Anakin, I Remember

Chapter 20

I remember it was also the day the sky turned a rich shade of gray.

"Oh, tara na, guys. Picture-taking na!" pag-aaya ni Mama. Sa isang iglap, may hawak na itong camera.

We took a boatload of pictures together. Meron 'yong kaming dalawa ni Mama at nakasuot sa kanya ang graduation cap ko't ang nag-iisang medalya ko habang nasa aktong paghalik naman ako sa kanyang pisngi. Meron naman 'yong mag-isa ko lang at nasa ere ang cap ko. At syempre, hindi mawawala 'yong kaming dalawa lang ni Anakin ang nasa litrato. Nakaakbay siya sa akin habang naka-peace sign kami pareho.

"Give your best smile, kids!"

"Graduate na ako, Ma," hinaing ko sa pabirong paraan. "I'm not a kid anymore."

Pagak na natawa naman si Anakin dahil doon.

"Ano naman? Anak ko pa rin kayong dalawa. Kahit 60 years old na kayo at patay na ako."

Sabay na pumakla ang ekspresyon ng mukha namin ni Anakin nang marinig namin iyon.

"Tita, don't say that."

"Si Mama naman, oh. Bakit ka ganyan? Graduation na graduation, kung anu-anong sinasabi!"

Nakangiti kaming kinuhanan ni Mama ng napakaraming litrato sa phone niya at sa camera. Halos mangawit-ngawit na nga ako sa kakangiti. Tinawag niya pa ang isa sa mga professional photographer na palibut-libot sa gymnasium kung saan ginanap ang seremonya para kuhanan kaming tatlo ng litrato.

Ang bottomline, napakaraming litratong nakuhanan sa araw ng graduation ko.

"Kailan pa kayo umuwi nina Tito at Tita?" Nilingon ko si Anakin na hawak ang manibela ng kanyang sasakyan.

We were on our way to our house. He offered to drive us home. He was on the driver's seat while I was sitting next to him. Sa likod naman nakaupo si Mama at panay ang scroll sa phone niya at sa camera na hindi ko napansing dala-dala niya noong una. Paulit-paulit niyang sinasabi na ang ganda ng mga kuha niya. Aliw na aliw at manghang-mangha siya.

"Kagabi lang. I was alone, actually. After my grandma's interment, Mom and Dad flew immediately to LA to visit a close college friend of theirs who has been diagnosed of leukemia while I stayed in New York for the remaining weeks of the past month to catch up with my cousins."

"That's great."

Kaya pala ang tagal niyang wala.

I mean, hindi naman talaga siya gano'n katagal na nawala pero pakiramdam ko, isang taon ko siyang hindi nakita. Even though he hadn't forgotten to contact us, iba pa rin 'yong nakakasama at personal namin siyang nakikita.

Physical presence's a different thing after all.

"As for the two, I guess you have an idea now where they are."

I nodded my head even though he wasn't looking at me. Malamang, nasa bahay na ang mga iyon sa mga oras na 'to. Maybe it was their way of surprising me—letting Anakin come to my graduation ceremony alone.

"For sure, you were tired from the trip home. Mabuti at nakapunta ka pa?"

"Of course."

As he looked in my direction, I felt the urge to look away. I ended up looking to my right. I gazed out the window instead, watching everything roll past us like a tracking shot in a film.

"I wouldn't miss your special day just for resting at home. It's your last graduation ceremony. I wanted to be there, to watch you march your way up to the stage, to hear your name being called and to see your reaction upon receiving the diploma you have always dreamed of. Ngayon, nasa sa 'yo na."