In Between (SC, #4)

Kabanata 42

Kabanata 42

Magic

"Get in the car."

The Christmas jingles boomed against my ears as his words pinned me to my place. My mouth fell open, digesting his words carefully and very surely. I blinked back the disbelief that made my eyes burn. My eyes flickered to him. I read his expressions. He wore nothing but a blank appearance. A duffel bag sling over his shoulder. His other hand pocketed in his jeans. Nilagay niya ang bag sa hood ng kanyang sasakyan at inalis ang tingin sa akin. I caught a glimpse of beseech to his eyes.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. I want to stay with him. God knows about it. I promised to lola Magdalene indirectly that I will be with Genesis. Now, I know, he is still holding back everything that aches inside his chest. It is terribly bad to never let out what hurts in you.

Genesis misses lola Magdalene so much. Hindi 'ko alam kung anong nangyari sa pag-uusap ni Genesis at ng kanyang pinsan na si Gideon. Everything after that, there were no conversations shared within us. He stayed...away for few moments. Nanatili siya sa kanyang kwarto at binigay ang hinihingi.

Ang libing ay kahapon nangyari. Everything still raw, and it aches. Sa libing sa kanya lamang nakatuon ang aking atensyon. He never shed a single tear. Nanatili lamang ang mata niya sa puntod. Aly and Gideon are beside Genesis, and so is Jace. Maraming nakiramay ng mga oras na 'yon. I don't even know their faces because they all look unfamiliar and polish. I think, they came from different empire in the business industry. Dahil malaking seguridad ang nakapaligid sa buong baranggay ng Taal dahil dito. O, maaaring mga dating katrabaho ni lola Magdalene. I only recognized her daughters and son with their husbands and wife. Pati na rin ang mga apo niya na nagtipon-tipon. All had the look of feigning their misery with an armor built strongly. They wore bravery in their best freaking clothes. Mukhang sanay na at hindi nagpapakita ng kahinaan ng mga oras na 'yon.

"Saan ka pupunta?" ang mga unang salitang binitaw 'ko.

Genesis swung his duffel bag over his shoulder. His eyes pierced into me. Nagtikim-bagang ako at tinaas ang aking baba upang maglakas-lakasan. If I will be in pain, too, saan kami huhugot ng lakas ng loob? I will try my very best. Iyon ang pangako kay lola. Grandma knew Genesis in all aspects. Sa tingin 'ko mas alam niya pa ito ng husto kaysa kay tita Hannah at tito Justin. And she told me to look over his grandson. Tutuparin 'ko ang pangakong iyon.

"I don't know. I just want to go anywhere." He just shrugged his shoulders after. Kumilos na siya papunta sa kanyang sasakyan. I panicked quickly because he opened his car door. Hinihagis niya ang bag sa loob ngunit nanatiling nakadikit ang aking paa sa semento. I gasped silently, thinking the right words to say.

Pumikit ako ng mariin. "Tomorrow is Christmas, Gene." Damn. The right freaking word. Ano ba 'tong sinabi 'ko? I should read or research how to comfort people properly. Seriously. I suck at it. So bad.

"And, so is my birthday today." He opened the driver's seat door. Nanlaki ang aking mata at hirap na hirap 'kong inusad ang aking paa papunta sa kanya. My heart thumped against my ribcage. Kasing lakas nito ang pagragasa ng mga tricycle sa daan. Naaligaga ako hanggang sa hawakan 'ko na lamang ang kanyang braso. Mabilis niya 'kong tinignan. The crook of his lips rose a bit. "Ish..." he trailed off, and held my wrist gently. Inalis niya ang nakakapit na kamay 'ko sa kanyang braso. Ngumuso siya na tila nagpipigil. "I don't wanna be around this house anymore. Kahit saan akong tumingin nakikita 'ko siya. Let me...enjoy my birthday even I don't know if..." His Adam's apple bobbed. "I should." His dark gaze danced around my features. He held me carefully with that intense stare while clenching his jaw.

"You should." The tone in my voice has the bravery I am not familiar with. "Kasi gusto ni lola na masaya ka."

His thick right brow lifted at me. Like he is questioning my words. It's hard to read his expressions because he is masking it like an expert he is. Kailangan dugtungan 'ko iyon upang makumbinsi na huwag na siyang umalis ng Bulacan. It is selfish, somehow, to let him stay even he doesn't want. But, I don't want him to go...in this state. Siguro nga, ang tamang magagawa 'ko lamang ay sumama sa kanya. So, I can guide him...at least. In what aspect, then, Ish?