CHAPTER 5
"Forever? 'Di ba, ayaw mo no'n?" tanong ko.
"Is it too cliche?" tanong niya rin.
"Hindi. Ang gulo lang. Sabi mo kasi ayaw mo no'n."
"That's years ago." Sagot niya.
Lumapit naman ako lalo. Bale, nakakapit na ako sa braso niya. Medyo nagulat siya, pero naka recover din naman agad.
"E, bakit bigla kang naniwala?"
"I didn't,"
"Ha? Ang gulo mo naman."
"That's the point."
"'Asan do'n 'yong point?"
"Silly kid," bulong niya.
"I didn't believe. But in other point of view, I'm trying to make it sense. I didn't believe, so I'm making my own way of showing it."
"Pero sabi mo, forever. It ain't your belief after all, right? You're a roller coaster,"
"No, you are. Can't you see and feel it?"
"Ginugulo mo lagi utak ko." Sabi ko.
"A lot of people are saying, nothing lasts forever. But the truth is, we only catch a small glimpse of a fraction of that forever."
"Fraction.. of that forever? You mean, this whole lifetime is just a bit touch of our forever? E, naniniwala ka pala. Napaka.." singhal ko.
"I'm halfway melting for that picture,"
Kung may makakabasa man sana noon ng nasa isip ko, gusto kong sabihin na ipaliwanag sana nila 'yon.
Because up until now, for the second time around.. I still don't get their point.
My son - he doesn't believe in forever. But it's in his caption.
Minsan hindi ko alam kung may sayad ba 'yong anak ko o ano.
"Hey, I'm trying to explain,"
"I-uh.. 'wag na.. I'm kinda sort of tired."
"Hay. Halika na nga. Mas matanda ako sa'yo, pero ang hina mo na agad."
Inalayan naman ako ni ate Kres hanggang sa kwarto ko. Hindi rin niya ako iniwan dahil baka raw sumpungin ulit ako.
"Mommy!"
"Shh.. Amethon.."
"Bakit, tita?"
"Your mama is taking a rest-"
"Mama is wide awake. So dang.. fine."
"Tulog, eh?"
"She's not my mama, tita-"
"Sino 'to? Si Rhodora x?"
"My.. uh.. mom?"
"Iisa naman 'yon ah?"
"No. Never. Tita.. kindly.. leave us alone for a while. Please?"
May bahid ng inis, pero nirerespeto pa rin ni Amethon si ate Kres.
"Mom, bakit gano'n, 'no? People kept on comparing you to her.."
Hindi ako umimik.
"It kinda hurts,"
"Mahal kita, sobra. Ayoko na makakarinig ka kahit ano man sa mga 'yon."
Bigla ulit siyang tumahimik.
