Lost City

Chapter 06

Ellah Astro

I tried to stop myself from crying but it's hard.Lalo na kung siya ang dahilan ng pag-iyak ko.Bakit ko siya nakita dito? Is it possible that she's still alive and my Dad hide it from me?

"Stop crying,El." Lance tried to comfort me.Inabot niya sa akin ang tissue na nasa mesa.

"I can't.You know that." Sagot ko habang pinupunasan ang luha ko.

"Sorry to open this but,Matagal ng patay ang Mom mo 'di ba?" My body became stiff.My mouth is numb to utter a word so,I just nodded at him.

"Of all places, bakit dito mo siya nakita?Posible bang buhay talaga siya?" Sabi niya.

"Naisip ko na din iyan.Pero kung totoo ngang buhay siya.Why would my Dad lie to me? Oo,we're in bad terms right now but it's wicked to hide the truth to your daughter.The fact that she's alive is making me damn crazy and happy."

"Maybe may plano na talaga ang Dad mo to get rid of your Mom.So,his best solution is making you believe that she's dead." Nagulat ako sa mga sinabi ni Lance.I don't know if maniniwala ako sa kanya.Let's just say that in my perspective his statement is a half fact,half bluff.

"What do you mean by that?Kung may plano siyang ganoon.Sana hindi na niya ako dinamay.He could have arrange annulment!Hindi iyong pinaniwala niya akong patay na siya!" I cried again and Lance is tapping my back.

I remembered how my Dad stare at my Mom with love.How he love her dearly.Kaya mahirap sa aking paniwalaan ang mga narinig ko.How could he do that to the love of his life?

"Sorry,El.Naalala ko lang kasi yung rumor about your Dad's mistress.What if,'di ba?What if may plano na silang magsama noon pa?"

Naalala ko kung paano lumuhod ang tatay ko sa nanay kong umiiyak. That time,I was just a kid that's why I cannot help but to cry.That moment was very sad—very sad that it became my first heatbreak.I heard my Dad begged my Mom not to left him.I also heard how my Mom begged him to let her go.

Naghiwalay sila temporarily.Naiwan ako kay Dad.Iyon ang unang beses na nagtanim ako ng sama ng loob sa kanya.Kung hindi siya nambabae, 'di sana Mom's with us.My Dad pursued my Mom and he made it.Kaya nawala iyong galit ko sa kanya.

If my Dad has a plan,Chance na niya iyong pansamantala nilang paghihiwalay para tuluyan na silang magsama ng babaeng iyon.

"My Dad made a horrible mistake once,but he promised me not to make another again."
I smiled at Lance and he smiled back while messing my hair like a dog.

xxxx

Matapos ang pag-uusap namin ni Lance.Naging maginhawa ang pakiramdam ko.Thanks to Lando.

Hindi nawala sa isip ko ang hitsura ni Mommy. After 10 years,she looks...the same.I tried to get closer to her despite of the crowd.

"Ellah."

"Hmm?"

"I heard you saw your Mom." Russ said then sat beside me.Tiningnan niya ako para siguro i-check kung iiyak ako.Pero, sorry ka po.Ubos na ang luha ko.

"Yeah.I saw my Mom who died 10 years ago."

"Woah,so you can see dead people." He looked at me with amusement at pabirong dumistansya ng kaunti.

"Yeah,I can see dead people.As a matter of fact,There's one at your back." Biro ko pabalik pero hindi ko inaasahang sineryoso niya.

"El,totoo ba?Huwag mo naman akong takutin ng ganyan.Takot ako sa multo."Sabi niya at kita ko kung paano siya namutla.

Tumawa ako with all my might and awesomeness.Naramdaman ko ang paglapit niya sa akin.

"Stop,El.You're making me scared." Seryoso niyang sabi kaya natigil ako sa aking pagtawa na mala-Hudas.

"Okay." I cleared my throat.

"Elay, nandito ka lang pala!Kanina ko pa you hinahanap.Hoy,Kalawang akin muna ang jowa mo." Walang hiyang bulalas ng balahura kong kaibigan.

"May fireworks display daw sa plaza sabi ni Mang Petro!Nood tayo later."

Sinira niya ang moment ko with Russ para lang sa fireworks?

"At bes ang daming pogi here!"

"Anong paki ko?"

Pinaikot niya ang kanyang mga mata at hinila ako palayo kay Russ.

"Bes,huwag masyadong pahalata kay Fafa Russ." Migay said."Dalagang pilipina ang peg natin.Pakipot ka muna."

I rolled my eyes at her,"Whatevs."

Bago kami pumunta sa plaza, hinila muna niya ako kung saan-saan.Panay ang turo niya sa iba't-ibang nakakamanghang bagay .Panay rin ang kain niya.

"This is the yummiest super duper extra delicious siomai ever." Sabi niya at CDs inubo ang dalawang siomai nang sabay.I can say na tama siya,masarap nga but kailangan talagang ganon kalaki ang subo niya?

"Dahan-dahan. You're pigging out again." I teased her which has no effect.

"Whatever, Elay.Malapit na ang fireworks display. Leggo na bilis."

After we finished our siomai,we went straight sa plaza. Ash is waving her hand at us kaya madali namin siyang nakita.

"Kanina ka pa?" I asked.

"Not much." Ash answered.

Ang sabi nila, magsisimula ang display at 7.I looked at my watch to see that it's not working.

"Anong oras na?" Tanong ko sa dalawa.

Baka nasira yung relo ko noong aksidente.Ngayon ko lang ito napansin.

"My watch is broken." Migay answered.

"Me too." Ash said.

O-kay.So,tatlo kaming nasiraan ng relo sa aksidente?

"Dahil yata sa aksidente." Sabi ni Ash.

I silently agreed and I think Migay thinks the same.But, I'm starting to think that this is more than the accident. Maybe I'll ask Lance and Russ about this matter too.

"Hey, wassup?" Lance greeted us and Russ is behind him.

"Sabi ni Mang Petro magsisimula na daw in a minute."He informed us.

"Yeyy.I can't wait na." Megan said.

We waited for a minute to come and boom.Napuno ang madilim na langit ng makukulay na fireworks.Napangiti ako habang pinapanood ko kung paano sila sumayaw sa langit.Another explosion was made and the sparks formed a heart which gave an awe to everyone.

Bigla akong napatingin sa madla at naramdaman ko na may nakatingin sa akin—no,nakatitig at nakangiti.