Written On A Canvas

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

"Yaya Moning... She passed away two years ago," I heard him talk but I didn't glanced at him. My eyes were just fixated on the name written on the tomb. May panghihinayang na namumuo sa kaloob-looban ko at pinapalabas ko iyon sa pamamagitan ng luha.

He went to the side of the grave and sat on it as I kneeled in front of it. Pinahiran ko ang pisngi ko dahil basa na ito. Biglang pumasok sa isipan ko ang ngiti ni Yaya Moning kapag pinag bubuksan niya ako ng pinto.

I was sure she was an angel. She's so kind and loving. Her care for us was incomparable. Tinuring niya rin kaming mga anak niya. Isa siya sa mga unang taong hinayaan kong tawagin akong Ice at kailanman hindi niya ako pinapabayaan basta naroon ako sa kanila. Palagi niya kaming inuuna. Sa amin niya binubuhos ang pagmamahal niya bilang ina sa halip na sa mga anak niyang tinaboy siya.

Nakakapanghinayang lang kasi hindi ko na siya nakausap simula 'nong umalis ako. Puro ako sarili. Ni hindi ko man lang sinubukang kamustahin sila dito. And now, I will never have that chance anymore. To see her kind smile, to hear her teases... Hindi na mangyayari iyon. If only I became brave enough to look back, I wouldn't have wasted chances.

"She died due to heart attack," Zibon said, while looking down on the tomb. "She was cleaning the kitchen when it happened. They tried bringing her to RHU but it was too late. Iyon 'yung sabi nina Tito Xavier at Auntie Ad..."

Pumintig ang tenga ko dahil roon at umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya, nag-aalala. "Sila... Tita Ad? Tito Xavier? Kumusta naman sila?" mahina kong tanong. Paano kapag may nangyari rin sa kanila?

He glanced at me. "They're fine..." sagot niya naman. "Nasa Sangalang sila ngayon. Umalis sila sa dating bahay matapos mawala ni Yaya Moning. Doon na sila nanirahan."

Mahina akong tumango at dahil sa narinig, medyo gumaan ang pakiramdam ko knowing na maayos naman ang pangalawang magulang ko. Hindi talaga ako pinatulog ng utak ko kaiisip na baka sila ang makita ko rito. Seeing Yaya Moning's name broke my heart, too. I just... don't wanna lose anyone else, I guess.

"Biglaan lang din 'yong pagkawala niya," kwento ni Zibon. "I'm out of the country that time. When I heard the news, I immediately flew here. I was also worried for Uncle Xavier and Auntie Ad because Aly doesn't live with them anymore..." He drew a deep breathe, still not looking away from the tomb. "Kuya Xael followed the day after, and then Aly. Sinettle agad 'yong burial... and everyone just has to... accept that it happened."

I didn't removed my gaze at him. As I was listening to him, he was too calm. Na para bang he lived past the pain. Na parang hindi niya hinayaang maapektuhan siya ng sobra ng sakit kasi alam niyang masama lang ang maidudulot 'non sa kanya. As what I can notice, he became stronger. Than ever.

At the back of my head, naisip kong baka maging sobrang traumatic ang pagkawala ni Yaya Moning sa kanya at baka bumalik ang... kondisyon niya dati. Ngunit nakikita namang nagfu-function lahat ng parte ng katawan niya. Meaning... sobrang strong niya na ngayon kasi hindi na siya naswa-sway ng disorder niya.

Ang layo niya na tignan.

"You finally moved on with... everyone's death?" I asked carefully, still looking at him.