Short Stories Compilation✔︎

Ghost

Why do people leave, the exact time we needed them beside us?

"Dre, ikaw na daw ang kakanta."

Kinuha ko ang gitara ko at nginitian siya. "Sige, paki-connect nalang nito."

Nang matapos na silang i-ayos ay pumwesto ako sa gitna ng stage kung saan may nakahandang upuan sa akin at mikropono.

"Hi." Ngiti ko. I chuckled when the crowd became wild. "I'll be singing Ghost by Justin Bieber. Maaari po bang maging tahimik ang lahat?"

I smiled when they calmed and minimise their voices.

I started singing at hindi ko mapigilan ang emosyon sa boses ko. I sang it with my eyes closed, may nakikisabay pa at hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti. A tear escaped my eye when memories flash inside my head.

"Lola, let's play cards."

She smiled weakly, "I can't apo, you know lola can't see clearly."

"But.." I sighed and hugged her. "Okay, I'll just hug you instead of playing."

-

I knew it! What if they won't accept me? I am doomed.

"Lala.." I whispered softly, she was sitting on her bed with oxygen hanging on her nose. "What do you feel about people loving the same gender as them?"

"God didn't order us to love someone with the same gender as we are." She whispered, naawa ako nang makita kung gaano siya kahirap magsalita.

I was about to tell her to stop when she smiled at me, "but HE doesn't want us to suffer either. A girl loving a girl or a boy loving a boy isn't wrong, love was never wrong."

From that day, I accepted my sexuality. For who I truly am.

-

"Mama, kailan tayo bibisita ulit kay Lola?" I asked. "I missed her so much, yesterday nung nagcall kami she said she misses me too."

"And sabi niya pa she's excited to see my baby sister in person. 'Di pa sila nagkikita ni AZ."

"Soon, anak. Mahirap pa bumyahe ngayong covid."

I sighed heavily, "okay mom."

-

"Anak?"

"Yes ma?"

"Nasa hospital si lola mo, inatake siya."

I was stiff. Hindi ko alam ang irereact ko sa narinig.

"Pupunta doon si papa mo bukas."

"M-ma, pano ako?"

"You stay here, do your modules. She will be fine, okay?"

-

I thought everything will be fine.

Akala ko lang pala iyon.

"Kai, nasa loob si lola mo.. hindi mo ba siya titignan?"

I bursted in tears. I didn't expect this to happen at all. Seeing her lying in the coffin, lifeless. I didn't wish this thing to happen.

I wanted to see her alive, I want to see that smile, I want to hear her voice.. I miss everything about her.

"Lola.. bakit ka nandyan?" I cried. Umiiyak na din ang mga kamag-anak ko. She was so good to everybody.

"Gising kana.. lola.."

-

Everyone was crying, it was the day that we'll finally set her off.

I threw the last flower that I was holding. Hindi ko mapigilang mapatangis muli.

Mamimiss kita ng sobra sobra.

A hand held my shoulder, it was my cousin. I didn't bother to look at him.

"She told me something before she died. She said, mahal na mahal niya tayo. Kahit hindi niya na tayo makakasama hanggang sa paglaki natin, nandito pa din siya at gagabay sa atin." He said while crying. "Nagsisisi akong hindi ko nasabi sa kanya kung gaano ko siya kamahal."

I smiled as I looked above. I just let my tears flow.

I love you, lola. I miss you so much.

"So if I can't be close to you,
I'll settle for the ghost of you.
I miss you more than life."