangunguna sa listahan. I blinked twice. "Sa Batangas?"

Kagagaling ko lang do'n, eh.

"Oo. Pero masyadong malayo ang bahay mo do'n sa resort na tinutukoy diyan."

"Ah, okay," tugon ko bago tumango.

"I'll just go get my things," wika niya bago pumunta sa kwarto niya.