His Wedding Planner (MNEBACP's Sequel)

Not A Goodbye

Forty Four: Not A Goodbye

Magang maga na ang mga mata ko dahil sa halos isa't kalahating oras kong pag iyak.

“Tin, let's go home. We still need to prepare for Mom's burial...”, malumanay na aya sa akin ni Kuya Adrian.

Marahas akong umiling. “No. Dito l-lang ako k-kay Mommy...” I bit my lower lip refraining myself to burst into tears again. Binalingan ko ang malamig na bangkay ni Mommy. I still can't believe we already lost her. I was just talking to her over couple of hours ago.

“Please, hold on, Mommy. Malapit na ako...”

“I love y-you, V-Valentine.”

Those were her last words before the call got disconnected.

“Mommy, please...”, halos mag-makaawa ako sa gilid ng kama niya.

Iyak lang ako nang iyak habang nasa sasakyan kami para umuwi na. Nakayakap lang sa akin si Kuya Genesis at walang imik. Everyone in the car was quiet except for me. Ilang araw din akong hindi kumakain at nagmumukmok lang sa kwarto.

One day, while I was busy looking at an empty space, Kuya Adri went inside my room. He weakly smiled at me as I gave him a sideway glance. I couldn't even smile back at him—even just a fake one. “I'll be leaving to get some flowers for Mom's funeral. Do you want to come?”, tanong ni Kuya na siyang bumasag ng katahimikan sa aking kwarto. I shook my head. My heart died a little bit more inside as I hear the word funeral. This is still too much to process. “You're the one who only knew what flowers Mom might like. You knew her better, Valentine. At isa pa, ang putla-putla mo na. Mumultuhin kami ni Mommy kapag nalaman niyang hinahayaan ka lang naming magmukmok dito sa loob ng kwarto mo...”, Kuya Adrian smiled faintly.

Alam ko namang nag-aalala lang sila sa akin. Walang araw na hindi nila ako binibisita sa aking kwarto at inaayang sabayan silang kumain. I always refuse. Kasi wala akong gana. I just wanted to sulk inside my room and stare at an empty space.

In the end, napilit din ako ni Kuya na samahan siya sa isang flower shop malapit sa funeral home kung saan nakalamay si Mommy. Pagkarating namin don ay agad kaming sinalubong ng isa sa kanilang mga staffs.

“Good morning, Sir!”, masigla nitong bati. “Hi, po!”, bati niya rin sa akin nang mapansin niya akong nakasunod kay Kuya Adrian. “Flowers po?”, anito. Kuya slightly nodded while looking around. “For what occasion po? Anniversary? Birthday?”

“Uh...”, Kuya slightly massaged his nape before looking back at me. “It's for our Mom's funeral.”

Mula sa maliwanag na mukha ay agad na napawi ang ngiti ng staff na sumalubong sa amin. Her name plate says Angela. Halatang bigla siyang nahiya. Though, hindi naman niya kasalanang hindi niya alam na para pala sa patay ang bulaklak na sadya namin dito. She forced a weak smile and then ushered us inside. May iilan pang mga staffs na bumati sa amin sa loob. “What do you prefer po? May standing spray po kami, floor basket atsaka casket cover as well...”, asked girl named Angela.

Binalingan ulit ako ni Kuya Adrian. I know he wanted to hear something from me.

“Can we see your standing sprays?”, I politely asked.

Angela smiled and nodded as she ushered us to where the sprays are being displayed. I admit they have a lot of beautiful arrangements na pwedeng pagpilian. Pero isa lang ata ang mukhang kumuha talaga ng atensiyon ko. Nilapitan ko ang spray para tignan. Naramdaman kong sumunod si Kuya sa akin. The spray is only combined of white and soft pink colored flowers. It looks simple compared to other sprays. But that's the thing, Mom likes simple things. She's really not that fond of fancy looking ones. Mom has always believed that beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder.