Mended Broken Souls (✔️)

Chapter 57

Chapter 57

When I reached two years in the field of my work, I took a leave to come back to my hometown. I always think about the grave of my father  that I haven't visited for three years already. I also yearned for my Mom's presence. She often calls me, and states how she also yearns for me. She doesn't know that I will come home.

"Julienne! Buhay pa rin pala 'yong GC nating youth noon! Nag-open ako sa old account ko," parang batang tuwang-tuwang sabi ni Caleb habang nakangiting hinandugan ng tingin ang phone niya.

We're here in the aiport, waiting for the near time of our flight. He also took a leave from his work because we both planned to come back there together. I sat from standing beside him. Dumungaw ako sa phone niya.

"Ngayon lang ba 'yan?"

"Oo. Si Venice 'yong unang nag-ingay, e. Sumunod 'yong iba. They planned to join the upcoming team building."

My eyes slightly widened.

"Talaga? When will that be?" I asked as I felt the brimming excitement inside me.

Ilang taon nang naputol ang pagse-serve ko sa simbahan as a youth servant since I was in my first year college dahil na rin sa FEU ako nag-aral.

I didn't open my account on Facebook anymore since I went here in Manila, the reason why I don't have any informations anymore about the events of the Youth Ministry in Parish. Siguradong maraming bagong members at may pumalit na sigurong youth leaders kina ate Yesha at kuya Aiden, maging sa ibang youth leaders noon.

"Next week daw. Join tayo?" he asked me, smiling.

Dahan-dahan din akong napangiti at tumango. "Of course."

When we were already inside the airplane, he took a selfie of us, and he promptly posted it on his old facebook account. Binaha agad iyon ng mga komento, especially from our co-youth servants back then.

Some of them were astonished because probably, they just recently knew that we came back into each other. Lahat sila alam ang naging break-up namin ni Caleb noon.

When the airplane landed on the airport of our Province, we didn't mispend time. We quickly rode a tricycle towards my Mom's house. Tatlong taon din akong nawalay rito sa probinsiya kung saan ako naipanganak kaya ganoon na lang ang pangungulila ko.

Walang humpay ang pag-ngiti ko habang sakay sa tricycle sa tuwing makikita ko sa labasan ang mga punong dumarami pa na nagbibigay kaginhawaan sa akin.

The nostalgia and euphoria enveloped my heart again when I saw the familiar long road betweem the huge field towards the house in front of lots of roses, denoting that we're already near.

Si Caleb na ang nagdala ng mga gamit ko nang makarating dahil bumaba agad ako't tumakbo papunta sa bahay namin. The door was open so I concluded that she's here.

"Ma!" I shouted. May naririnig akong usapan sa loob. I promptly entered.

Before I could smile widely, it vanished instantly when I saw the owners of the voices that my Mom was talking. Si lola Helene at lolo Renato. Napatingin agad silang lahat sa 'kin.

For the past years, I was trying to remove the idea of their existences from my mind because thinking about them would just bring me back to the time when all I felt was... anguish.

They were the reasons why what ifs and could have beens often enter my mind. Pinilit ko na rin silang kalimutan sa puso't isipan ko dahil ganoon din naman ang ginawa nila sa 'kin.

Kinalimutan nilang may apo sila para sa pangarap nila sa papa ko. They killed me. I was almost killed if only my Mom followed their firm command. Simula nang makaharap ko sila sa hospital, tinatak ko na sa isipan kong hindi na sila magpapakita ulit sa 'kin because they were ungrateful for having me as their grandchild.