Wishing, Alois |√

EPILOGUE

"Alois! Jesus, What are you doing?!"

Matinding tawag ni Mama as I keep on pulling out my clothes in the cabinet para ilagay sa dadalhin kong backpack.

"Aloysius Kristoffer!" sunod paring tawag niya that even still I insist not to listen, bagkus ay dali-dali pa akong bumaba ng hagdan eager to get out of the place.

"Where do you think your going,Kristoffer?!" Si Dad naman ngayon ang tumawag. Pero gaya ng kanina, di parin ako nakikinig, at nilagpasan lamang siya.

Natigil lang ata ako saglit ng kakadarating lang ng auntie ko at ang pamilya niya na eventually, may-ari ng bahay. Cause were actually staying with them for the mean time, habang hinihintay pa ang nakatakda kong operasyon.

"G-Good evening po tita..tito." bati ko sa kanila saka tinignan lamang ang pinsan ko. Waring nagkaintindihan sa kung anuman.

Ngumiti pabalik sa'kin c tita, pero nawala rin agad ng mapansin ang dala-dala kong backpack habang ako'y numunuwestra ng maglakad paatras.

"Wait? Your going somewhere?" tanong nito sa'kin, saka naman ito agad tumingin kay Dad.

"I thought kelangan niya ng pahinga? Ba't niyo papayagang---"

Di na nga natapos ni tita ang sasabihin ng dali-dali na akong pumuslit sa pintuan para tuluyang makaalis.

I walk straight to Borge's Ducati motorcycle. Not minding my father's words.

Yes sinundan pa nga ako ni Dad, and yes I used my cousin to help me. You can't blame me!

"Jesus. Son! You even helped your cousin?!" rinig ko pang reklamo ni tita sa pinsan ko.
"Sorry, Mom." pag-intinding paumanhin na lang rin nito.

Papaangkas na nga sana ako. Unfortunately, naabutan parin niya ako. As he immediately grabbed my shoulders just for me to face him.

"Dad, I need to go!" pagsusumamo ko na. But he never did listen. He even tightened his grip dahilan kung bakit ang magkabilang braso ko na ang hawak niya.

"For what?! For her?"

And that's when my mouth shut. He's right. He's definitely right. I became speechless, no choice for me but to just bow down my head.

"Aloysius Kristoffer!" bihirang tawag ni Dad sa buong pangalan ko. Slightly shake me off, as if trying to get my attention. And he did not fail.

Right then I knew he's already disappointed. "I-I just need to see her Dad.. I have to see her.." so as a tear drops into my eyes na kahit ako man ay ngayon lamang napansin.

I can even sense the abrupt calmness in Dad's breath after seeing mine. As he made a big sigh before he speak again.

"Kristoffer.. What would you think she feel knowing that you haven't compel your operation, just because of her? Can you even see the result? Huh?"

By then I know I will be the culprit of my own doing. Dad has a point. Yet, my mind wants to fight something still.

"I-I have to say g-goodbye, Dad.." tila malahangin ko nalang sambit, waring di maririnig ng kung sino man. But with Dad, I know he does.

He hugged me firmly as if I was a fragile thing to deal with. While me in other hand, only leaned on his broad shoulders. "I'm sure she'll understand son. She's a smart girl. You know that."

His final words, before I burst out crying silently, still in his broad built.

And that's when my day ended.

~

"So you love her that much, huh?"

The first thing my cousin, Borge ask from me the time I am already on my private room lying in my hospital bed, staying. A prepation for my operation, 3 days from now.