S e c r e t s

Una

I can't control what's fair and unfair. I can't control the nature of the business or the nature of society or the nature of the world, but what I can control is how I choose to see the world and what I choose to put back into it.

Aisha Tyler

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Una

They look so perfect!

Ang gwapo ng groom!

Hmpft! Look at her. Mas maganda pa ako diyan eh.

She must be great in bed, or else bakit siya papatulan ni Eros?

"  ...by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, husband and wife."

Kinamayan ng judge ang asawa ko. Ngumiti ako sa ugnayang iyon. Ngayon siguro matutuwa na si grampa.

It has been his dream to have one of us marry into the Montecillos. Bata pa ako ay bukambibig na niya iyon.

Paglaki mo Aura, pumili ka ng isa sa mga Montecillo. He would tell my sister.

Ngingiti lang si Aura sa kanya. They would banter about things she will get when she marry a Montecillo.

But sadly, Aura died ten years ago. Grampa was devastated. Pa graduate na kasi siya noon. She just stepped out of the salon when a wayward truck hit her. Apprently, the truck driver was drunk.

Hindi makilala at halos durog ang facial bones niya sa lakas ng impact. She was pinned to the wall and half of her face collided with the trucks front.

Na stroke si Grampa sa sama ng loob. Kakahiwalay lang noon ni mama at papa. Tandang tanda ko ang pagtulo ng luha sa mga mata niya habang inihahatid si Aura sa huling hantungan. Pagkatapos ay nilapitan niya ako.

Mabuhay ka ng matagal CJ. Dont focus on this... tragedy. You have a lot to grow up into.

Inilayo ng nurse ang wheelchair ni Grampa matapos niya akong kausapin. Si mama naman ay hinawakan ang kamay ko at iginiya ako palayo sa lugar na iyon. Binuksan niya ang pinto ng kotse sa gilid niya at in unlock ito. She motioned for me to come in.

I took one look back and saw papa. Theres sadness in his eyes as he looked at us. Sobrang naawa ako sa kanya. He lost Aura, and now mama is taking me away.

Tumakbo ako sa kanya. He hugged me tight.

Mag iingat ka palagi CJ. Call me when you can.

CJ! Come on.

Lumakad na ako pabalik sa kotse. Hindi na ako lumingon kay papa. Tama na iyon. Hugging him that day cost me a lot. But its worth it. I get to hug my papa.

Alam ko matatagalan bago ko siya ulit makita.

One.

Two.

T-three...

Stop stuttering! Sinabi ko bang huminto ka sa pagbibilang..?

No...no, Im- im s- sorry...

I dont care. Now count!

My mind is screaming at me. Start counting. Konti na lang at mapapagod din siya. Ilang tama na lang ng yantok ay titigil na siya.

I cant remember what number I was on ng mawala ang tama ng sakit sa likod ko. Crying made me feel so tired. Tulo ang uhog at luha ko na naghahalo sa mukha ko. Do I even look human?