In The Last Sunset: A confession, not a story

CHAPTER 2: Midnight Rain

There are people in your life whom you'll met and forever changed you. Rei have always been my turning point, without her I would give up a long time ago. Pero inuunahan nya ko eh. Ang daya nya. Even though seven years have passed, my soul still grieved for her, pakiramdam ko nung nawala sya, nawala rin ang kalahati ng pagkatao ko.

As soon as I entered my car, I received a call from an unregistered number. I answered it just in case it was important.

"Hi, who is this? you are talking to Abigale Ciciero" I was shocked, when a familiar voice talked at the end of the line. Her voice brought back memories, painful ones.

"Hi, Gale! Tanda mo pa ako? This is Thea." said the voice on the phone. Suddenly I felt quiet, the air becomes heavy, I cannot breathe. "Rei's cousin"

We haven't talked since Rei's death and just hearing her voice brings memory. Both good and sad.

"Gale, are you still there?"

"Yes, yes nadito pa ko" I replied. "thea, it's been a long time, bakit ka napa tawag?"

"Chill, Gale." she said and laugh softly, her voice still sound the same but it sounded more mature, monotone as if her cousin's death have stolen the color and joy in her voice. "Tanong ko lang free ka ba sa sunday"

"Uhh yeah"

"great!" her voice sounded coerced, as if talking to me is chore she delayed as many times she could. "so can you go back here in San Vicencio?"

"Uhh actually, nandito na ko" I said ackwardly, maliban sa pamilya ko i told no one I'm coming back. Parang wala rin naman kwenta. I have no friends left here, no one missed me, alam kong secretly they all celebrate when i left.

"That's good to hear" she said "I'll expect you on Sunday sa church. Magkakaroon ng mass para kay Rei"

She hang up, leaving me with more question. A mass? Why it is official already? Are there declaring Rei is officially dead? Sabagay it's been seven years, I can't blame her family for wanting peace.

Malayo-layo pa ang susunod kong pupuntahan kaya I decided na umuwi muna, I don't have a own house here, nakikitira lang ako dati sa mga tito at tita ko, tito hate the fact of me going somewhere but tita assures me I can go back there whenever I want.

When I arrived at my home, at least I saw something that hasn't changed for years. It is the same, mukha lang mas tumanda, nagkaroon ng lumot sa daan at sa pader pero it is still the same. Nagtaka ako kung saan napunta ang pera na pinadala ko pangpa-ayos ng bahay, my eyes roamed around and it was worst than the one I left behind. As I entered the gate I heard someone shout and this time the shouting was not a greeting for me.

From here, I can hear my tito's voice shouting, his voice sounded drunk. It is still the same after all. So I stayed in the gate and eavesdropped on them. My heart sank as I heard my tita's frustrated voice. "Ano ba Karlos! Ganito na lang ba talaga tayo? ah! Araw-araw kang lasing! hindi ka nagtatrabaho! mahiya ka naman sa anak mo at kay Gale halos buhayin na tayo nang dalawa ahh"

"At para saan pa at kinupkop at pina-aral natin yun, diba? kundi rin naman tayo bubuhayin!"

"Grabe ka Karlos! Anak natin at anak ng kapatid ko pinag-uusapan natin dito"

"Alin ba, Lyn? Yung anak ng pokpok?" mula sa pwesto narinig ko ang paglagapak ng sampal ni tita. I stood there, just listening to them. Tita always made a point to defend me, and to defend my mother from her husband, she's not a perfect person pero atleast itinuring n'ya akong totoong anak.

I can't take it anymore, their argument continued, it was never-ending so I went back to my car and started the long drive towards the place where my best friend was last seen. Tumigil ako sa isang drive thru para kumuha ng pagkain, at hindi pa ko kumakain ng kahit ano since umuwi ako, I looked at the clock, it was already 4 pm.