He's The Boss [EDITING]

CHAPTER 1

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CHAPTER ONE

Three months ago...

TAHIMIK ANG LAHAT NG TAO sa loob ng sasakyan. Ramdam ko ang hindi maiiwasang tensyon na nakabalot sa aming lahat.

Si Kuya George ay tahimik lang na nagmamaneho habang nakatuon naman ang pansin ni Mila sa labas ng bintana. Si Nana Maria naman ay may kausap sa kaniyang telepono. Mahina ang kaniyang boses at parang ayaw niya na may maka-rinig sa pinag-uusapan nila ng kausap niya. I have a feeling that whatever they're talking about concerns me because her eyes keep flickering on my direction. She seems to be distressed and upset but I was too busy drowning in my own sorrows to care.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay binaba na ni Nana Maria ang kaniyang telepono. Alam kong may gusto siyang sabihin sa'kin but she was reluctant to say it because of the situation.

"Clara, anak, may problema." panimula niya..

Problema na naman? Kelan pa ba titigil sa pagdating ang mga masasamang balita? Can't life give me just a little moment to breath and mourn properly?

"Huwag muna ngayon, Nana. I'm too drained to think of more problems at the moment. There's not much more that I can take. Sobrang pagod na talaga ako." Sabi ko. Hinarap ko si Kuya George, ang aking personal na driver. "Kuya, pakibaba na lang po ako diyan sa may kanto. I'll just walk the rest of the way home. Gusto ko po munang mapag-isa."

Tumango lang si Kuya George.

"Pero Clara, importante kasi na– " giit ni Nana Maria.

"Nana, please. Not now. I just burried my parents." Pakiusap ko sa kaniya. "I just need some time to think. Alone. We can talk about this tonight after dinner."

'Yun ay kung may gana akong kumain ng hapunan.' Gusto ko sanang idagdag pero ayokong mas lalong mag-alala si Nana. Ayokong dumagdag pa sa mga pinagkakaabalahan niya at mas lalong ayokong mas lalong maging pabigat.

I can suffer through this alone.

Napabuntong hininga na lang si Nana Maria at hindi na muling nagsalita pa. Alam na ata niya ang takbo ng isip ko. Naiintindihan naman siguro niya ang sitwasyon, hindi ba?

Pagod na pagod na talaga ako.

Physically... Mentally... Emotionally... Spiritually...

I faced the window and sighed. I just want to curl myself somewhere and go to sleep.

And hopefully, I would never wake up again.

Ipinara na ni Kuya George ang sasakyan at dali-dali naman akong bumaba mag-isa. Halatang nag-aalala si Nana Maria at gusto niya akong samahan kaya hindi na ako nagulat pa sa suhestiyon niya;

"Sigurado ka bang okay lang sa iyo maglakad ng mag-isa, hija? Pwede naman kitang samahan kung gusto mo." Malambing na wika ni Nana Maria.

Naiintindihan kong nag-aalala siya pero nasasakal na talaga ako. They've been pampering me and hovering around me ever since nagising ako sa ospital two weeks ago. They never left me alone – not even as I slept. Gaano ba kahirap maintindihan? I want some time to mourn the death of my parents on my own.

"Huwag na po, Nana. Matanda na kayo at hindi na dapat kayo naglalakad ng malayo. Isa pa, pagod na rin siguro kayo."

"Oh, edi si Mila na lang–" karagdagang suhestiyon niya.

I sighed.

"Nana, I want to be alone." I emphasized. "Please. Just give me a little time to myself."

She finally gave up. "Oh, siya, siya. Sige na. Basta huwag kang magtatagal ha?"

"Opo. Kita na lang tayo sa bahay mamaya." Isinara ko na ang pintuan ng sasakyan. I stared as they started to drive away slowly.

I sighed when the car was finally out of sight.

Nag-umpisa na akong maglakad. Medyo malayo-layo pa ako sa dulo kung nasaan ang Villanueva Estate. It's far but not too far. This is fine – it's actually kinda nice. I enjoy walking and I have a longer time to think by myself.

Sa aking paglalakad, hindi talaga maiiwasang mapadaan ako sa community plaza. I decided to sit on one of the swings in the small playground for kids.

I'll probably stay here for a while.

The ambiance of the plaza is nice and quiet – peaceful even. Walang ibang tao ang naririto maliban sa akin. Masarap ang simoy ng hangin. It's also not that hot even though it's the middle of the day because I was under the shades of the surrounding trees.

It's actually the perfect place if you want to think and contemplate about life. It's exactly what I need right now.

I looked around the plaza. Hindi ko maiwasang mapatingin sa mga empty picnic tables at benches sa malapit. Old but happy memories swarmed my mind.

I remember when Kuya Kristopher and I were just kids. Mommy and Daddy would bring us here for a family picnic after going to church for the Sunday mass. I remember the delicious and savory snacks that Mom prepared specially for us. I remember playing in the slides while Daddy helps Kuya climb and swing his way through the monkey bars. There were times that Daddy and Mommy would push Kuya and I in the swings.

I cherished the days when we were still together. The times when we were all so happy... and complete. Those were the days.

And now, I'm all alone. Because the people I love the most, my family, are dead.

I closed my eyes as I felt my tears running down my face. I didn't realize I was crying. Somebody could have passed by and saw me. I can't have that. I don't want other people to see me crying and pity me.

How long was I even sitting here? A few minutes, maybe hours? I don't know. Time and days seem to pass by ever since I woke up from the coma.

I wiped the tears away and opened my eyes to an empty plaza.

"Everyone I love and depended on are dead and they left me on this God forsaken world. I guess I have to face life all alone starting now. I need to be strong. Physically, mentally and emotionally." I whispered to myself and released one final sob.

Deynee's Note:

This chapter is very short but I'd like to think that it has so much feels! Kahit ako mismo naiiyak eh! It's really heart-breaking! :'(

How about you guys? Did you empathize with Clara? Naramdaman niyo rin ba ang bigat at sakit na nararamdaman niya? Share to me your thoughts in the comments section below! Also, don't forget like this chapter to show your support!

See you next chapter! xoxo