One Shot Stories

47. First and Last

FIRST & LAST

I was smiling ear to ear when I got out of my sedan after a long drive. I ran towards the mansion I used to live in as a kid. Home! The guards and maids welcomed me. Ang iba sa kanila ay bago kaya nahihiya ngunit niyakap ako nung mga matagal nang nagta-trabaho rito sa mansyon.

"Miss Jessica, nagbalik ka na! Naghihintay na po ang lolo niyo sa garden." bilin ni Manang Maria sa akin. I kissed her cheek. Mayordoma na siya rito simula pa noong bata pa ako.

"Thank you, Manang. I'll get going." Sambit ko. Matagal na panahon na rin nang huli akong nakatungtong dito. Decades.

I felt nostalgic as I saw the corridors that were full of antiques and paintings of our ancestors, including me. Generation to generation. But the one that really caught my attention were the painting of my grandparents and parents. Memories automatically flashed through my mind.

Kinuha ko ang picture ni Mommy noong dalaga palang siya. Stunning. Maraming nagsasabi na mas nagiging kamukha ko raw siya habang tumatanda ako. I am flattered, dahil totoo namang napakaganda niya.

A sad smile twisted on my lips.

"Apo? You're home?" nawala ang pokus ko sa litrato nang marinig ang pamilyar na mababa at baritonong boses ng lolo ko. I smiled widely.

"Lolo! I'm here!" I squealed excitedly. Matagal na panahon na rin noong hulo kaming magkasama. Huli ay isang buwan na ang nakalilipas, sa Maynila. Siya pa ang dumayo dahil sa sobrang busy ko.

Sinalubong ako ng mainit na yakap ni lolo. My beloved lolo.

"Namiss kita, lo. And your stories!" sambit ko. His smile was pleasure in my eyes. Every time na magkikita kami ay lagi siyang may bagong istorya tungkol sa mga magulang ko or sa kanila ni lola. I loved all of it.

Inalalayan ko siya pabalik sa garden. It still has the same glow even when my lola had passed away a few years ago. Alagang alaga nila ang garden niya at mukha ngang nadagdagan pa ng bulaklak.

Sumababay ang buhok at dress ko sa indayog ng preskong hangin. I felt like someone was hugging me, mommy.

We catched up a bit. Ang pagmamanage ko sa kompanya kasama ni Daddy at ang pamamahala naman ni Lolo kasama ng pinsan ko dito sa farm sa probinsya. We talked and talked while eating merienda. Until we fell into the topic of my mother's death.

Way back when I was young, she was found dead in her room with my lolo, crying his heart out while she was lying down in her bed. I remebered that day, akala ko ay natutulog lang siya. But as I grew older, I learnt that cancer cells consumed her body. Nagpatalo siya sa sakit niya. Kaya ayun.

It was tragic for me, as a child. That my mother wouldn't see me grow up as a woman. Na wala nang mag-aalaga sa akin tulad ng alaga niya. But I was wrong. Nandyan si Daddy, si Lola at Lolo at si Tito na kapatid ni Mama. They all cared for me. Hanggang sa napagdesisyunan na nilang ilipat ako sa Maynila para makasama ko ng tuluyan si Dad.

'Yon na ang huling pagtapak ko sa lupaing ito. Decades ago. Now, I'm a grown up. I have a stable work and I am ready to build my own empire.

"Your mom was very good in almost everything except singing." kuwento niya.

"But your dad still wants her voice though, nakakairita 'pag sumisigaw siya o nagagalit. Pero walang magagawa dahil under si Daddy mo." tumawa kami.

I heard my mom was a very fine Lady. Pero tuwing nagku-kwento si Dad o si Lolo parang ang loka loka niya. But still, I admire her. For me she's the best mother, though she left me in an early age.

"Wanna hear the most saddest story that I will tell you?" naglaho ang ngiti sa aking mga labi nang makita ang kalungkutan sa mga mata ng lolo ko. I can see it in his deep set of eyes that he's still longing for her daughter, my mother.

Tumango ako. Anong story ito?

"I first carried her in my arms when she was born." bumaling siya sa mga bulaklak at magandang landscape. Mula dito ay makikita mo ang paglubog ng araw. Anong malungkot sa pagkasilang ni mama?

"I was so happy, but you know what the saddest part is?" tanong niya sa akin. He stared at the beautiful horizon peacefully. Tanggap na niya.

"I first carried her in my arms when she was born and she slept in my arms before she died. Umiiyak siya nang hawakan ko siya noong pagkapanganak niya at umiiyak din siya sa akin noong malapit na siyang bawian ng buhay. I couldn't do anything about it, Jessica."

Bumagsak ang katawan ko. My heart broke into pieces. Pain was bearable but excruciating. Mas maraming taon niyang nakasama si mommy, it was painful in his part.

"Madaya ang mommy mo, ako yung matanda, ako pa yung naghatid sa kanya sa huling hantungan." he chuckled. Sumimsim siya sa kape niya bago bumuntong hininga.

"But at least she's not suffering anymore. I know she's in good hands."