A Bloodless War

Kabanata 30

Kabanata 30

"WHERE are you going, Alyx?" I stopped at napalingon sa Daddy ko. He was staring at me. Si Mommy ay nakaupo sa sofa at nakita kong nakamasid din siya sa akin.

"Cemetery..." sagot ko. He sighed and nodded.

"You'll visit it again?" aniya. Tumango ako at tipid na ngumiti.

"Yes, I will just check it..." sagot ko.

"Why don't we just remove it? Matagal ko na iyong sinasabi sa'yo." I shook my head at hinawi ang buhok ko.

"No, Dad. Maybe sa susunod na lang," sagot ko at nakita kong tumango ang Dad ko at sinenyasan akong lumapit.

"Bye, Dad. Baka aalis din ako mamaya pagkagaling sa sementeryo," sabi ko.

"Where are you going?" tanong niya at lumapit ako kay Mommy para humalik at magpaalam.

"To the island, saglit lang ako..." sagot ko sa kanya.

"Okay. Mag-iingat ka, hmm?" I nodded at matapos humalik ay kaagad ding umalis.

I drove my car towards the cemetery, tahimik ang buong kotse at tanging ang paghinga ko na lang ang naririnig. I sighed.

I missed him... I really do...

I decided to open the radio and heard a song.

To be young and in love in New York City. To not know who I am but still know that I'm good long as you're here with me,

Napangiti ako at natagpuan ko na lang ang sariling sumasabay sa kanta. I hummed and sang.

I like me better when I'm with you... I like me better when I'm with you... I knew from the first time, I'd stay for a long time 'cause, I like me better when I like me better when I'm with you...

My mood lifted at nakangiti na nang lumabas ng sasakyan. Tinanguan ako ng guard matapos at kaagad akong ngumiti sa kanya bago pumasok.

I walked towards the tombs at kaagad na kumalabog ang dibdib ko habang nakatingin doon, still, the feeling's the same, walang nagbago.

Pinapatanggal na nga ito ni Dad pero ayoko pa rin dahil nagsisilbi itong ala-ala sa nangyari noon.

I caressed the tomb and sighed, maybe when the time comes...

Nanatili akong nakatitig roon ay napahawak sa dibdib ko. This tomb is somehow a reminder of what happened to my life. It was a year ago when that incident happened.

I was shot in my chest. Kaagad akong dinala sa ospital, agaw-buhay at halos mawalan na sila ng pag-asa nang malamang malapit sa puso ang tama ng bala sa dibdib ko.

I have a less than half chance to live before and after the operation, so it was risky.

I was in coma for six months and it was a miracle, I still lived. It was actually a rare case, mostly namamatay ang mga taong natatamaan ng bala sa may parte ng puso.

I was really tough, I think, kasi lumaban talaga ako para sa buhay ko. Kagaya nga rin ng sinabi nila, matagal mamatay ang masamang damo so, maybe that's one of the reasons why I ams still breathing.

Matapos ng ilang minuto sa puntod ay pinagpag ko ang damit at tumayo. Nang lumabas ako ay kaagad akong sumakay sa kotse ay dumiretso sa agency para magpahatid sa isla.

It was the island where my husband and I first met. I wanna visit that place again, gusto kong balikan ang lahat... Lahat-lahat mula simula.

Nakatitig lang ako sa ibaba habang nakasakay sa chopper. I hear nothing but a faint sound from the headphone I am wearing.