Tanging Dahilan

Chapter 25

LAURD'S POV

Kakagising ko lang at tulala kong tinitigan ang kisame ng kwarto, Until now I can't believe that Lolo is gone.

Ang akala ko ay lalaban pa ito, dahil yun naman lage ang ipinangako niya sa akin, sa amin pero wala talaga. Maybe this is really his time because marami naman kaming pera, pero bakit hindi parin namin na-agapan ang sakit niya?

Tumulo na naman ang luha ko upon remembering all the good times I spent with him.

Kahit noong hinatid na ang mga labi nito sa bahay for his memorial, panay parin ang iyak ko, ni hindi ko nareplyan ang mga messages ni Sam and I only manage to say "Thank you." Sobrang bigat lang talaga ng nararamdaman ko that I want to absorb all the things that just happen by myself. 

I woke up very late having a heavy feeling na nung tingnan ko ang oras ay alas 3 na ng hapon. Hindi ko alam kung anong oras ako nakatulog kagabi dahil nanatili ako sa tabi ni Lolo, watching him on his coffin.

I rise from the bed at nag tungo agad sa banyo. I have to take a shower at least dahil two days na akong hindi nakakapag-ligo.

Everything around me feels so gloomy and sad dahil lahat kaming nandito sa bahay ay apektado. Even my relationship with Sam, I never responded to her text messages at alam ko na mali ako dun pero walang-wala lang talaga ako sa sarili ko. I don't want to appear so weak on her kahit na mabigat talaga ang loob ko. I just don't want to burden and sadden her sa kung ano man ang nararamdaman ko.

After I'm done taking the shower at makapag-bihis, I went downstairs. Nabulabog ang tahimik na bahay when I heard some voices in the living room. It was dad, mom, and a voice of a woman that I am very much familiar with.

I walk straight to the living room to confirm if my guess is right. At hindi nga ako nagkakamali it's Laine.

I don't know what to feel, if I would be relieve or get angry na nandito ito. Masyadong malungkot ang nararamdaman ko kaya hindi ko mahinuha kung ano ang magiging reaksiyon ko sa kanya.

"I am sorry for your loss Tito and Tita. Lolo Anton was such a good person to me." malungkot na saad nito. Hindi parin nila napapansin ang presensiya ko.

I actually told lolo na break na kami ni Laine since lage akong nag kukuwento sa kanya.

"I know iha, thank you for coming all through here from Manila." saad ni dad.

"I actually rush, Tito. Upon hearing Lolo Anton's death."

"Mabuti at maayos kang makarating iha." si mom. Alam ni mom na break na kami ni Laine but I know she is not a type of person who holds grudges in behalf of his son's personal life.

Dad finally notices me at agad binalingan ako.

"Laurd?Nakababa kana pala. How are you anak?" may pag-aalala sa boses nito.

"Babe!" Laine run towards me at niyakap ako, she even kiss my check. Nagulat ako sa ginawa niya. Even mom's expression is a bit confuse pero si dad lang ang nakangiti habang tinitingan kami.

"What are you doing here?" that sounded rude pero hindi niya ako masisi.

"Laurd, I know you are sad about your Lolo's death pero wag mo namang pagsalitaan ng ganyan ang girlfriend mo as if she is a nobody." ma-awtoridad na sabi ni daddy.

"It's okay Tito. I understand his situation right now."

Gusto ko sanang umatungal but mom's eyes tells me not to do it. Nakalimutan ko na hindi nga pala alam ni Dad na hiwalay na kami ni Laine.