A Modern Fairytale

Chapter 29

Elaine's POV

"In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit..."

"AMEN." Sabay sabay namin sabi kasabay ng pagtapos ng sign of the cross.

Nandito kami ngayon sa burol ni Arkisha at ng anak niya. Iniuwi sila dito sa New York isang araw matapos bawian ng buhay si Arkisha.

Kompleto ngayon ang pamilya Mendoza maliban sa mga bata. Nandito din ang pamilya nila Arkisha at ng asawa niya. Nandito din si Warren at hindi naman sila nag-uusap ni ZEM na parang hindi magkakilala.

Ibinigay na sa 'kin ng tita ni Arkisha si Aki kaya agad kong binuhat ang bata. Paalis na din kasi ang karamihan ng mga dumalo dahil tapos na din ang funeral.

"Please take good care of him. Treat him as your own." Umiiyak na sabi ng tita niya.

Tumango ako at niyakap si Aki. "I promise."

Wala ng magulang si Arkisha kaya obligado na kay ZEM mapunta ang bata.

"ZEM? Hindi pa ba tayo uuwi?" Tanong ko kay ZEM na nakatayo pa rin at nakatitig sa puntod ni Arkisha. "Inaantok na kasi si Aki."

"Yes. We will go home now." Matamlay niyang sagot at hinarap ako. "What are you thinking?"

Kumunot naman ang noo ko sa narinig ko sa kanya.

"Ha?"

"Nothing." Nauna na siyang naglakad.

Nakita ko naman na papalapit si Warren kay ZEM. At hindi ako nagkamali. Nilapitan nga niya si ZEM.

"I want to talk to you." Narinig kong sabi ni Warren habang seryosong nakatingin kay ZEM at ganun din naman si ZEM sa kanya.

"Sure you can." Malamig namang sagot ni ZEM at tumingin sa amin ni Aki. "Get in the-"

"No Mendoza. It's okay for them to listen." Pagputol ni Warren sa sinabi ni ZEM.

"My kid is heavy." Malamig namang sagot ni ZEM.

"I'll get the kid." Sabi ni Aloha na biglang dumating.

At bago pa may magsalita kinuha na niya mula sa 'kin si Aki. Tinignan nalang namin silang papunta na sa sasakyan ni Yu-Rhi.

"Kid? So you really accepted him." Saad ni Warren matapos ang katahimikan. "Why wouldn't you anyway? He's yours." Nakangising dagdag nito.

"What do you want?"

Lumapit ako kay ZEM dahil alam ko kung gaano kaikli ang pasensya niya.

"Are you wholly sad for Arkisha's death? Or a bit happy because Aki is all yours and you won against me?" Seryosong tanong ni Warren.

"I was never happy for her death." Sagot lang ni ZEM.

"You have everything Zac Ethan. You have your woman and kids. I envy you." Mahinang sabi ni Warren.

"I never had her. You always have her heart. Don't you say those to me. God knows how I envy you for having her before."

Napatingin agad ako kay ZEM sa sinabi niya. At alam din ng lahat kung gaano ko kinainggitan si Arkisha dahil diyan sa pagmamahal mo.

"I just lost my wife and daughter." Mahinang sabi ni Warren bago siya pumiyok dahil sa pag-iyak. "They're both dead Ethan. I have no one left... you have everyone around you." At nakita ko ang pagluha ng mga mata niya sa harapan namin.

"I want to be sorry... but I can't. That's your price I guess for rejecting her and not loving her." Malamig pa rin ang boses ni ZEM nang sabihin niya ang mga 'yon.

"I can't blame you. Because guilt is torturing me too. And I know I wasn't the good husband." Nagpunas siya ng mga mata at tumingin sa 'kin bago ngumiti. "A bit of advice. Will you listen Ethan?"

"Is it worthy of my attention?" Sarcastic na tanong ni ZEM.

Akala ko maiinis si Warren pero ngumiti siya ng tunay kay ZEM habang namumuo na naman ang mga luha niya.

"Worthy." Maayos niyang sabi.

"Tell me now. My sons are waiting for me."

"Ethan you don't have to slap it on my face that I'm all alone." Mahinang sabi ni Warren. "I just want to tell you that we're almost the same when it comes to the woman who loves us."

"I'm not like you." Inis na sabi ni ZEM.

"I didn't give her the love and care that she deserves... the same as you to Elaine, Ethan. Don't ask whom and how did I know." Malumanay pa ring sabi ni Warren. "I envy you because you still have the time and chances to love her." Malungkot niyang sabi at tumingin sa 'kin.

"Who are you to tell me those?"

"I'm a crazy man hoping for his woman to come back impossibly to love her. I'm a dumb man for treating her that way and now asking for her comeback. And I'm a father wishing for his little angel to wake up and give him butterfly kisses every now and then." Lumuluhang sagot ni Warren. "I am him Ethan. How about you? Who are you?"

Hindi ko napansin agad na lumuha din ako sa mga salita niya. Halata sa kanya ang pagsisisi at sakit. Naawa ako sa kanya. Lalo na kapag tumitingin ako sa mata niyang nakatitig lang kay ZEM.

"You're a very lucky man Ethan. That is you." Sabi uli niya nang hindi magsalita si ZEM. "Don't wait for the time that you'll have to get through this pain first before realizing her worth and beg for something you had to have it back. Don't wait for it Ethan. She's just right there beside you. Arkisha is in peace now with our little angel, I hope you'll be able now to love her. Just love and focus on one woman and you'll achieve everything as someone had said. I didn't do it. Now I have nothing. I hope you'll learn the lesson before life will be the one to teach you, because you'll regret it like me." Ngumiti siya ng matamis. "I want to tell you also that she loved you. Good bye Ethan. This is the first and last time that I'll talk to you. Bye Elaine. Bless your heart." Hinaplos niya ang pisngi ko saka siya naglakad palayo sa amin ni ZEM.

Ilang segundo ding hindi kami gumagalaw at nagsasalita ni ZEM bago siya humarap sa akin.

"I wish I am the man you deserve." Malungkot niyang sabi. "I wish I loved you first." Lumapit siya sa 'kin at hinawakan ako sa pisngi. "Let's start over again baby. I will love you this time."

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