Cyann
I told her to wait for me. Na kahit anong mangyayari, susunod ako.
The fact that I have to travel from Quezon City to Tondo didn’t bother me much. But what the fuck is going on? Did all the people suddenly decide to visit their dead on the thirtieth? Bakit grabe ang traffic?! I’ve been stuck here for more than an hour na. Dang it.
“Hey you,” I greet her over the phone. “Sorry, got stuck in traffic. Kumusta diyan?”
“Sabi ko naman ayos lang kung hindi ka na makasunod,” Clementine reasons with me, her voice like music to my ears, momentarily making me forget how pissed I am at the traffic jam.
“I already bought flowers. I’m on my way. Sa Greenhills nalang ako dadaan instead of going along Taft. Do you need anything else?” I inquire. I’m already thinking about buying her food. Kaninang umaga pa siya nasa sementeryo and it’s already past noon. “Nag-lunch ka na?”
“Oo, medyo kanina pa. Hinihintay na lang kita. Natapos naman na naming linisin ‘yung puntod ni Mama—“
My eyebrow involuntarily twitches. “Namin?” I repeat, hoping it doesn’t confirm my thoughts.
“Ahh, oo…tinulungan ako ni Nate—“
I clamp my jaws hard as my hand tightens around my phone before I bid her goodbye. As soon as I find an opening, I floor the gas and overtake all the other motorists that the heavy flow of vehicles will allow me.
At the back of my mind, I know I shouldn’t be getting annoyed. I chose to accompany Nathalie thinking that Clementine will appreciate it more if I find out where her dad is buried so she can have the closure that she deserves. But still, I just couldn’t help it. I mean, ako dapat ‘yung tutulong kay Clementine though I have no idea how to clean a tomb. But my choice opened a door for an opportunist like Nate Signo.
Buti nalang hindi kami nagpang-abot nung makarating ako doon. Who knows, baka hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili ko’t mabangasan ko na ‘yung isang ‘yun.
“Sa’n mo iniwan ‘yung kotse mo?” bungad sa’kin ni Lem nung sinundo niya ako sa may gate, unable to stop her from taking the plastic bag of buko juice that I bought along the way para may mainom naman kami. I originally planned to bring soda, pero naalala kong she’s prone to UTI nga pala.
“Don’t worry about it. I have my means,” I tell her with a smile and motion for her to lead the way. Actually, I paid some teens a hundred pesos each to make sure no one comes close to my BM. Siguro, mga sampu sila if my memory serves me right.
I’m amazed at how Clementine memorized the way to her mom’s grave. I mean, the cemetery is like a maze of graves that look like they were half-heartedly done. It’s as if anytime from now, the dead would get up to bury themselves properly because the living failed to do so. Karamihan, natabunan na ng weeds. Others even have clothes hanging on them. ‘Yung iba, may butas pa yata. I don’t want to think that even the dead gets robbed. That’s downright disrespectful.
Sa bandang dulo nakalibing ‘yung Mom niya. The tombstone is newly-painted and the surrounding area is free of weeds. There are fresh flowers lying on it and a candle that’s lit up.
Gingerly, Lem walks up to it. “Mama, may bisita po kayo,” she says, almost inaudibly.
So I mimic her. “Hello Tita…“ I read the engraved name and continue with my greeting…”—Rose. I’m Cyann.” Suddenly, I’m out of words until Lem tries to get the bouquet from my hands. “Oh, I’m sorry… flowers for you,” I muse with a smile before setting a bunch of tulips against the cross that marks the grave.
BINABASA MO ANG
SaiLem Three {DANGER: I'm Falling For You}
General Fiction"Ang hirap palang magmahal ng taong matagal mong iniwasan. Bakit kasi walang early warning device ang puso para masabi agad na malapit ka na sa brink of falling in love? Para sana pwede pang mag-back out. Hindi 'yung huli na--yung kahit anong pilit...