Eren Pierce Salazar

Kabanata 27

''Eliana... Elton... Our baby is here now, Eliana and Elton, your big sister cousin is here...'' I heard Tito Gino say right in front of the tomb of Mama Eliana and my tears were continuously flowing. I'm too broke right now, too hurt, too fragile, and too betrayed. I don't know where to get any strength, but I'm thankful. I still have Sky and Tito Gino.

I bent on my knees in front of the tomb in front of... It was my mama Eliana's and my cousin's tomb.

''H---Hi, M---Mama'' I was stuttering. Yumuko ako, nakapatong ang dalawang kamay sa damuhan, nakapikit at humahagulhol and I couldn't stop myself and cry loudly. ''Ma... Sorry... Sorry, I believed them... I love you, Mama. Mama ko...'' My heart is so heavy right now.

I cried there, apologizing to my mama, and my Tito Gino was just beside me, telling me that it was okay. I don't need to say sorry. Hindi ko kasalanan, but I feel like it was my fault. Kasi nadamay lang naman talaga si Mama Eliana. And their son, too. They didn't deserve that. Tito Gino didn't deserve anything like this. Any pain and suffering from losing his wife and son.

My Mama Eliana... She was a kind and warm person; that's what Tito Gino is telling me right now, and I'm going to believe that.

''Your Mama Eliana...'' he smiled. The longing, painful, sorrowful, and loving smile. Hindi ko alam na pwede palang sa isang ngiti marami ng emosyon na pwedeng ibuhos. ''She's very warm and loving'' he chuckled. ''She's very feisty, too, but always silent, like you'' he said, looking at me. I smiled at Tito. I saw how his eyes went teary, kaya sinandal ko ang ulo ko sa balikat niya, and he kept nodding. ''Okay lang ako, anak. I've been here alone for 18 years, going 19 years... Nakaya ko, kakayanin ko kasi sabi ng Mama Eliana mo na, I still need to guide and protect you, and I'm sorry if I didn't protect you for those past years. Akala ko okay ka lang. I'm sorry for failing you and your Mama Eliana, anak ha?''

My tears kept on falling,g and I shook my head. ''Okay lang Tito... Thank you, Papa Gino...'' I said in a low voice, and I heard him sobbing. He's very strong, and I'm really sorry...

''Thank you too, anak...'' he said, and cleared his throat to continue talking. ''I met her in a club. The first time I saw her, I knew I liked her already, and when I approached her, she said to me, wag ako, ayaw ko sa inyo.'' Then he chuckled, just like me. Mama Eliana nga naman... ''But I pursued her until the end, and guess what? I was a lucky man when she married me... She was pregnant when you, Mama Lovely, came back...'' Tumingin ako sa mga mata niya at nakita ko ang pait at galit duon.

How could this man face those people who became the reason for his lovely wife's death?

''Malaki na ang tiyan ng Mama Lovely mo, and she was blind. Eliana took care of her, sabi niya may mga sumusunod daw sa kanya at nagtatago siya. I told Eliana, ako na bahala kay Lovely. I'll make sure she's safe. Ipapadala ko sa ibang bansa but Eliana was so paranoid at hindi siya pumayag, she didn't tell her sister that she was also pregnant for 4 months. I have a private plane, kaya madali lang sa akin but Eliana didn't want to. You have a twin... A boy... I was in Manila when those happened. I didn't know. Eliana got stabbed, and we lost our baby. I was so devastated. We were. I came back here, and she was so depressed and angry, but she never blamed your Mama... What she did was also wrong. 3 days after that, we were attacked. I was kidnapped, and my securities were ambushed. All dead. Eliana hides your Mama sa may kabilang barangay, may kubo kami duon and you were born there with your twin brother, but he died, and because Eliana didn't want you, na madamay. Eliana took you and the baby away from Lovely. Nawalan ng malay si Lovely at dahil ayaw niya kayong malagay sa panganib. She ran away with you and your dead brother... Then Vince came to save Lovely... He already has a family, your Kuya Vincent and Ate Veronica... They were also still so small...''