Faithful Choices

Prologue

The pain from my past lingers each time, especially in the darkness when that tragic moment replays in my mind like an endless mixed tape. The night my parents died, when I was just 5 years old, remains a haunting nightmare.

"Turn on the lights, sonnet!" Kuya Alexander exclaimed in a panic. I awoke drenched in sweat, tears streaming down my face.

"Kuya I'm fine" My older brother is so worried again. Lumapit si ate sonnet sa akin hawak hawak ang tubig na kinuha niya sa aking mini fridge. Napa ngiti ako dahil at this time of the night ang alam ko ay busy silang dalawa sa trabaho.

"Bakit ka ngumi-ngiti diyan ayo? Pinag-alala mo na naman kami." Sermon ng kuya ko saakin. Kuya is always worried whenever I sleep with the lights off. Alam nitong takot na takot ako sa dilim.

"I'm sorry for making you worry. Hindi ko alam na nakatulog ako kaninang hapon" Pagpapaliwanag ko sakanila. Busy ako mag review dahil graduating na ako. Dahil sa sobrang pagod ko hindi ko namalayan na nakatulugan ko na pala ang pag babasa.

"Kuya, please make sure to replace Aouei's lights by tomorrow. Ang alam ko tapos na ang device na ginawa ni savannah para kay ayo." Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni ate sonnet. Kaya ginulo nito ang buhok ko.

"Savannah created your personal light. Na tuwing didilim dito sa kwarto mo automatic itong mag bubukas" She said. Kinuha nito ang cellphone niya at pinakita saakin ang ginagawang ilaw ni savvy. Savannah Morosini is one of my cousin and my bestfriend in life. We're both still in college pero pareho kaming nag tatayo ng sarili namin Business.

I was still examining the light ate sonnet showed me when I heard kuya alexander's phone ring. Pag silip ko sakanyang phone nakita ko ang pangalan ni Shadow, kaya agad kong tinaboy si kuya. Alam kong importante iyon kaya sinabi ko na lamang na okay ako. Before leaving the room sinenyasan niya si ate sonnet na bantayan muna ako.

"Ate hindi na ako bata pwede ka na bumalik ulit sa trabaho mo. Tatawag ako agad kung kailangan ko kayo promise" Ate sonnet was still worried kaya niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit para hindi na ito mag-alala.

"Call us if you ever needed us okay? You are much more important than work" Hinalikan niya ako sa noo bago umalis ng kwarto. I sighed ng maisip ko na para akong pabigat dito sa bahay na to. Just because of this fear na iistorbo ko sila sa trabaho nila.

Kung hindi nangyari ang trahedyang iyon ano kaya ang buhay ko ngayon? I am so lucky that someone adopted me. Kuya Alexander and Ate Sonnet are really awesome siblings.

I faced a profound tragedy in my early years as both my parents, regrettably, passed away when I was just five years old. The narrative was conveyed to me by Kadline, a mother figure in my life, who shared the heartbreaking news that they had succumbed to a fatal car accident.

Nagising na lamang ako na si kuya alexander ang nasa tabi ko. I was so confused, gusto ko na lang umuwi sa bahay namin but they told me everything. I spent several months confined to my room, immersed in the depths of grief.

Napa-iling na lamang ako, I am trying to move forward kaya nag desisyon akong matulog na lamang. But something unexpected happend.

A wave of fear swept over me upon hearing the shattering of my window glass. It turned out to be caused by an arrow, prompting me to quickly rise and inspect the arrow. Tied to it was a piece of paper.

"Be careful, whispers say not to trust anyone, as some may not be honest with you."