"My beautiful ladies! Kamusta kayo? You're so big already. Parang umalis ako sa Pilipinas ang liliit nyo pa ah. Miss you, the five of you." pagbati ni Tita Avianna sa amin.
Aria hugged her first. Hindi naman halatang namiss nila ang isa't isa. Sobrang halata lang.
Lagi kasing si Tita Avianna ang nag aalaga sa amin noon kapag wala sina Mommy at Daddy. Kahit noon pa man, busy na sina Mommy at Daddy sa trabaho. Ang pagkakaiba nga lang, noon binibigyan nila kami ng oras, ngayon hindi na.
A memory flashed in my mind as I watched Aria hug Tita Avianna.
"Dito muna kayo sa bahay ha. Your Mom and I just need to run some errands in Phillipines." sabi ni Daddy na nakaluhod sa harap namin ni Aria para pantayan ang tangkad namin.
"Philippines, Dy? Is it far?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"It wasn't far, Maddie but we will be gone for a week. Is it okay for you and Aria?" tanong nya sa amin.
Aria started crying and hugged our Dad. Dad immediately consoled her. Ako naman ay naluluhang tumango.
"No, Dada... Please don't leave... A week is too long. Please don't leave Ayi."
"Ari, madali lang kami ng Mommy ninyo don. Plus, your aunt Avianna and Abuela are going to take care of both of you. Isn't it nice? " malambing na sabi ni Daddy kay Aria.
My sister started sobbing so hard so I get water for her to drink. Pagkadating ko sa sala patuloy ang pagpapakalam ni Daddy kay Aria. Inabot ko ang baso ng tubig kay Daddy para siya ang magpainom kay Aria.
"Thank you, Ate Maddie." sabi sa akin ni Daddy at ngumiti.
"B-but... y-you'll leave... us." humihikbing saad ni Aria pagkatapos uminom ng tubig.
"Madali lang iyon, anak. Pagdating namin gusto mo ng chocolates?" malambing na sabi ni Daddy at marahang hinahagod ang likod ni Aria.
"I-i-i don't want chocolates... I want you and Mom." sabi pa nya at umiling-iling.
"Hush, baby." Daddy said as he hugged Aria. I was just looking at them the whole time but someone hugged me from the back.
"Mag-iingat kayo, Celestine ko." Mommy said as she hugged me and kissed my head.
Hinarap nya ako sa kanya at tumingin sya ng direkta sa mata ko dahilan para tuluyang bumagsak ang mga luha ko.
"It's okay, Ate..." sabi nya at niyakap ulit ako.
"M-mommy... wag na po kayo umalis." umiiyak kong bulong kay Mommy.
"Sasama na lang po kami sa inyo... we will behave sa Philippines, Mom." sabi ko ulit.
"There's a right time for that, Celestine. May aayusin lang kami ng Daddy, para kapag pumunta tayo don wala nang problema." saad ni mommy at niyakap ako ng mahigpit.
We waited for many minutes but it feels like minutes are seconds. I don't want my parents to leave us. As my Abuela and Aunt arrived, Mom and Dad greeted them. Aria and I watched them in silence. Mommy said I've met Abuela already but I can't remember that time because I was just 2 years old while I hadn't met Tita Avianna. My grandmother looks so young and my Aunt looks so beautiful.
"Mama, sa inyo po namin muna iiwan sina Ari at Maddie." sabi ni Daddy at pinalapit kami sa kanila.
Sinenyasan kami ni Mommy na magmano, nahihiya man ay lumapit at nagmano kami kay Abuela at Tita Avianna.
BINABASA MO ANG
Under the Shades of Sky
Fiksi RemajaFor every eldest child of the family, for those who struggled to ask for help, you don't have to carry the weight of the world alone; you're human too, it's okay to seek support. She was once raised in a loving home - supportive parents, loving sist...
