Parted Ways

CHAPTER NINE

Everything happens for a reason.

Kung bakit sa tuwing masaya tayo may kapalit agad na kalungkutan. Kung bakit lahat may hangganan. Kung bakit hindi lahat naaayon sa ating kagustuhan. Lahat ng iyon ay nangyayari ng may dahilan.

I really didn't see this coming, I feel bad for Caden. Why so sudden?

The late Analiza Gozon was a great doctor, friend, and of course a mother.

Sa konting panahon na nagkasama kami, ramdam ko talaga ang pagiging mabuting tao niya. You can tell that she has a nice attitude by just looking at her, what more kung ikaw mismo naramdaman iyon? All I can say is that, she's really one of a kind.

It's been a week, and 2 days from now ililibing na si tita.

She was diagnosed for having Hypertension, inatake raw siya umaga matapos ang party na pinuntahan namin. Some questioned her being a doctor. Bakit daw hindi niya inagapan? Why didn't she cured herself?

Caden was just here everyday, almost not taking a break. He doesn't cry but you can feel the burden he was feeling.

I stood up and went to the coffin.

"Tita, I know it's all out of a sudden. Don't worry about your son, I'll keep him company. If by chance na magustuhan niya ako, maybe we can pursue what you wanted for us. Thank you for everything. Rest in peace now, Tita."

I shifted to Caden, he doesn't even answer anyone that's been trying to communicate with him. Again, for the nth time, I attempted to talk to him.

"Hey," I said in my very low soft voice and sat beside him. "I know there are lot of people that you can open up to, but know that I'm always here for you. You can lean on me, I got your back, hmm Caden?

After a long silence, I decided to go home.

"I'll go no-" he grabbed my wrist.

I saw an unshed tears finally coming out from his eyes.

He then hugged me. Crying out his lungs.

Narinig ko rin ang ibang iyakan sa paligid namin, katulad ko alam nila na ngayon lang nilabas ni Caden ang mga tinatagong luha niyang ito.

"Just.. cry." only words that came out from my mouth and I started tapping his back.

He cried for hours. His eyes are all swollen.

I never left his side, and I promise that I will never leave him.

I'm already home when I got a text message from him.

From: Caden
Thank you for today. I owe you one.

I at least contributed to lessen his burden, it's all that matters.

Back to school is coming, we only have a week left.

The past month has been tough. He was really devastated. Araw-araw magkasama kami. Alam ko na sobrang sakit parin para sa kaniya nito hanggang ngayon. Even his father can't tame him anymore.

"Hija, salamat sa walang sawang pagpapagaan ng loob ng aking anak. Hindi ko na alam, baka kung ano nang nangyari kung wala ka." he said with bloodshot eyes.

"Tito, I promised Tita that I will always stay by his side," Tito William turned his gaze to his son who's now drinking his 2nd bottle of Black Label. "Gano'n din sayo Tito. Always remember po na nandito lang kami para sayo, sainyo."

I shifted to Caden and joined him. "Hey, aren't you drunk now? Take a rest na." it's my second shot when his phone rang.

Kara calling...

Caden seems very drunk kaya wala na siyang pakialam, I took his phone out of his pants and there I saw her hundreds of messages.

200 unread messages..

From: Kara
I'm sorry, Calian. Let's go back to the way we were before.

I'm literally lost of words. What the hell is happening?

Nagsalin ako ng alak sa baso at dire-diretsong nilagok iyon, hanggang sa hindi ko namalayan na nilalaklak ko na rin pala ang isang buong bote rin doon.

Ang pagguhit nito sa aking lalamunan ay walang wala kumpara sa pait na aking nararamdaman.

Ako 'yung nandito pero bakit may ganito? Akala ko ako na. Ano iyon panakip butas lang ako? Na kapag dumating na siya, siya nalang ulit kasi siya naman ang nauna?

Hindi na ako makahinga, ang kaninang luha lang ngayon ay naging hagulgol na.

'Caden, bakit ka naman ganito? Ako nalang kasi. Ako naman, ako nalang muna. Kahit ngayon lang, please.'

Words I want to say but my mouth won't just cooperate.

I smiled bitterly and I can feel my tears trying to escape.

I reached for another bottle when a hand offered a glass of water. I looked up and saw Caden's eyes, he looks sorry.

How many minutes did I looked like this? Matagal-tagal din siguro because he looks sober now.

Ibinaling ko sa aking mga kamay ang aking atensyon dahil hindi ko talaga kayang tignan siya sa kaniyang mga mata, ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang pagdapo sa akin ng kahihiyan.

He reached for my hand, parang naurong ang mga luha ko. Unti-unti siyang lumapit upang mas lalo niya itong maabot. I closed my eyes and waited for something.

I felt his hand in mine gently getting back his phone.

Napamulagat ako at agad na ibinalik sa dating postura ang ayos ko. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita ko ang pabalik-balik na tingin niya sa'kin at sa bagay na hawak niya. I exactly know what he's about to say.

"I'm sorr-" before he could finish it, I already cut him off.

"It's okay, there's no need to be sorry anyway. It's just me." then I stood up and went home.

Umasa nanaman ako sa kaniya sa pang-ilang pagkakataon. Hindi naman ako nasasaktan, nasasanay ako, and that's what I fears the most.