Greatest Gift From Above (Book Two)

05

                                                                             Cliffton's POV

Gabi na pero andito parin ako sa opisina. Nagaayos na ako ng gamit ko para makauwi na pero nagring ang phone ko.

*Grandma*

"Hello grandma?" I talk tired.

[Oh yes lance, did i disturb you?] Grandma asked with a sweet tone. 

"No ma, Is there a problem?" She's not calling if it's not important so I assume that there's a problem.

[Everything is alright honey. I just missed you] She replied. 

"Don't worry ma I will visit you tomorrow." I said checking if i have an appointment tomorrow.

[Great! Bring your girlfriend, I want to meet your girlfriend before I follow your Grandpa.] She said like it's not a big deal. 

"Hey ma don't talk like that. I don't have a girlfriend you already know that." I said getting irritated.

[Then have one. Your not getting younger] She said.

"It's getting late just rest." I said trying to calm my self. I ended the call.

I hate it when she's forcing me to have a girlfriend. Grandma knew that i hate girls. And i also don't have time for  shit's like relationship. Nang matapos ako sa pagaayos ng gamit bumaba na ako at pumunta sa parking lot.

I don't feel like going home so I decided to visit my mother again. When I arrived at the cemetery it's dark but thank's to the streetlights. Bababa na sana ako sa kotse ko kaso may nakita din akong kotse at lalaking nakatayo sa tapat ng puntod ni mommy. I was so shocked when I realize that the owner of that car is my father. I waited for him to leave.

It's was my first time seeing him visiting my mother. I thought he didn't care because mom was gone. I remember grandma told me that we are always coming here to celebrate my birthday but we stop when I was six yr/o, when I was 12yr/o I began questioning myself. Where's my mother? Do I have one? Does she love me? . I asked my Grandma but they always answered me with 'your'e mom love's you honey' my grandma said.

I was 15 yr/o when I got answered. I was 15 when I understand why did my mother die and the reason why she died. It was because of me. Sana hindi ko nalang pinilit intindihin at inalam. I've been blaming myself. When I finally understand I build a wall between me and my father. I stopped smiling and I began hating flirty girls.

I didn't even recognize the old Lance. The old me was gone. The old Cliffton Lance Mendez that always smile and love his father the old me died years ago. The cold and has a dark awra was born. It's really true that pain can change a person.

When he entered his car and start driving bumaba na ako at pumunta sa puntod ni mommy. Nang makaarating na ako mismo sa tapat ng puntod niya may nakita akong bouquet ng puting rose at red rise sa gitna. 

"It look's like father visited you mom." I said staring at the bouquet. I sat on the grass.

"When I understand everything I don't even know what to call you. I was so ashamed of myself to call you my mother...Because I am the reason why your here. Why you died."  sabi ko at napatigin sa pangalan ni mommy.

Pauline Mendez

Nang maramdaman kong parang uulan na nagpaalam na ako. Ng makarating na ako sa condo ko humiga na ako. 

I'm so tired. Tired living without reason. Tired being me. Tired of everything. I somehow wish that I wasn't born at all. What if I didn't exist?, I'm  sure mom will be happy and still alive but because of me she died.

It's like a sin that I existed. I treated myself as a prisoner.I treated myself as a prisoner as if when I smiled my sentence would increase. Hindi ko namalayang nakatulog  na pala ako sa sobrang pagod.

I woke up still wearing my office attire. Tinatamad akong bumangon pero na alala kong bibisitahin ko si grandma. I texted my new secretary that I will be late.

*Text Conversation*

"San ka pupunta sir?" She asked. I almost forgot that my new secretary is so talkative.

"It's none of your business." I relied rolling my eyes like she will see.

"Sir saan kita hihintayin?" She asked again. 

"You can stay at Trisha's office." I relied and stand up from my bed.

I was about to go to the bathroom but my phone start ringing. It was my secretary.

*New secretary*

[Sir sabi ng mga empleyado wag daw ako piling. Hindi daw ako bagay dito. Papasok na nga sana ako sa opisina ni Trisha p*kpok ] She talked loud so I have to take the phone away from my ear.

"Ang daldal mo." Iritado kong tugon. Narinig ko naman siyang bumuntong hininga.

[Saan na po niyan ako mag iistay?] Malungkot niyang tanong.

the employees are going to be busted when i arrived in our company. Who the hell they are to tell my secretary that she doesn't belong to my company.. Pwede ko silang tanggalin kahit ngayon na kung gusto ko.

"Ugh you can stay at my office."I said massaging my nose bridge.

[Ah sige Sir. May tanong din po sana.." She didn't finish talking because I already ended the call.

Tuluyan na akong nagligo at nagbihis. Sinuotko na ang business attire ko para hindi na ako babalik dito sa condo para magpalit.

Nagdrive na ako papumta sa bahay ni grandma. It's not that far and good thing there is no traffic. Ng makarating ako sa bahay ni grandma kumatok agad ako sa pinto. Grandma's personal nurse opened the door. Grandma is weak probably  because of her age.

"Where's my gramdma?" I asked the nurse coldly. She was about to answer my question but someone talk.

"I didn't expect you to visit me this early honey." Grand ma said  sweetly. lumapit ako sakaniya para alalayan siya.

"Why did you stand?" I asked.

"I'm not that weak. I also want to welcome you honey." She said smiling.

Nang maka higa na siya nagkwentuhan nalang kami.

"Lance parang malapit na akong sumunod sa grandpa mo." She said. She looked serious. 

"Why are you saying that." I asked coldly. I don't like it when she's saying that.

"I'm just informing you honey. I only have one thing, One thing I want  you to do or have." She's now smiling. Tinignan ko siya sa mata.

"What is it?" I asked really confused. I already have everything. Grandma smiled and touched my  cheek.

"I want the old Lance. I want you to be happy and I want you to have a girlfriend." She said smiling. I sigh.

"Don't rent one. I want to see the girl you love before I die." dagdag niya. Kumuha ako ng maliit na salamin at tinapat sa mukha ni grandma.

"You already seen the girl I love. I don't have to be happy, and the old lance died year's ago" I said without emotion.

"Honey I know that you're blaming yourself about what happened to your mother but it's not your fault" She said. Tumayo na ako alam ko kung saan pupunt ang usapan na to.

"I have to go grandma. Take care." I said and kissed her in the forehead.

Sumakay na ako sa kotse ko at dalidaling nagdrive papunta sa company. It's already 11:45 AM when I arrived. Dumiretso na ako sa opisina ko mamaya ko nalag kakausapin ang mga empleyadong nagsabi sa secretary ko na di siya pwede dito. Nang makapasok ako naabutan ko naman si Phire na nakahiga sa office couch ko. Naka bukas pa ang bunganga niya, nilapitan ko siya at tinapik.

"Hey!" Sab ko at patuloy parin sa pagtapik.

"Ay! cliffton!" Gulat niyang sigaw. Bigla siyang napatayo at namula ng makita ako.

Is she dreaming about me?