Part 26

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Aiah's POV:

Kasalukuyan kaming papunta sa funeral ni Maloi, it's been a long time and ngayon ko lang haharapin ang pamilya ni Jake. I want to pay respect to their child, hindi nila ako pinayagan na gawin yun kay Jake and I will never let them to do this again.

"We're here" hindi ko napansin na nagpa-park na pala si Mikha. Madami ako masiyadong iniisip, hindi ko alam kung ano dapat una ko na maramdaman. "Are you okay?" tanong ni Mikha.

"I don't know, first time ko sila makikita, parang natatakot ako na ewan eh" I answered with all honesty. She held my hand tightly and simply told me "I'm here, hindi kita papabayaan"

We exited the car and walked inside holding each other's hands. I have been praying since last night na sana wag gumawa ng kung anong iskandalo ang parents nila Maloi. When we reached the chapel, my heart suddenly dropped.

I saw 2 urns... Jake's urn with his picture beside it was Maloi's urn with her picture. Kung bangungot lang 'to gusto ko na magising. I cannot imagine the pain na nararamdaman nila tito mark knowing na they are still trying to cope up with Jake's death and in just a few years si Maloi naman ang nawala. I saw everyone looked at us, Tito mark and tita rose quickly glanced at us. I was shaking, ayoko ng gulo gusto ko lang talaga na dumalaw and it was my first time na makita ang urn ni jake.

To my surprise, they went back to greet the other visitors. They did not completely ignore us but I'm thankful they did not make a scene. When we reached the urn, I immediately tried to fight the urge to cry but I failed. I cannot stop crying, ilang years ako deprived na makita si Jake maski yung urn lang niya and masakit pala kapag nakita mo na ng malapitan. Lahat ng sakit nanumbalik difference is that I know na this time mabibigyan na ako ng katahimikan dahil kahit isang beses, nabigyan na ako ng pagkakataon na makita ang urn ng nobyo ko. Mikha on the other side is not crying but she has her head down seems like she's praying. Kinuha ko ang rosary na binigay sa'kin ni mama noong umuwi siya dito from Cebu, blessed ito ng pari at nilagay ko ito sa gitna ng urn nila Jake at Maloi.

We stayed there for a couple of minutes, medyo matagal din since eto lang yung unang beses ko na makita yung urn. When we're finished saying our prayers para sa magkapatid paalis na sana kami when tito mark approached us.

"Condolences po" I said, and I saw Tito mark's face as he tried to stop his tears. Pero mas nagulat ako nang lumuhod siya bigla.

"Please, Mikha... Aiah, forgive me! I was just trying to protect Maloi from everything, siya nalang ang natitira ko na anak ko.. I cannot lose her too, but guess where we are right now? Kinarma na ako sa nangyari" Tito Mark pleaded, naguguluhan na ako pero I tried to help him na tumayo pero he refused. Mikha left, without any word lumabas siya.

I instantly followed her outside.

"Ano yun, Mikha?!" I said, she faced me and said " Si Maloi ang nakabangga kay Mikel" with her pale expression. Halos manlamig ang buong katawan ko, hindi ko alam kung anong unang sasabihin ko sakanya.

"Ww..hat?" I asked.

"Maloi accidentally hit Mikel using Colet's car and she hid it from me. Worst, nagtulong pa pamilya nila para itago at pagtakpan sila" She answered. " Wala na si Maloi, the only person na pwede ko na pagbayarin is si Colet and ofcourse their parents."

"Wait, Mikhs.. they just lost their child.. their last child" I answered. Mikha took a deep breathe.
"I know, pero kasali kasi sila sa nagcover-up ng problem na dapat sana napag-usapan nalang! Aksidente naman yun diba? Pero ano, they choose to hide and ang worst nagtulong tulong pa sila"

I can feel wrath in her voice. "Pero, can we at least give this a time? kasi diba kakamatay lang ni Maloi eh, Colet's still out there." Mikha looked at me straight in my eyes.

"Ai, I've been praying for this. Yung araw na malaman ko sino nakapatay sa kapatid ko and what? Now you are asking me to give them time? anong time pa kailangan nila? When Mikel died, did anyone asked them to at least surrender their kids? Wala naman diba? Grabe naman yung hinihingi mo. I loved Maloi, I respect them and trusted them pero eto! Eto yung nililihim nila sakin matagal na! Aiah, I can't pro-long the case it's been sitting there for a while to the extent na kala ko cold case na pero eto oh, nagawan na ng linaw."

I understand her, she was hurt and at the same time angry. Pero, at the same time my heart goes out to Jake and Maloi's family for some reason. Ayoko maging unfair kay Mikha.. matagal talaga niyang hinintay yung araw na'to.

"I understand, sorry that I have to suggest that to you" I answered, she took a deep breathe once again and pulled me for a hug.

" I tried considering that too, pero.. Aiah, ang tagal na nito. I know you have a heart of gold pero tandaan mo they covered up for something na hindi naman dapat"

As soon as we broke the hug, I saw her eyes. I met Mikha's eyes, and she seemed to be very stressed.

"Let's go home, matulog ka you need to rest" I just said and that was more than enough for Mikha to nod, and we drove back to my condo. As soon as we got home, humiga na din agad siya sa bed ko at nagpahinga.

" Gusto ko na talaga magpahinga... sayo" she said and i smiled as she make herself comfortable sa bed.

"You can sleep, magpahinga ka sakin Mikha. With me, you're safe" i answered and she smiled.

"Aiah, don't go anywhere ha?" Humikab si Mikha at nagpunas ng mata, she's really sleepy.

"Of course, i'm just here lang. Matulog ka na" i smiled at her.

"Don't.. go anywhere ha" she said and she closed her eyes.

Lumapit ako kay Mikha at kinumutan ko ito, i kissed her head kahit tulog na siya alam ko ramdam niya parin ako "Andito lang ako Mikha, hindi ako mawawala."

The sky seemed to be mad, medyo may pag kidlat pero wala pa naman ulan. I went to my cabinet silently careful not to wake up Mikha. I got what I was looking for and in that empty box lahat ng letters na meron si Jake sakin even out pictures na naka display sa condo ko, tinago ko na.

But I kept his picture hanging sa wall, the only and last picture na makikita sa condo ko. I have been praying for this day... ever since he passed away, I lost count of how many times I found myself hoping for a miracle na sana mabuhay ulit siya or panaginip lang to. Even after I received so many achievements by the end of the day nangungulila ako kay Jake. Pero when Mikha came in sa picture I saw the world again in colors, it was not black and white anymore. I found myself wanting more of Mikha, wanting more of her love, and being the one capable of her love, she brought me back to this world. Mikha is the reason why I wanted to wake up every morning, because someone like her exists.

Muntik ko na malimutan paano magmahal but there was Mikha... she introduced a new form of love to me. She vowed to protect me. Imagine giving your brother's cornea sa taong hindi mo naman gaano ka kilala just because she wanted me to start over again. She was more than willing to give everything to me to the extent na pati yung safety niya iri-risk niya if that's not love then I don't know what that is.

Jake taught me what love looks like while Mikha taught me what love feels like. Ngayon ko na naiisip kung bakit ko kailangan masaktan ng sobra. Kung bakit ilang taon ang lumipas pero nagtagpo ulit kami ni Mikha when I was blind may kaunti akong vision of what she looks like and now na nakaka-kita na ako at nakikita ko na siya nang tuluyan, wala akong ibang dalangin kung hindi ang sana ay wag bawiin sakin ang vision ko, because with Mikha I could see a bright future ahead of us.

I know that Jake wants the same thing to happen too. I just know it deep down because I have been praying for him to visit me in my dreams, but he never visited me again, sabi nila kapag ganon daw ay tahimik ang kaluluwa nito. I forgive his parents for mistreating me, I hope na harapin nila ang kasalanan nila kay Mikha and sana mapatawad din nila ang sarili nila.

As soon as I finished packing Jake's stuff inside the box. Binuksan ko ang isang tagong cabinet sa condo ko and I hid the box there. This is to finally move on and leave everything behind, but this doesn't mean that I will also not remember Jake anymore, our love was the most beautiful story I will tell to everyone but sadly it has to end.

I went to my window, tanaw na tanaw doon ang busy street ng Manila. I looked at the sky and smile.

"Okay na ako Jake, I can finally move forward na. I finally saw your urn earlier and I felt nice we finally had our closure my love, I will be genuinely happy from now on Jakey. Okay na love, tapos na.. rest easy Jake." I said while my tears are flowing, I had to say goodbye to my first love for the first time. This time, it's final.

I was shocked when a pair of arms from behind hugged me, Mikha comfortable rest her chin in my shoulder. She seemed sleepy still pero she was smiling.

"You still look sleepy," I said, and she just hummed. "You should still sleep Mikha, maaga pa"

She just simply answered, " Bed looks so empty, do you want to join? I'm afraid i might have weird dreams kaya gusto ko sana... may kasama ako."

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko and guided me sa bed, she tucked in herself in the blanket and pat the space beside her as a signal na humiga na ako.

I followed her immediately and I hugged her closer. I just know na she fell asleep again dahil the only thing I can hear was her soft snores. She's tired and i looked at her bare face, i touched it gently and yung mga sugat niya from where she was kidnapped by Colet. Even with so much bruises, she's still ethereal. I kissed her forehead and hugged her tighter.

I will do everything for this girl. I will even give her my whole heart without any hesitation if she ever asked for it.

I love her, I really do.

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