Unfinished Tale (✔️)

Kabanata 4

Cleotha

The dots that I was trying to connect made sense to me. It was four days ago since I realized everything. I started dreaming about strange and vivid places with vague faces of people in an old century since I was ten. Gabi-gabing nagpapatuloy lamang ang mga panaginip na parang bawat episode ng isang teleserye. But even once, I have never heard voices for the past few years. Ngayon lamang kung kaya't nalaman ko ang pangalan ng lalaking palaging nasa panaginip ko.

Si Lucas Delgado.

Kaya pala noong nagdesisyon ako sa ipapangalan sa magiging karakter ko ay pamilyar sa 'kin ang pangalang ito. It was really strange. Sa tuwing naiisip ko ang lahat ay kusang tumatayo ang mga balahibo ko. I can feel that it isn't just a coincidence.

"Cleotha? Bunso?" I heard my sister's voice. She started to knock the door after that.

"Yes?" I responded with an audible voice.

Abala ako sa paghahanda sa sarili para magsimba. Today's Sunday kaya't buong pamilya na naman kaming sabay na pupunta sa simbahan. Well, of course, my parents are really present to show another indication of hypocrisy. Mismong pagkatapos ng misa, pinag-uusapan nila ang napapansin sa mga nagsisimba.

"We're waiting for you to be done. Pupunta na raw tayo sa simbahan," Ate responded.

I checked the time on my wristwatch. Napakunot ang noo ko. Ang aga naman. Tsk. I heaved a sigh. Well, what's new. Makikipagplastikan pa kasi si Mom sa mga amiga niya sa simbahan. She thought I didn't notice it.

For the past days, I was trying to be busy in doing my schoolwork because I want to divert my attention to it. Ayokong isipin ang nangyari sa gabing 'yon. I don't want to remember the screams and thorn words that I heard and received. I want to bury what happened that night into oblivion just like what I always used to do. Nililibing ko ang mga hinanakit kahit buhay pa naman ang mga ito.

It is because they are better be dead than being acknowledged as alive.

However, I know that no matter how I bury them six feet under the ground, their souls would still haunt me at night whenever I'm alone and would inform me that they're here for revenge because I buried them alive.

Mas binilisan ko ang pag-aayos dahil ayaw ko nang marindi sa mga sigaw nilang dalawa. Saglit kong pinagmasdan ang sarili sa salamin. I was wearing a brown long dress until the knees. Nilugay ko lang ang kulot kong buhok na hanggang bewang. I never had a plan on cutting it because I consider it like a treasure because it hides my tears whenever my emotions push me to cry in public.

I quickly opened the door after and there, I saw my sister that looks so patient on waiting for me. Agad itong ngumiti sa akin. Paano niya nakayang maging pasensiyosa? Kasi ako, hindi ko kaya. Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit siya ang paboritong anak sa amin bukod sa nalaman kong dahilan. She's too good to be true. Nasa kaniya na nga siguro lahat. I don't know why she looks so blessed upon having me as her sister.

Hinawakan nito ang aking balikat nang pababa na kami sa mataas na hagdan. Doon ko lang nakita ang kabuoan niya. She was also wearing a long dress, an orange dress. Magkamukha silang dalawa ni Mommy. Tuwid ang kaniyang buhok na hanggang bewang, at nasa lahi na rin namin ang pagkakaroon ng mala-porselanang balat. Unfortunately, my whole face except for my amber eyes resembles the cheater's face. And I'll forever loathe that.

On the other hand, I am disappointed that I'm not adopted because I look like my cheater father.

"All of my amigas are already waiting for me at the church! God, kasalanan na naman 'to ng anak mo!" Malapit na kami ni Ate nang marinig ko ang boses ni Mom.