I Like You, Teacher

76 Part II

Aira's POV

After helping Gab's Tita in accommodating some of the guests who went to Tita's lamay, andito naman ako ngayon kaharap mga pinsan nya. Alam ko, hindi ako parte ng family na 'to pero I feel like doing this is just right.

I help lalo na kapag nagkakasabay sabay yung mga tao. Alam ko they are sad because of what happened pero pinipilit nilang maging okay for the sake of Tita's wake.

With Gab, hindi nya kinakayang makipagusap sa mga tao. When asked kung anong nagyari kay Tita, he's just silent. Good thing, dumating na din si Ate Gianna from Canada. She was with Gab most of the time, helping him.

"Pero ate Aira, alam mo ba, super thankful sila mama sayo kasi tinutulungan mo sila dito" Jas, Gab's cousin said. Mom nya yung malapit na Tita kay Gab.
"I didn't do much really" I chuckled. It's the the least thing that I can do.

"Kinwento nga sakin ni Papa na sinabihan daw nila si Gab na pakasalan ka na agad pakagraduate nya" Natawa naman ako sa sinabi ni Stephen.
"Masyado pang maaga" I replied.
"But I'm curious, ano sinagot nya?" Nagtawanan naman sila.

Pinatagal nya naman kasi alam nyang nag aantay ako.

"Hmmm" Pati ibang cousins nya, nag hihintay na din.
"Secret" Tumawa naman sya. Nacurious tuloy ako kung ano naging sagot nya. I will be glad if he would want to spend his life with me.

Speaking of Gab, sabi nya sakin susunod sya eh. We continued to talk naman when we suddenly heard a shout from the inside. Parang may nagsisigawan and nag aaway.

We quickly went inside and tinignan kung anong nagyayari.

As I can see, yung mga kapatid ni Tita sinisigawan yung isang lalaki. He seems familiar tho. Where did I see him? I swear I saw him already.

Ah. It's Gab's Dad.

"Hindi ka na nahiya, nag punta ka pa dito. Ano? Matapos mo lokohin ang kapatid ko? Ah? Ninanya. Kastan ko barang ika" Di ko naman naintindihan yung last na sinabi. I think it's bicol.

"Hayaan nyo lang akong makita sya. Kahit sandali lang" Lalapit naman sana sya pero hinarang sya nila Tito.
"Makapal talaga pagmumukha mo noh?" He said. I looked around trying to find Gab pero hindi ko sya makita.

"Isipin nyo na lahat nang gusto nyong isipin. Hayaan nyo lang akong makita sya" Nainis naman na ata si Tito kaya he was about to punch him when Ate Gianna stopped him.
"Hayaan na natin sya Tito. For the peace of Mama's wake" She said but clearly she has tears built up in her eyes.

"Gianna" Niyakap naman sya nang Papa nya.
"I'm sorry, my princess" Umiyak na din sya. Ate Gianna just stood still. I know she's hurting but still, she made that decision.

Nagulat naman ako when out of nowhere, lumapit sakanila si Gab and hiniwalay nya si Ate Gianna from their Dad.

"No. Leave" I can see anger in his eyes. Alam ko yung pinagdaanan nila when their Dad cheated and left them kaya hindi ko rin masisisi si Gab kung bakit ganyan sya sakanya.
"Kidd, anak" He called him.
"Leave" He said coldly.

"Anak, payagan mo naman akong makita ang mama mo." He pleaded but looks like Gab doesn't care.
"Umalis ka na. Wala kang karapatan pumunta dito" He said again coldly.
"Bastos ka ah? Tatay mo pa din ako. Respetuhin mo ako. Yung ate mo pumayag nang silipin ko ang mama mo" Mukha namang galit na yung Dad ni Gab.

"Hindi ako mabait gaya ni Ate. May ibang pamilya ka na, diba? Iniwan mo kami. Pinagpalit mo kami kaya you shouldn't expect any ounce of respect from me. Hindi mo deserve respetuhin sa totoo lang" He said.
"Hindi mo alam kung gaano nahirapan si Mama nung nalaman nyang may babae ka. Nung nalaman nyang may anak ka. Araw araw syang umiiyak. Habang ikaw, ano? Nagpapasarap buhay sa kabit mo" Kinwelyuhan naman sya ng Dad nya.

Then inawat na sya ng mga kapamilya ni Gab. Lumapit na din ako kay Gab para ilayo sya sakanya.

"Gab" Hawak hawak ko lang braso nya. I don't want him to be hurt again.
"Umalis ka na. Respetuhin mo ang burol ni mama. Please lang. Give her peace kahit ngayon lang. Let us, who really care for her, grieve. Hindi ka namin kailangan dito" Kita ko naman na may pumatak na luha galing sa mata nya.

My man is going through so much right now. But despite that, he's stepping up for his family. He's a really brave man.

Gab's POV

Nights passed and it now came to Mom's last night. Buong burol, nasa tabi lang ako ni Mama. Sinusulit ko yung every little time na makakasama ko sya physically. Ni hindi ko na nga masyado nakakausap si Aira eh. But she said that she understand.

"Gab, halika saglit" Inaya naman ako ni Ate. And then I followed her papunta sa kwarto.

I sat on the bed while she gets something from her bag. I don't know kung ano yun. Then lumapit naman sya sakin.

"Para san 'to?" I asked when she gave me a bank book.
"It's a bank account under your name. Ginawa ni Mama" Mas lalo pang nadagdagan yung tanong ko.
"Mom created that bank account and has been saving up for us, for you" She said.

"Parang pinaghandaan nya na 'to" Tears are building up on her eyes.
"Binigay yan sa akin ni Tita. Mom also created one for me. Andyan na lahat ng magiging expenses mo. Sabi ni Tita, from tuition to your baon, you can get it daw jan. That's a big amount that she left us" Di ko na napigilang maluha.

"Hindi nya tayo pinabayaan, Gab. Even when she's hurting, tayo pa din ang iniisip nya" Hinawakan nya kamay ko.
"Mom may not be with us anymore, but you still have me. I will never leave you. Hindi kita papabayaan." She lightly smiled then she hugged me.

Mama really loves us.

-
It's now the day where we take Mom to her final resting place. Sa bahay pa lang umiiyak na ako hanggang sa makarating kami sa simbahan where we will have a mass for her.

All throughout the mass, Aira is just holding my hand, telling me that she's just here beside me and I really appreciate that so much. On my other hand, hawak ko naman kamay ni Ate kasi grabe na din yung iyak nya. Kailangan ko syang alalayan as her brother.

After the mass, the lady on the mic said that one of us should say something in front. Tumingin naman ako kay Ate and she told me na ako na lang daw. I have no choice naman na kasi ganun din sabi ng mga Tito and Tita namin.

Pag punta ko sa harap, nakita ko kung gano karami yung tao.

Ang daming nagmamahal sayo, Mama.

"Hello, everyone. Ako po si Gab, bunsong anak ni Carmen. Actually, hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na wala na si Mama. Hindi pa rin nag sisink in yung mga nangyari and even up to this day, hindi ko pa rin tanggap" Tears started falling down.
"Hindi ko pa rin tanggap na uuwi kami ni Ate sa bahay na dalawa na lang kami, na hindi kasama si Mama." Umiyak na ako. Di ko na napigilan. It took a while bago ako nakasalita ulit.

"But you know, I'm glad that Mom's not in pain anymore. After all the pain she experienced, she got to rest now" Huminga ako ng malalim.
"To all of you who's here for our Mom, maraming salamat po. Sa mga Tito and Tita ko na tinulungan kami ni Ate mag asikaso sa burol ni Mama, thank you po. To my girlfriend who left her work just to be with me, thank you. You've been giving me strength to go on" I looked at Aira. I want her to know that I appreciate her so much.

"To my Mama, miss na kita. I don't know why this happened to you. You're such a great person. But I guess, Lord needed you up there. I love you, Mama" It's time to let you go.

Nung makadating kami sa sementeryo, parang dun lang ako sinampal ng realidad. Na it will be the last time that I will see Mama. They were are all crying in pain and ako, nakatingin lang ako kay Mama. Ang sakit. Ang sakit sakit mawalan ng ina.

I don't know why but my hands were shaking when I saw the casket going down.

Hinawakan naman ni Aira yung kamay ko kaya napatingin ako sakanya.

"I love you, Gab" Hinawakan nya ito hanggang sa it's not shaking anymore. And then niyakap ko sya. Tightly. I broken down crying. Kahit mag panggap akong matatag, hindi ko kaya.
"Shh" Aira's just patting my back and calming me down. Ramdam na ramdam ko yung pagmamahal nya sakin and sa family ko. Lagi nya akong inaalalayan sa lahat ng bagay. She's really the one for me.