The Endless Chase

Chapter 41

Author's note:

Okay. Binabawi ko na yung plano ko kagabi. lol. I have other plans. hahaha. 

Thanks for reading! :)

Chapter 41

"Daddy, what happens to people when they die?" tanong ko kay daddy noong bata pa ako at nasa lamay kami ng isang business partner niya na namatay dahil sa isang malubhang sakit.

Dad squatted para malevel ang kanyang tingin sa akin.

"They become angels, my princess." Nakangiti niyang sagot. "They watch over the ones they love."

Simula noong sinabi sa akin iyon ni daddy ay naniwala na ako na lahat ng namamatay ay nagiging angel. Bawat isa sa atin ay may nagbabantay na angel. They're just beside us and protecting us from harm.

Siguro ay isa na si daddy sa kanila ngayon. He'll watch over mom and me.

Today, ililibing si daddy. I was surrounded with people wearing white. Ang iba ay kakilala ko habang ang iba naman ay mga kasamahan ni daddy sa business world.

Ang pangako ni Chio ay nagpagaan ng kalooban ko in its own way ngunit hindi nito naalis ang pangungulila ko kay daddy. Limang araw pa lamang ang nakakalipas ngunit pakiramdam ko ay ilang taon na siyang wala.

Each of the five days got its own mood. There was a time na nagigising ako in the middle of the night with tears in my eyes because I dreamt of dad. That was the night when mom told me to go home and have some rest. Ayaw ko sanang umalis sa tabi ni daddy noon ngunit pinilit niya ako.

Chio accompanied me at home. He waited for me to sleep and that is to say, sobrang tagal. Nagkuwentuhan muna kami para daw antukin ako. Siguro na rin ay sa sobrang pag-iyak at stress sa mga nangyari ay nakatulog din ako kalaunan.

When they started placing daddy's coffin sa malalim na hukay ng lupa sa memorial cemetery ay nagsimula na naman akong umiyak.

Chio pulled me near him and I cried on his chest. Tinapik ni Chio ang aking balikat matapos ang ilang saglit and whispered in my ear.

"Give your white rose now, Ianna. And say your last goodbye to your dad." Malungkot siyang ngumiti at ginabayan ako sa paglapit sa parihabang hukay ng lupa.

I dropped the white rose I was holding in there and closed my eyes filled with tears.

Daddy, I love you so much. I hope you're fine there in heaven. Thanks for everything. I will miss you.

I sent my message through the wind. Hiling ko lang sana ay dalhin iyon ng hangin kay daddy. I know daddy's going to heaven because he's a good man.

When everyone already said their last goodbye to dad, unti-unti nang nagsialisan ang mga tao.

When they were already filling the space with soil, umalis na rin si mommy kasama ang isa sa aking mga pinsan.

I stayed.

I stayed there watching them fill the gap in the land and make dad's body beyond my reach for eternity. I was silently crying while standing in front of it. I watched as the white coffin slowly got lost in the mounds of dirt.

"Tara na, Ianna." Aya ni Chio sa akin na kanina pa tahimik na nakatayo sa tabi ko.

I waited until the gap was completely filled bago tumalikod at naglakad na palayo doon.

It was more than a week after daddy's burial at mag-isa lang ako sa bahay namin ngayon kasama ang mga katulong. Si mommy ay isinama ng tita ko sa rest house nila sa Baler para makapagpahinga at maalis ang stress. Isasama dapat nila ako ngunit tumanggi ako.