December 24, 2018
Dear Donny,
I just want to thank you for holding my hands this morning. From my hospital room to all the lab tests, you were there with me. I wished too many times that you'll never let go of me, that you'd still hold my hand even after all these, that even if you really can't remember me, your heart would always remember. I miss you. Whatever happens tonight...if you, finding out the truth, will be the reason why we'll fall apart again, please know that I will wait for you. I will be there if you need answers. I will wait.
Love,
Kisses
I folded the paper and put it in the box again. This might be my last letter for now. I sighed.
"You ready?"
Napalingon ako kay Hannah. Binalik ko yung tanong sakanya.
"Are you?"
"I have you right?" Tanong nya sakin. Tinanguan ko lamang sya. "Then I'll always be ready"
Magkahawak kami ng kamay lumabas ng kwarto. The others were all waiting downstairs. Dumating na din si Donny para sunduin kaming lahat.
Nakarating kami sa bahay ng mga Pangilinan dito sa San Francisco. Bakas sa mukha ni Hannah ang kaba kaya hinawakan ko ang mga kamay nya.
"Why do you look so nervous Noots?" Donny
"Ah no-nothing kuya" she said
"Come on! I'm sure they'll be so happy to see you"
"I hope so too" Hannah whispered na ako lang ata nakarinig.
Dahan dahan kaming pumasok sa bahay nila. Hannah is still clinging to me.
"We're here!!", sigaw ni Donny.
Solana came out running to us. Yumakap sya sa kuya nya at binuhat naman sya ng kuya nya. Napalingon sya samin ni Hannah.
"Ate Hannah?? Ate Kisses?!" Halatang gulat na gulat sya. Binaba sya ng kuya nya at nilapitan kami.
"I missed you ate Hannah". Hannah can be seen crying now as Solana was hugging her. "Hi ate Kisses!". She kissed my cheeks. "I missed you baby". I hugged her.
Di nagtagal, lumabas din sila Benj and Ate Ella. Nagulat sila nang makita nila si Hannah. "Noots!" They both shouted. Napatakbo sila para yakapin si Hannah.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry". Napayuko si ate Ella sa pagiyak. "Shhh. It's okay. You did what you have to do.", pagpapatahan ni Hannah sa ate nya.
Halatang walang kaalam alam sina Donny, Benj at Solana sa mga nangyari. They just stood there, like questioning themselves to why their siblings are crying right now.
Napalingon sakin si ate Ella. "Kisses?!" Nanlaki mga mata nya nang makita nya ako sa tabi ni Hannah. Napatingin sya kay Donny at bumalik sakin. Kumunot noo ni Donny. She also hugged me. "I'm sorry to you too", she whispered.
"Enough with that. Where's mom and dad?" Tanong ni Donny kay Benj.
"Merry Christmas everyone!!"
Napalingon kaming lahat sa sumigaw. It was Tito Anthony. Yung mga ngiti nya noong bumati sya, unti unting nawala iyon nang makita nya kung sino ang mga panauhin nya. Sumunod sakanya si Tita Maricel. Lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko. Kinakabahan, sa unti unti nilang paglapit saamin.
"Mom, Dad". Hannah went up to them at niyakap sila. They hugged her back but their expression was just blank, too cold.
Napatingin ako sa magkakapatid. Si ate Ella at si Benj, nakayuko lang. Si Solana naman, nakatingin lang sakanila. Si Donny...nakakunot ang noo, siguro nagtataka sa naging reaksyon ng kanyang mga magulang.
"Merry Christmas Tito!!!" Sabay sigaw nila Marcus, Moe, Kiko and Jerome. Lumapit sila kila tito and tita para magmano.
"Ay I almost forgot. Dad, mom, these are our friends. For sure you know Marcus and that's Moe, Kiko, Jerome" Donny smiled widely. Napatigil sa pagmamano sila Marcus. Lumapit sya samin at isa isang nilapitan. "Here's Sue, Marcus' girl, AC, Maymay, Edward, Maris, Iñigo and Kisses".
Nanlaki yung mga mata nila nang makita nila ako. Gulat. Gulat sila nang makita nila ako. Nanigas din kami sa kinakatayuan namin. Alam naman kasi ng lahat na kilala na kami ng parents niya matagal na.
Pabalik balik yung tingin nila samin at kay Donny. Their faces...I'm not really sure kung inis, galit ang nakikita ko sakanila. Pero unti unting nawala yon.
Tita Maricel put a smile on her face. A fake one, I can tell. "Nice to meet you all. Come! Dinner is ready!"
I knew it.
Nagtinginan kaming lahat at sinundan na lamang sila Donny na nangunguna sa dining area. Hinawakan muli ni Hannah ang kamay ko. Hinawakan ko din ang kanya ng mas mahigpit.
We're all sat here sa mahabang dining table. Nakakabingi ang katahimikan. Tanging tunog ng mga kubyertos ang naririnig namin.
"I've been watching your vlogs ate Hannah", Solana breaking the silence. Bigla syang napatakip sa kanyang bibig at napatingin sa mga magulang nya. Napatingin din sila ate Ella at Benj sa mga magulang nila. Nakakunot ang mga noo ang mga nito. What's that? Pinipigilan din nila si Solana manood ng vlogs ni Hannah?
Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Hannah sa ilalim ng mesa. She just looked at me, trying to tell me it's okay. "You like it Sol? How bout we do a video together!!" she told Solana. Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Solana nang marinig nya yun. "Love it ate!!!" pero binawi ito agad nang makita sya nila tito and tita. I feel bad sa bata.
"So Donny, I heard you haven't been on site these past few days. Where were you?" Tito Anthony.
"Actually, I've been spending a lot of time with them and Hannah." Tinuro nya kami. Napatingin din kami kay Donny, yung iba napayuko.
"Hannah wanted to surprise you this Christmas Eve. That's why I didn't inform anyone of my whereabouts". He's smiling innocently.
Napatingin sila Tito kay Hannah na nakayuko lang at patuloy na kumakain.
"Merry Christmas!!!"
Napalingon kaming lahat sa babaeng dumating.
Agad hinawakan ni Hannah mga kamay ko.
Who is she?
