***
"Mag ingat kayo, ha? Update mo ako kung nasaan na kayo, kung kumain na kayo at kung may babaril sa inyo, ha? Ako bahala. Back-up ako," sunod sunod na banggit ni Andrea. We're already here at the airport at malapit na ang flight namin ni Nathan. I'm just saying goodbye to these two flowers.
"Abnormal," sagot ko sa kaniya.
"Seryoso nga! Handa akong maging shield mo kapag babarilin ka na nila-"
"Kaka-cellphone mo 'yan," biglang singit ni Eunice. Napatahimik si Andrea at tinawanan na lang namin siya. Ginulo gulo pa ni Matthew ang buhok niya dahil natatawa rin. Bumaling naman sa 'kin si Eunice at nilapitan ako. She held my other hand dahil ang isa ay nakahawak sa maletang dala dala ko.
"Take care, okay? The both of you. I hope things go well," sabi niya. I nodded and hugged her.
"I-Ingat po kayo, t-tita..." napabaling ako kay Eunice. Bigla kasi siyang nagsalita. And it made me happy that she's starting to feel comfortable to call me 'tita'.
Lumapit ako sa kaniya, then I hugged her. I just feel that she needs it. 'Di rin naman nagtagal, I felt that she hugged me back. Which made me smile more even if she can't see my face.
"Always take care of yourself, and your mother. She's... she's very special and one of a kind," bulong ko sa kaniya. I felt that she nodded and hugged me a bit tighter.
"I will always take care of her, po. And... take care of yourself too, tita," she said. I rubbed her back gently and I let go. Lumapit naman ako kay Andrea para yakapin din siya at baka magtampo pa. Kanina pa siya mangiyak-ngiyak sa kwarto pa lang dahil daw maghihiwalay nanaman kami.
"Zai," bulong niya nang yakapin ko siya. Ramdam ko rin ang panghihina niya.
"This won't be for a lifetime. I just don't want na madamay pa kayo. And... I want you to start a better chapter with Matthew. Nang hindi mo na ako iniisip. I know that I'm taking too much of your time... so, I'm letting you be free now. You don't have to carry my burden, I can do it." I said.
