Lacuna

15

It's the day before the wedding of your cousin. You're tidying everything in your house after finalizing all the details about your Master's program. The program will start three weeks from now, so you decide the day after the wedding, you'll drive from Bicol to Manila where your bunso is. From there, you'll book the earliest flight out of the country. The most important thing is to see your bunso, leave copies of all the necessary documents to her and see your two older siblings before the program starts.

"Y/N, punta ka sa xxx-xxx hotel if free ka na. Kunin mo na lang keycard sa front desk then diretso ka na sa suite. Andito lang kami nina ate and the parents are looking for you so dinner daw tayo later. -Art"

Once you read the message, you prepare and put the bag with your outfit for tomorrow in the car. You drive to your parents' tomb before you go to where Art and his family are staying.

"Hi po ma...pa." You said as you wiped the dust on their tombstone. "Kamusta po kayo dyan? Palagi man ata ninyo kami binabantayan hehehe I'm finally chose to stop running away po." You smiled sadly. "Pero sana andito pa po kayo para makita ninyo achievements namin magkakapatid. Ako lang yung medyo nalate po... Di ko pa rin kasi tanggap na wala na po kayo... Although a lot of people think na I am stronger than Tricia or Erika kasi andun ako nung nag-grieve sila when they lost one of their parents. Pero ako yung na-stuck sa year na I lost the both of you. I just learned to numb everything and live in ignorance. Mabuti na lang di pa ako nadisown nina lolo and lola hehehe." You scratched your head. "Pero okay na po. I'm trying to heal from everything po. It took me a long time pero I'm in a place na masasabi ko I am starting. Please continue to watch over me sa ibang bansa while I am doing the program. I'll try to visit from time-to-time pero I know mas prefer po ninyo magvisit ako sa mga kapatid ko. I miss you papa and mama. Love you po. Wag po kayo magsawa bantayan kami apat hehehe."

You prayed and lit a candle on their tombstone. You began to tell stories about what had happened to your life so far. What your siblings are currently up to. Before leaving the family cemetery, you also went to your uncles and other grandparents' tombstones and lit candle after candle, wishing for them to watch over the entire family. Satisfied with how much time you spent with your parents, you left happily. Although it was only a one-sided conversation with them, it bought you comfort knowing that maybe up there in heaven, they are listening to your stories.

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"Good evening, everyone, Y/N is on the house!" You announced, walking inside the suite that your cousins booked earlier. Ate Paula and Art were startled when you suddenly appeared, but they immediately recovered. Ate Paula hugged you but excused herself since she's still fixing her things for tomorrow while Art continues watching the television. "Our room is that one. The other one is for ate." He pointed out when he noticed you were dumbly standing up in the middle of the room. "Just drop your thing there."

"San sina tito and tita?" You asked when you didn't see them.

"Nasa bahay. Tayo lang dito. Dinner daw tayo maya-maya sa restaurant malapit dito. Meron lang inaayos si ate." You hummed. You already saw the movie that Art was watching, so you took your phone out and just played with it to kill time.

"So... How have you been? Nagkita na kayo ni Erika?" He asked without taking his eyes off the tv.

"We did. Nagcatch up and everything na kami. I'm good 'insan. Everything is settled so yeah..." You replied while you start playing ML.

"Good. Good." He bobbed his head. "Right, kanina ko lang nalaman nung nagfinalize ng mga guests... Madam VP and her daughters are coming tomorrow... so better prepare yourself?" He said, unsure how you'll react with the news.