Our Story That Bloomed Again

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

New Year

JASMINE'S POV

Christian: Merry Christmas girlfriend!

Christian sent a photo

Tiningnan ko iyon. Picture niya kasama ng mga pinsan niya. Hineart ko iyon bago ako nagtipa ng mensahe.

Ako: Merry Christmas boyfriend!

Nagsend din ako ng picture namin kanina kasama sina Rylanie at iba pang relatives namin na ngayon ko nalang ulit nakita.

Dalawa lang sila ni papa ko na anak nina lolo. May kapatid si lolo na si Lola Isidra na mayroon ding dalawang anak. Isang lalaki at isang babae. Si tito Isko ay mayroong anak na dalawa, sina Sasha at Carlos. Si Tita Alicia naman ay may may dalawa rin, sina Astro at Denver.

Hindi naman sila snob pero madalas ay kami ni Rylanie ang magkasama. Si Sasha lang ang kaclose namin dahil kami lang ang babae na makakasama niya. Palagi kasing magkakasama sina kuya Isko, kuya Astro, at kuya Denver kaya sa amin sumasama si Sasha.

We have a small family actually on our father side. Kaiba sa side nina Christian na mukhang siya lang ang only son sa dami ng pinsan niya sa father side. Sabi niya ay ganoon din sa mother side niya na nakita ko na noong birthday nito.

Ganoon din kaya ang mga pinsan ko sa side ni mama? I wonder... I never saw them actually. Lumaki ako na sina papa at mama lang ang kasama ko. I know that I still have my grandfather and grandmother on her side. But she rarely talks about her relatives. I also don't ask her that often.

"Jasmine! Tawag ka ni Tito John!" Tawag sa akin ni Rylanie na pumasok sa kuwarto ko.

"Bakit daw?" Lumabas ako at sumunod sa kaniya.

"Magbubukas na raw ng regalo. Tara tara!"

Hinila na niya ako pababa. We celebrated our Christmas with our lola who's the only one alive now. My biological lolo died a few years ago and it really caused papa so much depression especially when lola followed him too after a few months. That's why his family decided to always spend our Christmas together. To give lola her wish to spend her remaining years with her beloved family.

"Merry Christmas lola!" Sabay sabay namimg sabi na magpipinsan.

Lola can't hear anymore so she's only smiling as if she can understand our words. Niyakap namin siya isa't isa. Then we exchange gifts.

Umuwi kami ni papa after a few days. Tinulungan ko siyang mag-ayos ng gamit nang may tumawag sa kaniya kaya siya lumabas. Lately, napapansin ko ang pag-ubo ubo ni papa. I asked him if he had his check-ups and he said it wasn't serious so it's fine.

But I worry. Ayaw ko lang na magalit si papa kapag paulit ulit kong sasabihin kaya pinagmamasdan ko siya. This started before we departed to papa's hometown. Akala ko colds lang, pero mukhang napatagal yata.

"Papa, kailangan niyo na po talagang magpacheck-up..."

Tumango siya bago uminom ng tubig. "Oo anak. Bukas ay magpapacheck up ako. Huwag ka ng mag-alala."

He caressed my hair and smiled at me. That comforted me. Because he's the only person I have and if he's always ignoring his health, that will do no good for him. And I don't want that to happen.