Ophelia (Overseas Series 1)

Kabanata 6

#OpheliaKab6

"A 59-yr old Filipina woman was pushed down the subway train in New York City by an unidentified man at around 5 in the afternoon. The woman has been identified as Lyla Anderson who is said to be just visiting her daughter in New York. Anderson was immediately rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Authorities are now searching for the man..."

Tita Lyla was all over the news. Her death was all over the news.

To say that what happened broke my heart is an understatement. It broke me in pieces that are beyond repairable. How much more the Andersons? Sumisikip ang aking dibdib remembering what happened the first few hours when Tita's cold body arrived in the land where she lived beautifully.

Ate Lilac was with her. Gone was the woman who was named after a flower because she was Tito and Tita's different and favorite kind of first love. They said that the moment Ate Lilac was born in that one beautiful spring, their life blossomed. And she always does— anywhere and whatever Ate Lilac does, she blooms, but not this time.

She's like a sunflower that lost the warmth of the sun. A waterlily left in the desert. A rose with a bitter fragrance. She's a dying lilac.

I was the first one ate Lilac contacted through a medical personnel's number. She requested me to be with the male Andersons when she breaks the tragic news of what happened to the light of their home.

And I was there.

I was there when Tito William, a tough man I always look up to, wept on his knees as he shouted with agonizing pain audible in the whole house where he once filled with laughter, silly jokes, little banters, sweet promises, and unforgettable kisses with Tita Lyla. Tito William cursed and questioned the universe for taking the love of his life.

I was there when Lukas, whom I think isn't sober enough to absorb everything, but sane enough to understand that Tito William's weeping says that what he heard is true, grabbed his keys and ran outside their house.

Patakbo ko siyang sinundan at naabutan na kahit hilam ng luha ang mga mata ay sinusubukan niyang buksan ang kanyang sasakyan. He was trying not to make a sound from his pain and grief, but the amount of tears falling from his eyes betrayed him.

He can cry. He can cry to me, so I hugged him as tight as I could, and whispered words that I know will never enough to comfort him, but he deserves to hear, nonetheless.

"I know you're not okay right now," I whispered as I caressed his back, trying to hold back the tears that are starting to flood my own vision. "Lukas, cry it out. I am just here. It's okay, you can cry."

And just like that Lukas wailed like a baby who needed his mother and like a boy who wanted his mother to kiss his small wounds. However, this time, it's different. There will be no more Tita Lyla who will carry her sweet baby when he cries. There will be no more Tita Lyla who will run to that boy and kiss his wounds. As a man, Lukas wailed because there will be no more Tita Lyla in his life.

Dalawang araw pa lang ang lumipas pero parang ang tulin ng mga pangyayari. I filed for a week of leave. Bahala sila, mag-reresign na rin naman ako. I want to help Ate Lilac and Tito William in every way that I can, including being with Lukas as much as possible. I intently watched Lukas sleep while the smell of alcohol is seeping in every corner of his room. I was deeply wondering how he can survive every day of his life without drowning himself with alcohol, when I suddenly heard a few knocks from the door.

I was surprised to meet the chinito eyes of Lukas' dude. The way he's staring at me made me feel like I was caught red-handed of doing a crime called watching Lukas sleep. In my defense, hindi ko naman talaga siya tinititigan, nakatunghay lang ako sa kanya habang malalim ang iniisip ko kanina.