THIRTY-NINTH
“Nereo was a good kid,” anang Ferdinand Del Fierro habang nakatingin sa kawalan, sa mga gusaling natatanaw niya mula sa rooftop kung nasaan sila, inaalala ang anak niya. “The best son any father could ever wish for.”
Naalala niya kung paano pinunasan ng dalawang maliit na kamay ni Nereo ang mukha niya noong unang beses siya nitong makitang umiyak.
“Is it ‘cuz o’ me?” tanong ng boses ng batang Nereo kaya napalingon si Ferdinand sa kaniya at nang makita siya nito ay agad siya nitong binuhat.
“What?” malambing na tanong ni Ferdinand sa karga-kargang anak at natigilan nang makasalubong niya ang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa kaniya na puno ng pag-aalala. Nagulat siya nang hawakan ng maliliit na kamay ni Nereo ang mukha niya, pinunasan nito ang luhang tumulo na pala sa kaniyang mukha.
“Are you sad... ‘cuz o’ me?” tanong ng limang taong gulang na Nereo sa maliit at matinis pa niyang boses. Hindi niya maiwasang isipin na siya ang dahilan kung bakit malungkot ang kaniyang ama dahil palagi siyang nasa ospital. Karamihan sa mga nakikita niya rito kapag naglalakad-lakad sila ay ang matanda ang pasyente at kung may bata man ay dahil binibisita ang magulang o lolo o lola na naospital.
“What? No! I’m not sad because of you, it’s the opposite, actually.”
“Opposite?” tanong ng bata na hindi pamilyar sa salitang narinig.
“It’s not the case, it’s completely different because you are the only thing that makes me happy, my little angel.” Ferdinand kissed the top of his son’s head.
“Really?”
“Yes, my pumpkin.”
“Then why do you look like you’re sad?”
“Sad? No. I’m not sad, I’m just thinking.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking... we should have ice cream after your fasting! How’s that sound?” excited na wika ni Ferdinand kaya na-excite din ang batang Nereo.
“Yes! Let’s have ice cream, Daddy!” halos patili nang sagot ni Nereo sa sobrang tuwa.
“But...”
Napalingon si Ferdinand kay Nereo nang magsalita ulit ito.
“But if you... but if you’re sad, tell me, okay?” saad ng cute na boses ni Nereo kaya hindi napigilan ni Ferdinand mapangiti. His son is so cute and it warms his heart that Nereo speaks and acts like a grown-up who could handle anything just so he could help his father.
“I will, my pumpkin, I will.” nakangiting hawak ni Ferdinand sa ulo ni Nereo upang himasin ito.
‘You don’t have to be tough for Daddy, I should be the one you could lean on to,’
“He...” Ferdinand took a deep breath. “He had always shown others that he was tough so they wouldn’t worry about him and so that they would think they could rely on him. He had always made others feel that everything was alright because... that’s the only thing he ever wanted and hoped for... for everything, for everyone to be alright... unlike him.”
“Nereo was sick for a long time. I’ve already prepared myself for the day I’d say goodbye to him but I’ve always imagined it in a hospital room; I’m holding his hand while praying to God to take me instead... or to just take me too. Because I know the pain of losing my child would be unbearable. Those years he spent in and out of the hospital? It slowly killed me inside but I kept on going because Nereo was still fighting. And I know he wasn’t just doing it for himself; he fought for and because of me too and that’s why he was able to live a normal life even just for a few years. And for those years... I’m truly grateful because he was able to spend his life with people his age, he was able to meet all kinds of people we used to talk about in his hospital room, and most importantly, he was able to meet you.”
BINABASA MO ANG
Lost Stars
Teen Fiction[SMUG Series #1] XZ Martinez is a smart young woman. She was born to a rich and famous family but she doesn't seem to like it. Unlike her older brother, Valentine, XZ is and will never be used to the attention people are giving her but she guesses t...
