Cross and Bullet

12 - Young Memory

Two years have gone by.

I'm in my eleventh grade now. Many might ask how much has changed. I am no longer the Eurie who was rebellious to my parents. I've learned a lot after being far away from them. I never once felt like I wasn't at home. Actually, I found another home at tita Kimmy's.

And that, I know how Kyle Miguel is like a brother to me.

We're truly like typical siblings. We argue, have unresolved disagreements, and clash, but we also reconcile in the end. Tita Kimmy was extremely strict with us during the days I spent with them. Despite that, we were able to enjoy all the luxuries, even the ones that came from my own parents.

However, upon turning 16 years old, naging busy ang mga magulang namin. Halos lahat sila nawalan ng oras sa amin dahil nalulugi ang kumpanya. When Lola passed away, I didn't see her in her final moments. I was at school, and tita Kimmy picked me up. Usually, dalawa sila ni tito Morgan ang sumusundo sa akin but that day, si tita lang mag-isa at nakakapanibago dahil sobrang tahimik niya buong byahe. Tito Morgan would usually ask me what had happened at school, but that day, there was no such inquiry.

When we arrived home, I was surprised to saw Dad there. His somber expression spoke volumes before he even uttered a word.

"Mami la has passed away," he said, his voice heavy with grief.

I was still reeling from the news. I overheard tito Morgan in a hushed conversation with tito Ezekiel, Leigh's dad. Meanwhile, dad was talking to his brother, tito Morrison, who was Iesu's father. The world seemed to stand still as the burden of loss and sadness surrounded us. Every word, every gesture, was filled with an unspoken ache.

A month later, the company suffered losses, leading to the division of the inheritance. Dad, as the eldest, was tasked with an important role in their company. The inheritance was to be divided among five of them... Dad, Tita Jillian, Tito Ezekiel, Tito Morgan, and Tito Morrison. However, Tita Jillian, their only sister, had passed away a few years before Kuya Euan's death. As a result, Kuya Jackson and Kuya Bryce were to directly inherit her share.

Ngayon, kaniya-kaniya na sila ng invest sa napamanahan sa business company nila lolo at lola. Hindi ko na alam. I don't know what happened exactly, but a lot of trouble ensued and the once close bond between us suddenly disappeared. It was a painful time for all of us. I remember the days when we used to spend hours talking and laughing together. A lot of trouble happened, iyong dating bonding biglang nawala. Despite all this, I am grateful that I still have a connection with my favorite cousins.

Actually, we're going home for the first time to celebrate Christmas with the fam, again. It's been two years since I last saw Leigh and Iesu. I heard that Leigh will introduce his girlfriend to us. Before November ends, we went home to the Philippines.

It was Leigh's birthday and I was eagerly anticipating the arrival of our family to celebrate together but Mamita isn't there, even my parents were absent. Luckily, narito naman ang mga pinsan ko. I also invited my friends sa hindi ko naman party. Pumayag naman si insan, big time crush kasi nitong si Tatum si Leigh.

"Mars, akala ko ba dadating 'yong dalawa mo pang pinsan?" usisa ni badet at nagpalinga-linga tila naghahanap nga ng gwapo.

"Iesu? Kyle Miguel? Sino ba?" tanong ko.

"Hindi ko maalala." kamot batok niyang sambit bago uminom ng juice.