Over the Moon (Ongoing)

Chapter 24

Friends

This place plays a big role in my life. I'll never forget this place because it's very sentimental to me. This place had been my comfort zone for years. My safe spot wherein I can let loose and speak out my problems, hatreds, and everything that I'm feeling without anyone judging me.

Dito ako nagpupunta kapag napupuno na ang damdamin ko ng sakit. Dito ako nagpupunta kapag umiiyak ako at hindi ko na kaya. Dito ako nagpupunta kapag nagbabakasakali ako na babalik ulit sa lahat ang dati. Dito ako nagpupunta kapag natatakot ako at hindi ko na alam ang gagawin. And lastly, dito ako nagpupunta kapag namimiss ko na si tatay.

It's hard to witness how my mother cried every night over those early years since he left. It's hard to pretend that everything is fine. It must be very hard for my mother to lift our family alone.

Sumasakit ng sobra ang puso ko at naiiyak na lang ako sa tuwing naiisip ko iyon.

"Are you okay?"

Pumikit ako at ngumiti habang dinadama ang pagdampi ng hangin sa aking pisngi. "Ang ganda."

Sa kabila nang puro kapangitang itinapon at isinigaw ko dito, maganda pa rin ito. Hindi kumupas ang ganda, pero hindi rin nawala. May sakit parin at hindi ko alam kung mawawala pa ito. Tanggap ko na ang nangyari sa aming pamilya.

Patuloy lang ang pag ihip ng malamig na simoy ng hangin. I brushed my hair and looked at him. He's just staring at me, not even bother with his hair dancing because of the wind.

"Oo dahil nandito ulit ako."

Possible palang maghatid sayo ng sakit at saya ang isang alaala sa iyong nakaraan. How bad I am to be here. I only brought out my anger and frustrations here but this place still shows me how beautiful it is. Reminding me that despite all of the pain I'm enduring, problems that I'm facing, I still have people whom I have by my side, who love me. That I got to be strong because I felt that I'm also the source of their strength. They rely on me.

"Nakapunta kana dito?" aniya nang walang sabing umupo ako sa damuhan. Ganun din ang ginawa niya at tumabi sa akin.

"Oo, ikaw? Paano mo nalaman ang lugar na ito?"

Tago ang lugar na ito sa pagkakaalam ko.

"I liked to explore when I was a kid. It happened that I got here when I wandered around. What about you?"

I took a deep breath and sighed.

"Umiiyak ako nang mapadpad ako dito." I shed all the tears I had that day. Buti na nga lang at ligtas akong nakauwi sa amin noon.

"Okay lang bang tanungin ko kung bakit ka umiiyak nang mapunta ka dito?"

I looked at him.

"Refuse to answer if my question is too personal." Pahabol niya.

Napangiti ako bigla. Now he's asking a consent. Tumingin ako sa lawa kung saan sumasalamin ang liwanag ng buwan.

"I was crying all the way here after a man abandoned me, my father." Nakaramdam ako ng pagbabara sa aking lalamunan.

"He left us, his family that day and I don't know the reason. I was badly hurt, seeing my mother crying. Too much heartache to see my sister, just looking at her innocently without knowing that she was also abandoned."

Niyakap ko ang mga tuhod ko and leaned closer, still gazing at the view.

"I chased him for the sake of my family. For the sake of me and my sister pero bigo ako dahil hindi na niya kami binalikan. Akala ko pag nakita niya akong umiiyak, maaawa siya at hindi na aalis pero mas pinili parin niyang iwanan kami. He left without giving any reason. Sorry lang ang huling narinig ko mula sa kanya." Ani ko habang bumabagsak ang mga luha sa aking pisngi.