The Dark Shade of the Night [EDITING]

15†Goodbye

"Congratulations!"

I can't believe it. Andito sina mommy at daddy!

My dad walk with open arms. I ran towards him and hug him.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked.

"Pinapalayas mo agad kami eh kararating lang namin?" Nagtatampo kuno si dad.

"Oa dad ah? Di bagay." Natatawa kong comento.

"Congrats anak." I heard my mom said

"Thank you mommy." I hug her too. "Thank you for coming." I added

"Para sayo anak." and she kissed my head.

Kumalas ako. I don't remember I told them about the exhibit.

"Teka nga muna, pano niyo nalaman? Wala naman akong nasabe sa inyo ah?" Nakapameywang akong tiningnan silang dalawa.

"Ok! Guilty as charged." I saw my bestfriend Dia. "Hi tita, tito! Buti nakarating kayo." Nagbeso beso sila.

"Akala nga namin tapos na eh. Fresh from airport--"

"Oh dad! Hindi nalang sana kayo--"

"Sweetheart. Masaya lang kami sa na accomplish ng unica hija namin. We even bought you a gift." Putol ni dad.

"But--but its not yet my birthday."

"Ahm, I think I better go. Tita at tito have fun." Nagpaalam na si Dia samin.

They just smiled as their response.

"Baby, kailangan pa bang birthday mo para mabigyan ka ng regalo namin?--here." May itim na maliit na box ang inabot ni daddy sakin.

"We hope you'd like it." My mom smiled.

"What's this?" Di ko mapigilang mapangiti.

"Open it." Mom

I expect something like jewelries or such but napa tili ako sa sobrang saya at gulat nang makita kung ano yun.

Buti medyo mahina lang ang pagtili ko, kung hindi eh agaw atensyon talaga.

"Thank you so much mommy at daddy. I wasn't expecting this." Niyakap ko silang dalawa.

"Honey, we can't stay for too long. May flight pa kami mamayang 12 so--"

Kumalas ako sa kanila. Gusto ko munang ipakita sa kanila ang paintings ko.

"Hindi pa nga niyo nakikita ang paintings ko eh."

"Wow! Sold already?" Y dad stared at my painting.

"So this is Nonoy. I bet he's trilled to see this." Mom

"Thanks."

"Baby, I wouldn't be surprise one day I'll be seeing you in TV or in magazines 'the youngest artist Miss Elie Marie Austin' " he gestured his hands.

"Matagal pa yan Daddy."

"Dalawa raw yung paintings mo dito anak. Asan yung isa?" Si mommy

Oh no, not that pleasee!

"Ah, hehe--you see mom, I-I--" My eyes wander inside, looking for explaination--

"I want you to meet my new friends! They're right over there!" I pointed at the corner kung san naroon sila.

"You made new friends? That's new." Dad

Hindi ko nalang pinansin yun at lumapit sa kanila. They turned to look at us.

"H-hi guys, I want you to meet my parents. Mommy, daddy sila yung sinasabi kong nakilala kong bagong kaibigan. Si Zekiah Grey Deneris at ang kapatid niyang si Stellar Grey Deneris."

"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Austin." Sabay na bati ng magkapatid.

"Call us tita and tito." Mommy

"Ito naman sina Roco Grey and Lukas Grey Deneris. Magkapatid rin sila a-at si N-nero Grey Deneris, pinsan nila."

"Nice to meet you tita, tito." Nakangiting bati ni Roco.

'Feelinh close talaga itong si Roco kahit kailan.'

"Hello po." Bati naman nina Lukas at Nero.

"Deneris? How are you related to Sebastian Grey Deneris?" dad asked

"Ahm, he's the step brother of Nero's dad."

Sino yun? Bakit may kilala si dad na Deneris?

"Kumosta na siya? Matagal tagal ring hindi na namin siya nakita." Mom

"A-ah, he ahh he passed away fifteen years ago." Naging malungkot ang boses ni Stellar.

Napasinghap naman sa pagkabigla sina mommy at daddy.

"We're sorry. Hindi namin alam. Naging isang napakabait na kaibigan namin si Sebastian noon." Dad.

Nagkatinginan naman sina mommy at daddy. Halatang malungkot si mommy sa nabalitaan dahil naging tahimik na ito.

"Ok lang po." Stellar.

OP na ako. Di ko kilala yung pinag uusapan nila.

"Paki bantayan niyo sana itong anak namin habang wala kami. Mabait rin naman itong si Marie minsan, madalas lang kasi matigas ang ulo."

Napanguso ako nang banggitin nito ang second name ko. Yun kasi tawag nina mommy at daddy sakin.

"Mommy!" Pinandilatan ko ito ng mata. Nakakahiya kaya!

Nagtawanan naman sila maliban kay Nero na parang kay lalim ng iniisip.

'Ano kaya ang iniisip niya?'

"Hija, kanina ko pa napapansin yung painting sa banda roon." Tinuro naman ni mommy ang painting ko.

'Shit! Shit!'

"Ah--"

"Si Ema po ang nagpinta niyan." Excited na putol ni Stellar sakin.

Wala na akong nagawa nang lumapit sila maliban sakin at Nero.

Napakamot siya sa batok niya habang sinusundan ng tingin ang kasama namin.

"Mommy! Bat di niyo tingnan yung kay Dia? Ang ganda kasi promise!" Nagmamadali akong sumonod sa kanila.

"Hmm.. sino naman itong lalakeng ito anak? Boyfriend mo ba? Ba't di mo ipinakilala samin ng mommy mo?" Himas himas ni dad ang baba niya na nakatingin lang sa painting.

"No! Of course not! Daddy naman eh!" Hinila hila ko ang pang ibabang bahagi ng tux nito.

"Parang nakita ko na ito kanina ah?"

Gusto kong mag facepalm at lamunin na ng lupa! Baka marinig yun ni Nero! Urgh!!

Kia and Stellar giggled. She then pointed at someone behind me.

Di na ako lumingon pa. Kilala ko na kung sino yun.

"Nero right? Hmm naglilihim na pala itong anak namin." Then my dad looked at me like he wanted to know something look.

"He's not my boyfriend ok? We're just friends." I grab their hands ang drag them away.

"We were just kidding honey." Tawang tawang sabi ni Dad.

"Ha-Ha-Ha funny dad. Akala ko ba hindi kayo mag tatagal?"

Nasa labas na kami. I folded my arms and faced them looking bored as hell.

"Well, we're blessed to have you anak. We won't stay long so aalis na kami ng mommy mo." Then he hugged me tight.

"Ok Daddy."

I hugged my mommy too.

"Mag iingat ka anak. Tatandaan mo kahit malayo kami ng Daddy mo, hindi ka mawawala sa isip at puso namin." She kissed my head.

"Mommy? Bakit ang drama mo?" Natatawa kong tanong.

Kumalas ako. Ngumiti lang ito sakin at nag paalam na sila.

Ang hindi ko alam, yun na pala ang huling sandaling makikita ko pa sila.