Blooming Hearts

Chapter 2

"Panghuling box" sabi ni manong Eddy, isang driver, nang nilagay na niya ang kahon sa loob ng moving truck.

"Maraming salamat manong" sabay abot ko sa kanya ng tubig na maiinom.

"Mamaya ka na magpasalamat hija. Ihahatid ko pa mga gamit mo." At ngumiti siya sa akin. "Mana ka talaga sa mama mo." Pagkatapos ay pumunta siya sa harapan ng truck.

"Mai, may box pang natira" at inabot niya sa akin yung box full of my notebooks since high school. My diaries and some personal stuff.

I know what you are thinking. Seriously? A diary? but you see – I write almost everything that happened. I have no such interest when it comes to making essays or even stories but writing the details of what is happening in my life is exceptional. It's like a recorder but through writing. I write when something memorable happened. I write when absolutely nothing happened. I write because I am living my life.

Kahit ang hilig kong magsulat sa diary, hindi ko pa talaga nabasa yung mga nasulat ko noon. After ko kasing magsulat, lalagyan ko na ng bookmark yung page na susulatan ko para bukas. Never have I ever read my past entries during my free times. I swear. It's because I got this feeling where if ever I will turn back the pages, there's something that will happen. I don't know what is it but it's a bad feeling that's why I prefer not to do it though I am just the one thinking and making a big deal about it.

Sumakay na ako sa truck dala yung box since maliit lang. I sat on the passenger seat. "Aalis na?" sabi ni manong sa akin. I just nodded my head and he then started the engine and off we go.

I am officially leaving my apartment and my life in this city.

Nag-ding yung phone ko. I checked it and it was just Kiesha. It's been like 15 minutes.

Kiesha: You can go back now. You don't really have to leave.

Me: Kiesha, magkikita pa naman tayo.

Kiesha: Do you really have to leave?

Me: Oo. For mama.

Kiesha: Is it really for tita?

Me: I thought we're okay now. Napag-usapan na natin 'to.

Kiesha: Okay. Tawagan mo ako kapag nakarating ka na.

Me: Okay.

Kiesha: I miss you already.

Me: Wala pang 30 minutes since umalis ako sa bahay.

"Siguradong miss ka na ng mama mo." Sabi ni manong Eddy sa akin habang nagmamaneho.

"Hindi naman siguro. Masyado lang." sagot ko.

"Kapag dadaan ako sa inyo, lagi kong nakikita ang mama mo kasama ang mga alaga niyang bulaklak at aso."

I realized that mama has been really lonely now since lahat kami umalis na sa bahay. Dalawa lang kamig anak niya and I moved out after graduating from high school 8 years ago. During those years, it has been tough for our family. I felt bad for not coming home often and I am sometimes absent for holidays and special occasions because of work. I often forgot how my mama would feel and react. Sometimes I would thank some random flowers and dogs na makikkita ko sa city for making my mama busy and let her feel that she's not alone. That is why I decided to move back para makabawi naman ako sa kanya.

"Idlip muna ako manong." Sabi ko kay manong.

"Sige hija. Mahaba-haba pa naman ang biyahe."

I was looking out from the window of the truck let the wind struck my face's skin. I closed my eyes and started napping.

An hour later, I woke up from the sun ray that hit my face. I was still holding the box that Kiesha gave me. The wind flipped the pages of my diary...wait. Why did it flipped the pages of my diary? When in fact naka-lock ito. It has a tiny padlock. It's missing.

I did not care much like it was from years ago. Things happened in the diary doesn't matter anymore dahil sa past na lahat. Tumingin ako sa bintana ng truck para i-check kung nasaan na kami. We're already in a coastal road.

"Excited ka na ba?" a familiar voice asked.

I just tightly held the box that I'm holding. It's been so long since I've heard that voice. I slowly turned my head to his way. It's my dad. I am seeing my dad right now. He is driving our car. He's alive.

"Nak" tumingin si papa sa akin with a worried face and tone.

I suddenly have this blurry vision. It's not because I am one-step-away from fainting, but because my eyes were filled with tears. Big tears went down my face. Tears of joy ang tawag nga nila dito. I am really happy that I started crying when I saw and hear my dad right next to me.

"Bakit umiiyak ka?" sabi ni papa. And his voice made me sob and I did cry my heart out because I can't deny that I was really longing for his voice. I missed him.

Huminto kami sa isang convenience store para patahanin ako sa pag-iyak. Binilhan ako ng tubig ni mama para iinomin ko.

"Bakit ba kasi bigla kang umiyak?" tanong ni mama while rubbing my back. "Ganyan mo ba hindi gusto ang lumipat ng bahay? Akala ko okay na tayo."

Tiningnan ko lang si mama sa kanyang mga mata at niyakap siya. I can feel the warmth of her body. It's really my mom from 10 years ago.

"Sana sinabi mo sa akin na ayaw mo dahil doon kita ipapatira sa auntie mo. Alam kong mahirap magtransfer ng school." Sabi niya while patting my head. I shake my head telling her that it's not it. "Masaya ako na kasama ko kayo kaya wag kang magsabi na iiwanan mo ako." Sabi ko habang nakayakap sa kanya.

"Nak, binilhan kita ng chocomallows. Yung paborito mo. Binilhan ko rin ang kapatid mo para di na kayo maghati." Sabi ni papa sa akin. Lumingon ako at nakita ko siyang suot pa rin ang paborito niyang windbreaker jacket na sinusuot na niya mula college pa siya. Binigay niya sa akin ang chocomallows.

My younger sister, Anna Marie, sat next to me. Sabay naming binuksan ang box ng chocomallows. I took one piece at tinanggal ang foil. I ate it in one go. My tears dropped on the box of chocomallows. I did not realize it was this sweet. My palate did change as I grow old. Back then, I could eat more boxes of chocomallow. As I was chewing, I remembered my childhood days with my dad. Every time na lalabas kami, bibilhan niya ako ng chocomallows if ever there would be a nearby store selling it. He would not lose an opportunity to make me happy.

I hugged each member of my family. I can feel it in my peripheral vision na nagtataka sila kung anong nangyari sa akin. I am not really that affectionate to them after I became a high school student but I do hug them at random times.

Ahh this is too good to be true. I know this is just a dream but it feels nice. My heart is warm whenever I'm with them.

I hope this dream won't ever end.

"Alis na tayo" sabi ni papa at lumabas na kami sa convenience store.

"Unahan tayo makaabot sa sasakyan?" hamon ni Anna sa akin.

"Sige ba" at agad na nabuhay ang competitive spirit na nasa loob ko.

"1, 2 –" at bigla nang tumakbo si Anna.

"Akala ko on three???" at tumakbo na rin ako para mahabol siya. I did not noticed my untied shoelace. Nadapa ako in the middle of the race. "Ate okay ka lang?!" sigaw ni Anna.

Tumayo ako at nakita kong may gasgas na pala ang tuhod ko. I can feel the pain already...wait..

I can feel the pain?

Am I not dreaming?

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A/N: Hello guys! It's Floraltage here. If you enjoyed reading this, please vote and comment for my story. I also want to know you thoughts about my story. I'm hoping to interact with you all.