Chapter 29: The Nightfall Clan
"She's waiting..."
Maingat na binuksan ko ang pinto ng silid ni Brienne. Hinintay kong pumasok si Caezar ngunit nanatili lang siyang nakatayo. Nung mapagtanto na hindi pa siya handang pumasok ay muli kong sinarado ang pinto.
"It's okay..." I tapped his shoulder. "Take your time, Son. Naghihintay lang siya sa 'yo."
"W-why can't she come out and greet me instead?" he asked, confused. "Nanghina na naman ba siya dahil ginamit niya ang kapangyarihan niya?"
I froze when I realized he had no idea. Hindi nabanggit ni Brienne ang tungkol sa bagay na 'to. Na pansamantala lang siya at kailangan din niyang umalis.
"Nagtatampo ba siya?" tanong pa ni Caezar. "I didn't mean to kick her out last night. Nagulat lang ako, pero wala akong sama ng loob sa kanya."
Hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin sa kanya ang katotohanan tungkol sa kalagayan ni Brienne. Where should I begin? How could I soften the blow? Because no matter where I start, I knew it would hurt him.
"Halika," utos ko sa kanya.
Nauna na akong naglakad palayo roon. Naramdaman ko naman na sumunod siya sa akin. I brought him outside the Mansion. Hanggang tumapat kami sa taniman ng mga pulang rosas.
"I want to bring her back," dinig kong sabi ni Caezar. "To my clan. I want to give her the comfort she deserves after the years she spent worrying about me."
"These flowers were planted by your auntie— Nathalia," I gestured. "Celeste helped her plant these. Kahit na ilang taong wala si Nathalia, hindi niya pinabayaan na malanta ang mga ito."
But now... there were all withered.
Humarap ako kay Caezar. Nakatingin lang siya sa mga bulaklak. Kita ang pamamangha sa kanyang mga mata. It was the first time I mentioned something about his mother.
"Celeste never forgot. Lahat ng sinabi mo sa kanya, kahit na lumipas ang ilang taon, ay naalala pa rin niya. She was never just mine. She was for everyone."
Graceful and mindful— those were the closest words I could describe her. Hindi mo siya kailangang turuan dahil kusa niyang aaralin ang lahat para sa 'yo.
"T-they are all withered..." Caezar whispered.
"Hindi dahil wala nang nag-aalaga sa kanila," sambit ko. "Kung hindi dahil lahat ng bagay sa mundo ay may hangganan. Lahat ng nahahawakan ng oras ay lumilipas."
Napalingon siya sa akin. "I don't understand. Why are you showing me this?"
"Caezar..."
"I could turn her into a vampire. Couldn't I?"
Malungkot na napangiti ako. He reminded me so much of Celeste. He easily understood the subtle hints in between my words.
"Father..." His expression softened. "Hindi pa ako nakakabawi sa mga nagawa niya para sa akin. Hindi pa siya puwedeng umalis. Hindi sa ganitong paraan."
Lumapit ako sa kanya saka siya marahan na hinila at niyakap. Naramdaman kong niyakap niya ako pabalik. Hanggang sa narinig ko ang mahina niyang hikbi.
My poor son. His first heartbreak.
"I-I still cannot let her go," he whimpered.
"It's not about you, Caezar. Sadly, you also have to consider her," bulong ko habang hinahagod ang likod niya. "You made her remaining days in this world remarkable after all."
"No..." He insisted. "It's not enough."
"You will be fine..."
This was just one of the painful goodbyes he had to go through in this lifetime. But just like the rest, he would soon learn to cope with and accept the harsh truth about us. About the life of a vampire.
