He Was My Umbrella

46

(Continuation of the prologue)

He's still here.

He is right in front of me. He looks the same, nothing has changed. He doesn't look like his age. Gosh, he's still so handsome.

Ever since I left this town when I went to law school, I've never met with him or even seen him. I've been so busy, I couldn't celebrate my birthdays, I can't even make an Instagram post. Law school was terrible.

But all thanks to God, I was a top-notcher in the Bar Examinations. Might be my best achievement.

After the church service, my friends were waiting for me outside. Engr. Cabrera then whispered something to Aaron, and then looked at me.

When our eyes met, I no longer felt a spark. I no longer felt butterflies, or kilig. Wala na. It was long gone.

He didn't even greet me, or even flashed his eyebrows at me. I tried to smile at him but he already turned away.

"Kumusta na, Adi?" Tanong ni Adrian sa akin. "Attorney pala."

"I'm okay, Doc. Ikaw?"

"Still surviving med school," he chuckled.

"Congrats, Atty. Adi and Cheska!" Bati ni Icah sa aming dalawa ni Cheska. Top-notcher kasi kaming dalawa ni Ches, magkasunod pa.

"Thank you, Icah." Sabi ko. "Gosh, I've missed you all." I got teary-eyed so I took a deep breath.

"This calls for lunch." Yaya ni Aaron.

"Sige, my treat," sabi ko. Siyempre, homecoming ko 'to kaya ako dapat ang manlibre. "Sino sasabay sa akin?"

"Lahat ng girls na lang!" Suggestion ni France.

Um-agree ako doon para naman makapag-chikahan kami. My dad taught me how to drive as soon as I turned 18. Though, kailangan pa din mag driving school. He also bought me a car when I graduated college.

"So, kamusta lovelife, Atty?" Tanong ni Icah. "Sinagot mo ba si 'Doc manliligaw'?"

"Si Calvin? Ah, oo. Sinagot ko 'yun. Pero hindi kami nagtagal since parehas busy with med and law school. Plus, fucking cheater."

"So much has happened ever since you left. Si Renzo nga mayroong rumored girlfri-" Tinakpan ni France ang bibig ni Icah.

Hindi ko iyon pinansin dahil wala naman akong pakialam. Edi magka-girlfriend siya.

We've cut connections since. 'Di na niya ako kinausap. Kaya, hindi ko na rin siya kinausap. Bigla na lang ganun, tapos in-unfollow pa ako sa IG. Nang-ghost, ganun. Tapos kanina, wala man lang hi or hello. Para bang wala kaming pinagsamahan ng kung ilang taon. Bahala siya, not my loss.

"Kung alam niyo lang pano hinanap-hanap at kung paano nabaliw 'yang si Renzo noong nawala ka. Lagi kaming kinakausap." Sabi ni France.

"Wala akong pakialam." Sabi ko, walang emosyon.

Hindi nagtagal at nakarating na kami sa restaurant. I want this to be over, ang dami lang nilang pinapaalala sa akin.

Hindi na rin ako nagtagal over lunch dahil may aasikasuhin pa akong kaso sa bahay. Dito na ako nagpatayo ng firm sa Cavite.

Habang pauwi, nadaanan ko ang bahay ni Tita Sally. Liliko na sana ako pero naisipan ko dumaan muna sa bahay nila at magpakita.

I rang their doorbell and Rai opened the gate moments later.

"A-ate Adi?" She seemed so shocked.

"Raine." Ang laki na niya. She was an adult already too.

She hugged me, without saying a word. She hugged me so tight. I missed her so much.

"Tara, pasok tayo." Aya niya.

There was Tita Sally sitting on the couch, crocheting. I walked up to her and sat beside her.

"Adelaide?" Parang hindi siya makapaniwala. "Adelaide!" Biglang tayo at yakap niya sa akin. "How've you been?! How many years has it been? You're back! Sana nagsabing kang pupunta ka, naipagluto sana kita!"

"It's okay, Tita. Kumain na po ako, kakagaling ko lang po ng church, e. Tapos kumain po kami ng lunch." Sabi ko.

Later on, I heard a toddler cry. Huh? Nagkaanak pa si Tita Sally?

I followed Rai when she entered the room where the kid was. It resembled Renzo. Is it his?

"Ate Adi, this is Luna, Ate's daughter."

Oh, I forgot.

"Hala, oo nga pala. I saw her at Ate's post! How could I forget?" I chuckled. I carried the kid in my arms. She was about two or three years old. She is very cute and resembles her mom very well. I also couldn't make it to Ate Rach's wedding because it was sudden and I was busy. I also missed Rai's debut.

"Wala si Ate, e. Nasa work kaya kami ang nag-aalaga," sabi ni Rai.

"Luna,"

The kid gasped. "Tito!"

I was stunned. Tito? Sino pa bang Tito niya dito?! I turned around kasi nagpupumilit ang bata na makita ang Tito niya.

Our eyes met again. This time, I smiled at him. He smiled back, but it was very faint.

"Kuya, I thought pupunta dito si Ate Andrea? Nasaan na siya?" Tanong ni Rai.

'Yun siguro 'yung girlfriend niya.

"No, she isn't going here. Lumabas na lang daw kami, sasama ka ba?" Tanong ng Kuya niya pabalik.

"No, ayaw kong makasira sa moment."

"'Wag na, tinatamad na rin ako."
Umirap lang ang Kuya niya. Hindi na rin ito madaldal. Bumalik na siya sa dating Renzo.

Bumaba si Luna sa sahig at naglakad papunta sa Tito niya. He carried the child and kissed her multiple times. Baby fever. Niyakap niya pa ito ng mahigpit.

"Tita, Rai, I'll get going now. Nice to see you again po."

"Okay, Adi! Daan ka ulit dito some time!"

Tumango lang ako doon at lumabas na. I started my engine. Bago pa ako makaandar, may kumatok sa bintana ko. Engr. Cabrera was the one who was knocking.

"You left your bag, Attorney." he handed me my bag.

"Thank you, Engineer." I grabbed it.

"Drive safely," sabi niya bago ako talikuran. Wala na naman siyang emosyon noong sinabi niya iyon.

Bahala na siya, sige, 'wag talaga kami mag-usap. Pataasan pala ng pride, ah.

Mas mataas ang akin.

I scoffed by the thought. 'Di na ako immature para habulin pa siya tulad ng ginagawa ko dati. Ang tanda tanda niya na, 33 tapos wala pang asawa? Ano siya? Gurang? Baka 'di lang talaga siya nagugustuhan ng mga tao dahil sa ugali niya. Ang pangit pangit niya, mukha siyang matandang matanda na. Ay nako, wala talagang magkakagusto diyan. Buti nga ako pinagtiisan ko 'yan dati, e. Yuck! Pinagsisisihan ko lahat ng nangyari at pinagsamahan namin!

Hindi nagtagal at nakarating din ako sa bahay.

"Nagpakita ka ba sa Tita Sally mo?" Tanong agad sa akin ni Dad.

"Yes, Dad. Pati 'yung gago niyang anak." Umirap ako.

"Bakit, ano'ng ginawa sa 'yo ni Renzo?" Natatawang sabi niya.

"Eh ayun! Hindi ako pinapansin! Kala niya kung sino siya, ang tagal tagal naming nagkasama dati, tapos parang wala lang?! Ganoon na lang ba lahat ng iyon?!" Inis na sabi ko.

Bakit ba parang sobrang affected ko?! Wala na nga akong pakialam, 'di ba? Bwiset!

"Give him time. Give yourself time, too. You guys had space. So much space. It will just take time then you'll both be pulled by your own gravity,"

"I wouldn't wish!" Sabi ko at umakyat sa kwarto ko.

Pero, pogi niya pa din talaga. Shet, rupok!

*****