Exactly Where They'd Fall (COMPLETED)

Chapter 19

A/N: The real story will now roll over. Medyo bibitinin ko muna kayo sa sweet churvaness ng dalawa. Excited? Hihi. Ako din! Kapana-panabik po, promise.

Sorry for the grammatical errors and misspelled words. Thank you, enjoy reading!

-

"Kuya Ruben, pakilagay po to sa likuran." I asked him a favor.

It's 3AM and I'm leaving already for Manila. Tulog pa si Ate at si Viceral lang ang gising para i-assist ako. Actually, I haven't slept that much. Plus the fact na alas onse na ng gabi ako nakarating sa bahay, ang mga nalaman ko'y hindi nakapagpatulog sa akin. I guess I'll just take Ate's advice, to keep my mouth shut and don't tell anybody what I saw. I should keep these from myself. I am also hoping na sana pagdating ko sa Maynila ay maliwanagan ako sa mga nangyari.

Kuya Ruben picked up my luggage at nilagay ito sa likuran. "Viceral, ikaw na muna bahala dito sa bahay ha? Pag may kailangan si Maika at tumawag siya dito sa bahay, tawagan mo nalang ako." Bilin ko sa kanya.

"Opo Madam. Hindi ka po ba nilalamig? Ayaw mo po ba muna magkape o kahit ano?" It's a bit cold, pero I can manage.

"Hindi na siguro. Malayo pa ang biyahe. And I'm okay with my coat." I assured Vice.

"Halatang wala kayong tulog Maam ah."

"Matutulog nalang ako sa sasakyan." I replied. Kung makakatulog.

"Sige po. Ingat kayo." He spoke and I hugged him. Sumakay na ako ng sasakyam at agad ng umalis.

Erasing my thoughts, I closed my eyes. Lord, sana patulugin niyo po ako. My whole being is still awake and I already want to sleep so bad. My eyes opened automatically when I heard my phone rang. Sino ba namang tatawag ng ganitong oras?

I looked at the caller ID and found myself smiling. Agad kong sinagot ang tawag.

"I saw you leaving. Di man lang kita naabutan."

"How do you know na sa ganung oras ako aalis?"

"Hindi ko rin alam. E basta nagising nalang ako ng alas dos e." He chuckled.

"Sorry."

"It's fine, I understand. Catch up sleep love okay?"

"Mm-hmm. You too. Ang aga mo!" I jokingly said.

"I will. Nasa dalampasigan lang ako, babalik na rin ako sa kuwarto ko."

"What are you doing there? It's so cold Herminio Jose!"

"Pabalik na nga e!" I heard him laugh. "Should I end the call? Para makatulog ka na."

"Yes, kindly."

"Rest now. I love you."

"I love you too. Ingat ka rin." Then he ended the call.

The thought of him made me slept safe and sound inside the car. Hay, Herminio Jose.

-

I woke up with the sun on where I sat down. I didn't switch position, I let the sun touch my skin within the mirrors of the car.

"Andito na ba tayo?" I asked the driver.

"Malapit na po Maam Regine. Doon nalang malapit sa may traffic light." He replied.

I checked the time and it was already 9 in the morning. I did really catch up sleep huh? Nakikinig talaga tong sistema ko kay Herminio Jose, pero sa may-ari hindi masyado. Ngek.

Few minutes of waiting, the driver went into the basement area ng Cosmopolitan Memorial Hall. Dito ata nakavigil si Kuya Martin. He parked the car legibly at bumaba na kami ng sasakyan. He accompanied me to where Kuya Martin is.

Nakita ko ang nanay niya na nakatingin sa kabaong ni Martin. Tumabi ako at niyakap siya. "Tita Velma, my condolences po."

She wiped her tears. "O, Regine. Andito ka pala. Kumain ka muna ng agahan, malayo pa ang binyahe mo makarating ka lang dito."

"No Tita, don't bother. I'm fine." I lied. "Where's Tito Aries?"

"Nasa office pa rin. Ni di magawang dumalaw dito para bantayan si Martin." A tear escaped from her eye, she wiped it off swiftly.

"Tita, all will be okay." Pag-cocomfort ko sa kanya. I don't really know how... "Makakamove on rin po kayo, life goes on with or without Martin. Habang may buhay, may pag-asa."

"But of course Reg, life will be much better with him." She sniffs. "Ni hindi ko lang man siya nagawang yakapin for one last time. Galit ako sa kanya sa mga oras bago pa man siya namatay. Galit ako dahil napabayaan niya ang sarili niya, nalulong siya sa mga bawal na gawain. Sa halip na gabayan namin siya ng Tito mo, mas pinagalitan namin ito at pinabayaan. We depended that he's already old, he knows what is right and wrong in this world. But after all we were wrong. Martin is still a child that longs for his parents' guidance and affection." Humagulhol ito ng iyak. I can't feel anything. I became numb. Hindi ko namalayan na umiiyak na rin pala ako.

"Martin was a good man Tita. Please remember that. He ain't that bad. He was my best buddy, kilalang-kilala ko siya. I know that he wouldn't want to see you like this." I spoke, sniffing. Akala ko naubos na ang luha ko kakaiyak.

"Salamat, hija." She pulled me a hug at kumalas rin.

"All for you Tita Ve. Stay strong and don't forget to pray. All will be fine." Pag-aalala ko sa kanya.

Tumayo ako upang tignan ang mukha ni Martin. He was sleeping peacefully with a smile on his face. He died happily. I can feel that. I carressed his face on the glass. "Martin, I hope you are now happy. I love you, bud."

Nilapitan ko si Tita Velma at nagpaalam na. "Tita, thank you for accompanying me here. Please do contact us kung may maitutulong kami sa inyo o kapag may kailangan kayo. We are willing to help."

"No, I should thank you for coming here." She showed me a smile.

"My deepest condolences again to the family." I said and she tapped my shoulder.

"Hatid ko na kayo."

"Tita, no need. Stay here nalang and asikasuhin mo nalang yung iba mo pang bisita. We're good." She just smiled at us at umalis na rin sa lugar na iyon.

Sumakay na ako kaagad sa sasakyan. "Kuya Ruben, Starbucks tayo please." Tumango naman kaagad yung driver. According to the car's GPS, it would be a 10 minute drive from here. Besides, malapit lang din naman yun sa hotel. There were traffic lights all over the place. It was a busy road but thank God nakalampas kami sa area na iyon.

Pinark ni Kuya Ruben ang sasakyan. "Kuya, i'll just buy something. Bilhan na rin kita ng makakain. I know you're tired." Nakangiting tumango ang driver. It's nice to give him something.

Walang masyadong tao sa Starbucks. I immediately lined up. I took the right side of the line since yun ang pinakamaikling linya sa dalawang counter. Maybe two cappuccino will do for the both of us. May Bread Talk sa tabi neto so I'll just go there after here.

A tall, mestiza woman with her luggage went in silently the coffee shop. I didn't expect that she will approach me...

"Finally we met, Ms. Regine Velasquez."

Nilingon ko siya. Is this really her?

"Ms. Zsazsa Padilla?"

"So, you know me. Hi, nice to meet you."