RAMSEY [TDH - V]

Chapter 21

ANDREAS DUNCAN

2 days have passed since her brother's death and all she did was cry in front of the coffin. She was not able to entertain the visitors because of her painful way of grieving.

There were several people who came to Kit Mendez's wake, some were teens just like him. But most of them were adults and by the looks of their faces, they are acquaintances of the Mendez siblings.

Every person who came to the wake were investigated privately by my people and am I confident that everybody inside this room are good people.

Even at a distance, I could still hear Letizia's sobs and her murmurs to her brother's coffin.

It startled me to see her stand up and walked to the podium beside the coffin. She heaved a deep breath and I positioned myself close to her.

"Good evening sa inyo... Pasensya na kung hindi ko kayo magawang kausapin isa isa. Gusto ko kasing lubusin lahat ng natitirang panahon na nandito pa ang kapatid ko eh..."

She paused and wiped off the tear that escaped her eyes.

"Alam kong kilala niyo na kami ng kapatid ko simula pa no'ng bata pa kami. Alam niyo rin kung gaano katigas ng ulo ng kapatid ko, at nasisiguro kong alam niyo rin kung gaano siya kabait bilang tao, bilang kaibigan... at bilang kapatid."

She weakly smiled.

"Alam mo Kit, simula pa no'ng bata ka pa, ako na palagi ang nagbabantay sayo... Kahit noong hindi pa tayo iniwan ng mga taong iyon... Natuto tayong mabuhay ng tayong dalawa lang, at nagpapasalamat ako kasi nakuntento ka sakin at sa kung anong kaya kong ibigay sayo..."

"Naalala mo ba no'ng 8 ka palang, sabi mo..." she stopped suddenly and sobbed. I could feel her pain. "Sabi mo, 'ate, gusto ko maging sundalo kasi kapag malaki na ako, ako naman mag alaga at mag protekta sayo...' ang pangit lang kasi hindi na kita makikitang lumaki, hindi na kita makikita maging sundalo, at mas lalong hindi ko na mararanasan na aalagaan at poprotektahan mo ako..."

When I roamed my eyes on the grieving visitors, most of them were wiping off their tears while listening to Letizia.

"Alam mo, natatandaan ko rin no'ng 11 ka na, sabi mo ate, okay lang pala na wala si mama at papa kasi mas marunong ka pa mag alaga sakin kaysa sa kanila... you know how much I Ioved you, I promised myself to do everything I can to take care of you, because like you, I also loved the way we can lean to each other during the hardest times of our lives."

"I love you so much that the day you decided to leave me, was also the day that a part of me died with you, bunso."

Her voice was trembling, even her hands were shaking.

"I love you so much that I'm ready to die today just to be with you again in another life, Kit. You'll always be that one missing piece that makes me whole. Pero... Pero ngayon? Mabubuhay akong may kulang... may hinahanap... at ikaw yon..."

Her sobs were causing everyone else to shed a tear, Letizia made everyone feel how broken she is.

"You once told me back when you were still 10, ate, forever tayo magkasama ha? walang iwanan, hindi kita iiwan, ate... but how can forever exist when you're no longer here? How can i hold on to your promise when you've already left me this early? Kit, hindi ko na kaya mabuhay kapag wala ka..."

My reflexes was quick to catch her when she got dizzy. She just smiled at me and went on with her speech.

"Gusto ko kantahin 'yong paborito nating kanta, Kit. Diba noon lagi tayong nagd-duet? Pero ngayon... ngayon, ako nalang mag-isa ang kakanta..."