Mirae

Kapitulo 3

Kapitulo 3

Adiel's Angel

In Adiel's life, he didn't have only two parents—he had five. Adiel's paternal grandparents and maternal grandmother raised him to become a good, honest, and conversational child. But his maternal grandmother died last night. So, his parents were now only four.

His grandfather in his mother's side died when he was only three. Hindi niya iyon nakilala nang maigi. Ang lola niya ang naging malapit sa kaniya. Bumibisita siya rito tuwing ikalawa at ikaapat na Sabado ng buwan. Kaya, lubos siyang nadurog nang malamang wala nang malay ang lola niya sa ospital matapos subukang i-revive ng mga doctor.

Normal na umaga lang dapat para kay Adiel ang araw ng kamatayan ng lola niya. He was in his room, playing on his desktop. It was a Sunday, so he had all the time in the world to enjoy the pleasure Minecraft brings. Yet, he couldn't continue playing after finding out the news. All his time today seemed worthless, even his desktop.

"Wala na si Lola, Ma?" naiiyak na tanong ng nakababatang kapatid ni Adiel sa kanilang ina.

Nasa baba silang lahat dahil in-announce ng haligi ng tahanan ang pagpanaw ng nanay niya. It was a heavy news to break. Incredibly numbing too. Adiel could almost hear his mother's heart shattering as she told them that the doctors tried everything to save their Lola but to no avail.

Rarely did the big-eyed boy see his mother cry, mas madalas pa ang Papa niyang lumuha. Isa iyon sa mga dahilan para maniwala siyang mali ang sinasabi ng ibang tao na kapag lalaki, dapat matigas palagi—hindi iiyak.

Adiel's mother's tears were continuous. She was resting her head on her husband's shoulder who was also tearing up. The growls and moans his mother let out while crying sounded like a tragedy, it sounded like hell in real life. The catching of breath, half-opened mouth, and closed eyes were all features of a perfect nightmare coming to life.

Little Adiel's brother reached out to him as Adiel's tears covered his sight. Slowly, Adiel glanced at the youngest and hugged him. The youngest was crying loudly like a child in a mall that didn't get his favorite toy. But little Adiel's cry was slow and quiet. He made no sounds, yet anyone who would see him right now would notice the immense pain he was feeling. The soft look on Adiel's face, the hand that was hugging his brother, and the opened mouth were enough for grief to exist.

The family took their time mourning until the two adults had to act like adults. Adiel's parents fixed the funeral that would begin tomorrow. His mother had to pick a casket for her mother—what a sad scene.

The two children were left at home, tasked to find images of their grandmother for the memory board. They went through many photobooks, and saw their mother grow in the pictures. Pumili ang dalawa ng marami at pinakita iyon sa kanilang magulang nang makauwi ang mga ito.

The following day, despite his parents' order to go to school, Adiel didn't. Hindi kaya ng batang magpokus sa escuela kung ang papasok lang sa isip niya ay ang mga alaala niya kasama ang lola niyang ililibing next week.

"Anak, ngayong araw lang, ha, bukas, kailangan mo nang pumasok. Lalong ma-i-stress ang Mama mo kung hindi ka papasok," sabi ng Papa ni Adiel habang kumakain ang bata ng agahan.

Nasa kuwarto sila kung saan puwede matulog ang mga kamag-anak ng patay. Ito rin ang lugar kung saan nakatago ang mga pagkain at inumin. Adiel was sitting on a maroon couch and eating bread that was on top of a white table.

The father stared at his son with a tired face. The son knew his old man didn't get to sleep last night.

How could he when his wife was barely sane? How could he when a woman who he treated as his mother left too early? There was no ounce of desire for slumber last night in their house.