Pay The Price

Kabanata 66

Dimitri

My father often told me when I was a kid to be careful with everything I do. He always says that whatever we do to other people will always come back to us. That whatever we put in to the universe will always come back. And I've been always good. I have always been a good son. I have always been a good nephew. I have always been a good cousin. I have always been a good student. I have always been very good. All I ever did my whole life is be kind and generous to other. I am always good. Kaya hindi ko malaman ang dahilan kung bakit ko mararanasan ang sakit na kailanman ay hindi ko makakalimutan.

It was a cold rainy night. Suot ang ternong pantulog ay bumaba ako mula sa kwarto papunta sa sala. My parents said that they'll be home at ten pero dumaan nalang ang isang oras ay hindi pa rin sila nakakauwi. I pouted and sat on the sofa. Ang sabi nila ay may ibibigay sila sa akin. Tuwang- tuwa kong isipin na iyon ang librong sinasabi ko sa kanila na gusto kong basahin. I ace our exam the other day kaya naman sabi nila ay may reward daw ako.

Pumunta akong mag- isa sa kusina. Yaya is already asleep and I don't want to wake her up because I know that she's tired from taking care of me all day. Kaya ko naman na gumawa ng hot chocolate kaya ayos lang. When I went back to the living room, I put the mug on the cabinet but my hand slipped and pushed the picture frame.

The sound of crashing glasses filled the room. My heart suddenly raced fast for an unknown reason. Yumuko ako at pinulot ang picture frame para tingnan kung ano ang nahulog. I saw that it was a picture of my Mom and Dad smiling. Kumabog na naman ang dibdib ko. I ran to the place where the telephone was and dialed Mom's number. It is ringing but she's not answering it. I tried to call her and Dad's number again and again but I still get the same response.

Why are they not answering? Did something happen? Are they lost somewhere?

Huminto ang pagkabog ng puso ko noong marinig ang pagsagot ng tawag sa kabilang linya. I breathed heavily.

"Mommy, where are you?" Malambing kong tanong sa kabilang linya. I heard a man's sigh followed by the noises of men shouting.

"I'm sorry, kid. Your Mom and Dad died on a car accident."

That was the moment I almost froze. Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang pinakikinggan ang paglalarawan ng pulis kina Mommy at Daddy at sa sobrang panghihina ay napasalampak ako sa sahig. I was too shocked to process that my Mom and Dad died that when my uncle burst in the door, I didn't even hear him.

"Tri! Tri!" I blinked as I saw my Uncle Carlos. Niyugyog niya ang balikat ko at noong makitang napansin ko na siya ay saka niya ako niyakap. "I'm sorry, son."

Naramdaman ko ang paninikip ng dibdib. I held my chest as I felt my heart breaking into pieces. There were no tears but my breaking heart is much more painful.

"I-It's not true, right? Tito, t-tell me my parents aren't d-dead," Pagsusumamo ko kay Tito Carlos. He wrapped me in a tight hug. Can join us. Nakita ko ang pagpatak ng luha niya sa mga mata.

"I'm sorry, Dimitri." Mahinang sabi ng pinsan ko sa akin.

Nagwala ako nang nagwala noong gabi na iyon. Hindi ko matanggap ang nangyari. We were just happily talking over the phone hours ago. Bakit ganito ang nangyari ngayon?

I was silent as we reached the morgue and I immediately saw two body bags. The police said that the bags aren't allowed to be open. Lumapit ako sa dalawang bangkay na nasa harapan ko. I kneeled down and question everything that happens. All my life, my parents have always been my role model. I aspire to be like them one day. They are kind, generous and always find a way to help other people. Kaya bakit sa kanila nangyari ito? Why do they have to be the one lying dead when there are thousands of bad people out there living their life?