Young Heartbeats [COMPLETED]

Chapter 22

Ang unang ginawa ko pagdating sa Canada ay makipagkita sa pinsan ni mama. Dapat ay si tita Amethyst ang pupunta ng Pilipinas para magkita kami pero pinigilan ko siya at sinabi ang plano kong mangibang bansa kaya hindi niya na kailangang mag-abala para bumiyahe.

"I'm really sorry for what happened. I wasn't with you the whole time," naluluhang sabi ni tita pagkatapos kong ikwento ng pahapyaw ang nangyari.

"I'm just... curious why I never saw you before, tita" sa wakas ay naisatinig ko na rin ang tanong ng isip ko.

Malungkot na ngumiti si tita at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

"Your mom is a dear cousin to me. She's years younger than me but we are very close like real sisters. We agree in most of the things. Just like her, I'm also the only child of my parents. Tito Miguel and my dad were the only ones to continue the Fuentes legacy."

Amethyst Fuentes Sanders, my mom's first degree cousin, daughter of Don Miguel Fuentes' younger brother is having an emotional talk with me inside her prestigious house at the heart of Canada.

"When your parents died, tito Miguel followed a year after. Nag-decide si dad na lumipat kami ng ibang bansa. We wanted to bring you with us but your grandma and Lisa insisted that you should stay with them. They begged and promised that they will take good care of you."

"Why didn't you visit... or, at least, called? Not even once?" nanghihinayang kong tanong. The passing years could've been great, knowing that I still have other family.

"My father passed away that same year tito Miguel died... then my mom the following year. It took me years before I can fully recover. If not because of my husband and two sons, I wouldn't have the courage to move on from grieving. Then one day, after two years, I went back to the Philippines to visit you. But your aunt Lisa didn't let me see you. I wanted to question her but I didn't have enough time. I needed to return home immediately because my husband was battling cancer that time so I can't stay there for long."

Speechless ako. Nahabag ako sa nalamang hirap na pinagdaanan ni tita Amethyst sa nagdaang mga taon. Ngumiti siya pero hindi iyon abot sakanyang mga mata.

"Not being able to see you worried me so much that I sent someone to secretly observe you for a year. You were already in sixth grade that time. I was told that you are getting the right love and care from your grandma and auntie so I was confident that you're doing fine. Then, I contacted tito Miguel's lawyer and asked him to inform you about me once you two will meet. Too bad it took us so many years to finally see each other."

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know you've been through a lot of hardships all those years," nahihiya kong sabi.

"No problem. I focused the remaining years taking care of my two sons and my dying husband. He lived longer than expected though he was not able to survive and eventually died three years ago."

"I'm sorry for your loss, tita."

"You don't have to," tinapik niya ang balikat ko at ngumiti. "So...what are your plans now?"

"Right now, I just want to focus on my pregnancy then I'll continue my studies after giving birth."

"That's a great idea! Stay with me, Amara. I have two sons but both are already living independently. My eldest is already living in another State near his workplace while my youngest is a resident doctor so he doesn't always come home."

"Nakakahiya po sainyo, tita. Ayaw ko pong makaabala lalo pa't buntis ako."

"The more reason you need to have someone by your side. Besides, this house is huge for me and some house helps! And you are my niece; we are family, so there's no reason for you to be shy. "