Drowning In Your Love

37

Forgive

"Mommy!" Tawag ko sa ina at tumakbo na palapit sa kanya.

Nasa himpapawid pa lamang kami sakay ng chopper ay kitang-kita na ang dilobyong natamo ng Siargao dahil sa dumaang bagyo.

Halos humagulgol ako nang makita ang sira-sirang mga bahay at establishments. Kahit ang mga puno ay nagsitumbahan. Wala ni-isang makikitang maayos pa na nakatayong bahay.

"Tilly, anak..." Pahigpit kaming nagyakapan ni mommy.

Masasabi talagang sobrang lakas ng dumaang bagyo dahil kahit ang resort namin na isa sa mga ginagawang evacuation center ng mga emplayado kapag may ganitong sakuna ay halos mawasak sa lakas ng ulan at hangin.

The roofs came off, the glass are broken and some of the posts are destroyed. It's was a very different Isla Sanseverino from the last time I saw it.

"How are you, mom? Nagkapagpa-check na ba kayo ni daddy kung may injury kayo or what?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong pagkatapos ng aming yakapin.

"I'm alright, princess..." she's smiling, but why do I feel like there's something wrong.

"Mom, where's daddy?" I asked after looking around and couldn't see my father.

Umiiling-iling si mommy tapos bigla nalang umiyak kaya mas lalo akong nataranta.

"Mommy? Bakit? Ano pong nangyari?"

"Your daddy...he's..."

I can't understand what she's saying.

"Baby..." Napabaling ako kay Hezekiah. "Let's go to your house first and talk there..."

"Huh? Why not now, Nigel? I need to see my daddy first. Where is he? Nasa office ba? I'll go ther-"

Maglalakad na sana ako paalis pero hinawakan ni Hezekiah ang kamay ko para pigilan ako.

"What?" My voice slightly rose at him.

I became more anxious the moment I step put in our resort, but I was even more nervous when my mother started crying. I don't really know what to do, but one thing I really want right now is to see my father.

"Let's calm down first, hija." Sambit ni daddy Nico.

Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa mga kasama ko, pinipilit ang sariling kumalma.

"I'm sorry, Tilly..." Panimula ni mommy, umiiyak pa rin. "I tried to stop him...I-" She shook her head.

"Dad saved a kid from drowning." Si Hezekiah na ang nagtuloy sa sinasabi ng aking ina.

I turned and look at my husband very intently.

"The kid is alive, but your dad didn't make it, Tiana."

Nakatitig pa rin ako kay Hezekiah, pinoproseso ang mga narinig. Makalipas ang ilang sandali, hindi na napigilan ng mga luha ko na bumagsak.

My husband immediately went to me and hug me very tightly, that's when I started bawling. Mommy cried again along with mama. Daddy Nico is trying to calm them both.

"Nigel, my...my daddy..."

Hezekiah didn't say anything but he kept on caressing my back. I felt a little comfort because of what he's doing.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal humagulgol sa bisig ng aking asawa. Daddy Nico suggested that we should go to our house first to calm down and rest. Sumang-ayon si Hezekiah kaya inalalayan na nila kami pauwi, pero hindi rin ako nakapagpahinga ng maayos dahil kahit bahagyang tumigil na sa pag-iyak, nakatulala naman ako habang nakaupo sa aming sofa sa living room.