The Bridge

Chapter 44

I got a text from my tita asking what was happening pero hindi ko na sya sinagot dahil hindi ko din alam kung paano ko sya sasagutin sa mga nangyayaring to. I am now riding with Senior, we are seated in the backseat of his car. On the passenger seat, his secretary or his personal assistant is seated, and then the driver.

"I'm sorry if all of this are sudden. Masyadong maraming taon ang nawala samin ng anak ko and I can no longer take that back so I want to make it up through you." sabi niya sakin. Hindi ako sanay. I am an awkward person pag hindi mga magulang ko ang kaharap o kausap ko and it was proven and tested, and right now is another proof of that.

"Senior-"

"Please call me lolo." he cut me off to say that. I smile.

"Okay, lolo... hindi po ako sanay pero sige. Naiintindihan ko po kayo and besides... gusto ko din po malaman ang roots ng mama ko." sabi ko sa kanya. I wanted to know more about my mom kahit na parang late na.

"I see. Thank you hija. I failed as a father but I am hoping to be a good one as a grandfather to you." his eyes were telling the truth. "Natutuwa lang ako na apo pala kita, of all the contest that I judged, your performance is something that I can't forget." sabi nya sakin, reminiscing about the past.

"Nagulat nga po ako at naaalala niyo pa yun... tatlong violin competition lang po ang sinalihan ko kaya naaalala ko pa yun. Most of my piano contests are blurry regardless kung nanalo ako o hindi." Karamihan sa contest na sinalihan ko ay piano and yeah they are all blurry.

Sylvester: Where are you right now? I'm worried.

                    : Uhm... let's talk soon. :) 

I replied to him. I have a lot of things to focus on than being mad at my man. I think I need him right now so I can tell stories about everything that happened.

"It was one of the best. I am so proud that you're that kid. Your parents raised you well. I will have to commend your father for that and your mother for fighting for him." Natatawa sya habang sinasabi niya yun. "You know what, your mother is such a troublemaker. Kung ano ang gusto nya gagawin niya unlike her sister Florissa who followed orders. Ganon talaga siguro pag kambal." The difference in their personality.

I recall the times that I was with my parents. My mom is nice naman, she obeyed my father's order.

"Sen-... Lolo... hindi sya ganyan kay papa. Mama always follows papa's order." sabi ko sa kanya nang nakangiti. "She's always polite to everyone."

"Ganoon talaga siguro pag mahal mo." Napangiti na lang sya pero deep in those brown eyes, I can feel the regret, I know he feels the guilt of now being able to be with her when he is supposed to understand her, and knowing that she had a good husband, probably regretting that she has to exile herself for being forced to someone that she doesn't want... is his biggest regret. 

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita nang makita ko ang malawak na lupain. Naubos na ang mga matataas na building at kabahayan na dinadaanan namin pero nasa syudad pa din kami. Napanganga ako sa view na nakikita ko, it was a golden hour. The sun was setting down and this view bears something in my heart. The clouds are like pieces of cotton fading together in the sky and the sun rays scattered to the atmosphere and the ground. Bumukas ang bintana sa side ko at bumagal ang takbo ng sasakyan. The grass was swaying in the breeze of the air. The view was refreshing.

"What you see is part of Ybanez property." Napatingin ako sa lolo ko bigla.

"Po?" He gestured his hands on the other side to check again. Hindi sila... grass... mga palay sila at may mga taong nag-aani sa hindi kalayuan. Napangiti naman ako. Tumingin ako sa kabilang side at na-realize ko na private road na tong dinadaanan namin at ang magkabilaang side na lupain ay parte ng mga Ybanez na parehong anihan. Lalo kaming bumagal nang magkaroon na ng mga puno sa magkabilaang side tapos may gate na mataas kung saan kami huminto at pumasok nang magbukas ito.