Tell Me A Lie [R-18] [Completed]

22 - DEATH ANNIVERSARY

22 Death Anniversary

The sky was a dull shade of grey, which was a reflection of how Iris felt on that cold, foggy morning. It was Saturday and the rain had just stopped. She went to the flower shop and bought a bouquet of white daisies. Then she rode a cab to the cemetery.

Today is her mother's death anniversary.

Halos dalawampung taon na rin simula nang mamayapa ang ina niyang si Laura. Masyado pa siyang bata nang bawian ito ng buhay dahil sa sakit nitong lung cancer. Nakuha ni Laura ang sakit na iyon dahil sa trabaho niyang pangangalaga sa malalaking hardin ng mga mayayaman. Hands-on siya sa paggamit ng fertilizers at pesticides kaya nabugbog sa kemikal ang baga niya. It was too late when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. At kahit noong malaman na nila, wala na rin silang nagawa dahil wala silang pera pampagamot dito.

Kaunti na lang ang natatandaan ni Iris tungkol sa ina. Batang-bata pa siya noong iwan siya nito. Madalas ay hindi na niya mailarawan ng buo ang mukha ng ina pati ang boses nito. Pero hinding-hindi niya makakalimutan ang mga matatamis na ngiti nito at ang pagmamahal na ibinigay nito sa kanya. Kung sana hindi sila iniwan ng ama niya noon, siguro nabubuhay pa rin ang ina niya ngayon at ibang-iba rin ang naging takbo ng buhay niya. Things would have been a whole lot different if only her father stayed. If only he never left.

From the air-conditioned atmosphere of the cab to the windy weather outside, Iris stepped out after she paid the driver. Pinasok niya ang tarangkahan ng Eternal Garden kung saan nakalibing ang kanyang ina. Maingat niyang hawak ang pumpon ng mga bulaklak habang naglalakad siya. She stopped on her feet when she noticed that someone else was visiting her mother's grave. The man was on his back but she couldn't mistake him for anyone but his father. Nasa akto ito ng pag-aalay ng bulaklak nang lapitan niya.

She was not expecting to see him there. Taun-taon siya kung bumisita sa puntod ng ina at kahit minsan hindi pa niya nakitang dumalaw ang ama niya roon. Wala siyang sinabi nang nasa tabi na siya nito.

"Matagal-tagal na rin mula noong huli kong nakausap si Laura," usal ng ama na hindi bumabaling sa kanya.

Ibinaba ni Iris ang bulaklak sa puntod ni Laura. Hinayaan niyang pumatak ang mga segundo bago siya sumagot. "It's been a long time since you left us," she retorted. Having a glimpse of the past before she arrived at the cemetery slightly brewed her irritation and hate for what his father did to her and to her mother. He abandoned them over a more convenient life with his real family.

"I came back for you."

Malungkot siyang ngumiti. "Oo," aniya. "Bumalik ka kung kalian huli na ang lahat at patay na si Mama." Her voice faltered at the end and she bit her lips hard to suppress a cry. She still blames Gustavo for the death of her mother.

Gustavo sighed. He turned to her with tired and weary eyes. He reached for her to give her shoulder a slight squeeze. "Join me for lunch. Marami akong gustong sabihin sa'yo na na dapat noon ko pa ginawa."

-

They went to an expensive, cozy restaurant for lunch. Kung hindi lang ama niya ang nagyaya o kung may ibang bagay lang siyang mas mahalaga na puwedeng gawin para maging palusot ay hindi niya tatanggapin ang alok nito. Wala naman siyang maisip na dapat nilang pag-usapan ni Gustavo tungkol sa kanyang ina, maliban na lang kung gusto nitong humingi ng tawad sa ginawa nitong pang-iiwan sa kanila noon.

And she was right. After they ordered food, her father began to speak.

"I want us to talk about your mother," he said. "Tumatanda na ako at sa tingin ko oras na rin para malaman mo ang totoong kuwento namin ng iyong ina. I know you're not very fond of me, hija. You barely talk to me and you always seem to drift far beyond my grasp. Hindi naman ganoon kalayo ang loob mo sa akin noong isang pamilya pa tayo kasama ng mama mo. Pero naiintindihan kita kaya nga gusto kong magpaliwanag sa'yo."