Hidden Memories

Chapter Fourty Six

Would you

"Luisa was so happy, though. I love my sister so much kaya hinayaan kong masaya sya kahit na alam kong maaring masaktan lang sya. And when the wedding day has come, Alejandro dumped her. Hindi sya sumipot!" Damang dama ko ang galit sa bawat salita ni dad. "Walang masagot ang mga magulang nya dahil maging sila ay walang alam kung nasaan sya! My Luisa was so hurt! We can't make her calm. Araw-araw siyang nagmamakaawa sa akin na hanapin ko si Alejandro at araw-araw ko rin syang nabibigo." Nakita kong lumandas ang luha sa mga mata ni daddy.

I haven't seen him cry! Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko at nag-iwas ng tingin.

I can feel tiya Luisa's pain. Damn, that hurts! I can't imagine myself hurting like that. And that's the father of the one I love. It's Zachary's father who gave the pain to her.

"Lumipas ang ilang buwan at hindi pa din bumalik si Alejandro. And that time, Luisa receive a news, na nagpakasal na si Alejandro sa ibang bansa at magkakaanak na."

That's probably Zachary!

"Hindi sya naniwala. Nagmakaawa ulit sya sa amin ni Danilo na puntahan ang mansyon. Nagalit si Danilo pero ako? Galit din ako pero wala akong magawa kung hindi ang pagbigyan ang mahal kong kapatid." Hinawi ni dad ang muling lumandas na luha sa mga mata nya. "We talked to Madame Alejandria. She was sorry... because the news was true. My Luisa cried in pain. She even curse their family. Then the night that day, we found her in her room... wala ng buhay." Lumunok si dad at niyakap ko sya.

"Nagpakamatay sya dahil sobrang nasaktan sya. The day after that, inatake si mama. And then months..." Hirap na si daddy si pagsasalita.

"Dad, I'm sorry." Hikbi ko.

Bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa nito si tiyo. Hindi ko sya tinignan. Hindi ko magawang tumingin dahil ngayon, naiintindihan ko na kung bakit galit na galit sya.

"Months after that, anak, nagkasakit si papa that's why he died to. That was the painful year for us. That was the miserable year for us. And that was because of Alejandro Vasquez." Galit ang nanuot sa tinig ni daddy.

Naiintindihan ko na kung bakit simula pa lang noon ay ayaw na nila kay Alelie at Mark. At ang masakit, naiintindihan ko na kung bakit tutol sila sa amin ni Zach.

Naiintindihan ko ngunit hindi ko matanggap.

"Layuan ninyo ang kahit sino sa Vasquez, sisirain lamang nila ang mga buhay ninyo." Ani tiyo sa malamig na boses.

Should I fight? Or should I let go?

Sa gabing iyon ay panay ang iyak ko. I understand but I can't accept it! Did Alelie knows about this? Kaya nya nasabi na galit ang pamilya namin sa pamilya nina Zach? But... I love Zachary so much. I can't let go!

Gulong-gulo ang utak ko. I can't do this! I can't leave him. But I can't break my family's hearts too. I can't. Why should I pick between the people I love? Why can't I have them in the same time?

Lord, why are you doing this to me? Bakit pa ninyo po kami ipinagtapo kung hindi naman po pala pepwede? Is this one of your test to me? 'Cause if it is, god, It's so hard to do.

Kinabukasan, kahit na magang-maga ang mata ko ay pumasok pa rin ako. I need to go to school. Wala rin ako ni isang text na natanggap kay Zach kagabi. I wonder if he's alright? I wonder if he knows the story....

"Eat first, Charlotte." Ani daddy pagkatapos kong humalik sa kanila ni mommy at magpaalam na aalis na.

"I'm not hungry, dad." Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang aking relo. "And I'm kinda late." Sabi ko at tinignan si Alelie na tumatayo na din galing sa hapagkainan.