"Saan ka galing?"
Bumungad sa akin si Dad eating popcorn while watching his and his wife's all time favorite movie--- A walk to remember.
"Sa mall lang po, Dad."
"Bumili ka na naman ng libro?"
"Hindi po. Kasama ko po si--"
"Ah oo. Yung kaibigan mong si Paris. Taga saan ba yun?"
"Sa isang condo daw po sya nakatira mag-isa. Somewhere in Makati." I remember he told that to me once.
"Ah. His parents?" Umupo ako sa tabi ni Dad.
"Nasa UK daw po."
"Ah. Ok."
"May problema ba dad?" Umakbay sya sa akin.
"Wala. Masaya lang ako na may bago ka ng kaibigan. Masaya akong masaya ka."
"Thank you, Dad."
Hinalikan nya ako sa noo. What a lovely dad.
"Sapat na ba sya sayo para maging masaya ka?" Nagtataka akong tumingin sa kanya.
"Dad, hindi lang sya. Of course I'm also happy 'cause you're still here. Also Mendelle and Manang Tere. You are all enough with me."
Ngumiti sya ng malungkot. I disappoint him again.
"I know how beautiful your soul is. I know how forgiving your heart is. I know that you are still on the process and we are all willing to wait for the healing of your wounds."
"Dad, masama ba 'ko? Masama ba 'kong kapatid?"
I put my head on his shoulder. I feel the warm tears falling from my eyes.
"Of course, you're not. As I've said, it'll take time. Mapapatawad mo rin sya.."
"Sana nga, Dad. Sana..." Napangiti ako ng mapait dahil alam kong there's no room of forgiveness pagdating sakin.
"What's your plan for your birthday next week? You're turning 17. Bawal muna magka-boyfriend ha?"
"Dad naman eh!!" Napatawa sya ng makita ang reaction ko.
"Bakit? Meron na ba?"
"Wala Dad!"
"Eh bakit parang disagree ka sa sinabi ko?"
"Niloloko lang kita, dad. Alam kong ganyan ang sasabihin mo."
A moment of silence.
"Sya nga pala,"
"Yes, dad?"
"May balita na kami."
"What?!"
Oh my god!
"Yes. Kaso hindi naging madali dahil palipat lipat sya ng bansa. Minsan nasa Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Vietnam tapos babalik sa US. Isa rin yun sa pinagkaabalahan ko habang nasa ospital ang kapatid mo who suffered from car accident and we almost lose her. You know what, I did my best para magtagpo kami roon pero I failed."
Alam kong nalulungkot si Dad. Kasalanan ko, ito ang hiningi kong birthday gift sa kanya last year. Ang maibalik nya sakin ang lalaking umalis ng walang paalam. At hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring nangyayari.
At teka, my sibling just suffered from car accident?
"Hindi tayo susuko. Ok?"
Nakangiti ma'y alam kong pagod na rin sya. Alam kong gusto na nyang mag-give up.
"Salamat talaga, dad."
"So! Balik tayo sa birthday mo."
Nakita ko pa sa peripheral vision ko na nagpunas sya ng luha. Hindi na 'ko nagtanong dahil isa lang naman ang isasagot nya. Napuwing.
BINABASA MO ANG
One For The Books
General FictionPast is what makes the present because there will be no present if there's no past. There will be no butterfly if there's no caterpillar, there will be no light if there's no darkness. There will be no leader if there's no member, there will be no n...
