He Was My Umbrella

39

"Just never grow up."

Natapos na namin ang kanta sa wakas. Medyo nagkakamali kasi ako sa ibang parts kasi hindi ko pa masyadong gamay. 'Yung pagkanta niya naman is maganda, maayos, bagay sa boses niya. Magugustuhan 'to ni Rai, panigurado.

I dropped my guitar on the couch and nag browse lang sa Instagram ko, ganoon din ang ginawa ni Ren. Kaka-scroll ko, napadpad ako sa pic ni Icah. Kasama niya si Adrian at naglalaro sila ng COD at ang caption ay, 'Losestreak! Sorry, Ad.' Natawa naman ako kaya napatingin sa 'kin si Kuya.

"Oh," kinuha niya ang paperbag. "For you." Inabot niya sa akin.

"For me?" I placed my hand on my chest. "What for?"

"Nothing, just wanted to give you something," he shrugged.

I opened the bag and saw a light-green dress that was 2 inches above my knees. It was an off-shoulder. It was so nice!

"Thank you!"

"Don't celebrate just yet, that's not the actual gift," he chuckled.

I quickly looked inside the bag and saw a small red box. It was interesting so I picked it up and opened it.

Wow.

Just wow.

It was a necklace. Scales of Justice 'yung pendant niya.

"Is this real gold?" Naiiyak kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Yeah," he answered like it wasn't a big deal.

I stood up and hugged him tight. He seemed surprised but hugged me back naman.

"Thank you so much!" I happily thanked him.

"C'mon, let me put it on you," he offered.

I sat in front of him until I felt the cold metal against my neck. I pushed my hair to the side so he could lock it.

"There,"

I faced him and hugged him tight again. A hug of gratitude. Wala pang nagreregalo sa akin ng gold na alahas bukod sa kaniya. And to come think of it, may connect sa buhay ko 'yung pendant.

"It's custom made. I actually had a hard time thinking of the pendant. Kung anong design ba ang magugustuhan mo," he shrugged.

"Thank you talaga! This pendant is the best you could ever think of! Ang saya ko, grabe," I sighed. Hinihingal kasi ako.

"I'm glad you like it," he smiled at me.

"I will never take it off, I promise."

"Okay, but take it off it it's necessary, ha. I don't want it to be the reason para mahirapan ka just because of a promise," he put his hands together.

Minutes later, I went to my balcony. I was wearing a white cardigan because it was a chilly night. I was just sitting on the bench while looking at the city lights in the distance. All I could think about was my mom.

Kuya opened the door and sat beside me after a few seconds. He might've noticed that I was taking long in my room.

"Ano'ng iniisip mo?" he suddenly asked.

"Si Mama." malungkot na sabi ko. "I always wonder kung kumusta na kaya siya. Is she happy with her new family? She never showed up since the day she left the house. I wonder if she's abroad, or maybe she's far away from Cavite," I sighed. "But I don't think I could face her anymore. After all she's done. After she left, all I did was to question myself. Did I fail as a daughter? Or did my father fail as a husband? May kulang ba sa amin para iwan niya kami ng ganon ganon na lang? Mahirap ba akong mahalin bilang anak?" I looked at him with tearful eyes.

"No. Even if I'm not your parent, I don't think so. Because look at me, I'm just a friend, pero mahal kita. And I'm not having a hard time to do so. O 'di ba? Sa friend pa lang 'yan, what more pa sa parents? And observing Tito, he seems to love you so much naman. See? Hindi ka mahirap mahalin," he smiled. "Even my mom loves you, even my sisters."

"Yeah, I can see that. Your mom stood up as my mother. I'm very thankful for her, for you. You acted as family even though I'm just the daughter of your mom's friend," I wiped my tears.

"Just the daughter? Adi, you're family. Tingin mo ba maglalaan ako ng oras sa 'yo katulad nito dahil kaibigan ka lang? Yes, 'yun ang tingin ko sa 'yo noong una, pero hindi pala. You're more than just a friend," he pursed his lips. "Putcha, Adelaide. Parte na ka na ng buhay namin e. Parte ka na ng buhay ko...hindi na kita matatanggal. Andito ka na, e." Parang naiiyak na siyang ewan. "Kaya...andito lang kami para sa 'yo. 'Wag mong kalilimutan 'yan. Iwan ka ng lahat sa mundo, pero hindi kami, hindi ako. Andito lang kami. Dahil mahal na mahal ka namin. Si Mami, bilang anak niya, sa mga kapatid ko na bilang kapatid nila. At higit sa lahat...ako. Mahal kita, Adi...bilang lahat, maging sino ka man." Kinuha niya ang panyo at pinunasan ang luha.

Napa-pahid ako sa luha ko. I never thought that it would be emotional for me and Kuya. Niyakap niya ako at nanatili kaming ganoon.

"Salamat, Kuya... maraming salamat. Pinaramdam mo sa 'kin 'yung mga wala sa akin. Mahihirapan na rin akong pakawalan ka pa, kahit sino man sa inyo. Mahal rin kita, Kuya. Ikaw ba naman na kahit may ibang priorities sa buhay, tapos maglalaan ka pa ng oras sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung ano tayo, pero isa lang nasa isip ko," I sighed. "Pamilya. Pamilya tayo. Pamilya na kita," sabi ko, hindi ko pa rin tinatanggal ang yakap ko sa kaniya.
"Mahal na mahal ko kayo, Kuya. No words could ever express my love and gratitude for you all. You guys are too incomparable. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, always. Maraming salamat din, Adelaide. Sana matupad mo lahat ng pangarap mo, andito lang kami para gumabay sa iyo. Andiyan din ang mga kaibigan natin, lalo na si Icah at si Cheska at siyempre ako. Mahal na mahal kita, Adi. Mahal na mahal ka namin. Sobra. So, if it gets too heavy for you to carry, we're here for you to share the burden you're carrying. We're here. I'm here," he assured me.

"Always, Adi."

*****