Don't Cry

013

"Are you sure you are fine with here?" tanong muli sa akin ni Lay nang maidala niya ako sa isang magarang kwarto sa kanilang bahay. I nodded absently.

Hindi na rin naman siya nangungupahan ng apartment dahil may balak na rin daw talagang umuwi ang pamilya niya rito sa Pilipinas kaya mas pinili na lamang nilang bumili ng bahay at lote. Nauna lang talaga raw siyang umuwi kumpara kanila Misha.

The house is big and it looks classy as well yet I didn't have the time to enjoy its design and architecture lalo pa ngayon na nagdadalamhati pa rin ang puso ko sa pagkawala ng kapatid ko.

Before we went here, we drop by on a boutique just for him to buy me clothes. Nakakahiya man dahil wala talaga akong pera na maibibigay sa kanya at siya pa talaga ang nagbayad ng gamit ko but my mind wasn't on it. It keeps on coming back to my sister who is now sleeping peacefully forever.

Ayaw man niya akong iwan sa kwartong ito pero wala na rin naman siyang nagawa dahil iyon ang gusto ko. Ayoko muna ng kausap. Ayoko muna ng kasama.

I wanted to be alone and reminisce my memories with my late sister.

Hindi ko namalayan na patuloy na naman sa pagpatak ang mga luha ko na natigil lamang ng sandali. I remember her sweet smile, her positive perspectives in life and her bubbly personality. I miss everything about her.

"Happy eighteenth birthday, Paris. I wish you to be completely happy," wika ko nang makita ko siya na suot-suot na ang kanyang golden ballgown. I handed her my present in which she receive immediately.

"Bakit ngayon mo na agad ito sa akin binibigay? Pwede naman later na lang at malapit naman na ang party."

"I wanted you to open it. Gusto ko kahit sa munting regalong iyan ay mapasaya na agad kita bago pa magsimula ang debut party mo," nakangiti kong wika sa kanya.

Her eyes widen in excitement. "Really? I can open it na talaga?"

I nodded in response and she immediately tore the gift wrapper.

"OMG! This is the limited edition of the Swarovski summer collection!" she said with a big wide smile.

I nodded at her. "Yup."

Her smiling face faded as she looked at me with her questioning eyes. "Pero, paano ka nakakuha nito? Hindi na nga ako nakabili ng i-release ito dahil sa bilis na nasold-out."

"It's not easy to find it. But hey, ang mahalaga ay nakabili ako. Hindi ba gustong-gusto mong bilhin iyan?"

"Yes, ate. Thank you very much!" she said as she embraced me in her arms so tight.

By that moment, pakiramdam ko ay kayakap kong muli ang kapatid ko. Sana nandito na lang ulit siya at nayayakap ko pa rin.

But I know it is impossible.

"Ate, get up na! Di ba nagpromise ka sa akin na magjo-jogging tayo," she said as she pulls my blanket away from me.

"Just give me five more minutes," I said with a groggy voice and eyes still half-closed.

"Nope. Siguradong makakatulog ka ulit niyan eh. Sige na. You go change outfit at nang makapagjogging na tayo," she said as she pulls me away from my bed.

Paris, kahit lagi pa kitang samahan magjogging ay gagawin ko. Bumalik ka na lang, please. I promise that I will accompany you kahit saan mo pa gustong magpunta. Ang samahan ka ang pinakapriority ko. Kung alam ko lang na kukunin ka agad sa amin, I rather spend time with you than buried myself with my books.

"I promise, hindi kita iiwan kahit anong mangyari. Please just talk to me. Hindi ka pwedeng lagi na lang ganyan dahil lang umalis siya. You need to continue living your life."