Above Heavens

Twenty-Ninth Glitch

V A U G H N

Maybe dad and I went into a misunderstanding after mom left us but, I never wished him to end this way. Death is the life's end I know, but dad dying this way is a curse. Before his farewell, I didn't managed to talk to him, or tell him that I love him. I was full of anger that I end up blaming him for losing mom instead of that man.

Fuck this. I'm more than drained. I have never imagined my whole life that this day will happen in the most unexpected moment. Dad was healthy. Dad never had a foe. But, he died in a car crash. Driving back home after attending a celebration of his colleague.

Nawalan na naman ako.
I do hate emotional pain. I'd rather accept to undergo with sutures.

"Wala tayong contact sa mommy mo." Tita mentioned worrying that mom will not be informed.

They posted the details on Facebook. Baka sakaling makita niya. Also to inform our other relatives in the province. I also tried reaching my aunts on mom's side. Ang sabi, susubukan daw nilang hanapin. Seeing mom on that day, alam kong tinatakasan niya lang ako.

I'm half wishing that she will be at dad's wake but she never came. She chose that nitwit man over the man who chose to marry her.

Everyone is crying at dad's burial except me. Naubusan na yata ako ng luha. O iniipon ko lang para isang bagsakan kapag wala na ulit tao sa paligid ko. I'm empty but it feels heavy. The pain and trauma is still functional.

"Vaughn, go ahead." Road reminded me staring blankly at someone's tomb.

Dad as a cold cadaver was lying there in the coffin. He looks sleeping but cursed by the wicked witch to never wake up again. I put on the last rose as he go down six feet under. After another prayer, the sky as if emphatizing also cried. A heavy rain with thunder and lightning filled the void of cemetery.

Nang-aasar ka ba ulan?

Matapos makapagpahinga, nagpahatid din ako agad kay Road sa bahay namin. I want to be alone. Now, I'm literally alone. Before, it was just a thought 'cause I tend to ignore dad's effort whenever he calls me and ask how was my day at school. Whenever he have a work to do but managed to drop by near my school to treat me. When the day he said, "Nandito naman ako, kaya ko rin namang maging mommy sa 'yo." Now, it keeps on repeat while sitting here at his bed.

What did I do? It is true that you'll realize the true value of a thing when it's gone.

I'm so sorry dad. I'm sorry for being a disappointment. If only I can go back in time. I don't mind being cheesey for I am full of regrets. Mahal na mahal kita daddy.

Tumayo ako sa pagkakaupo para ayusin ang mga gamit ni Dad. Wala akong balak itapon o ipamigay ang mga 'to. It's full of dad's traces and sentiments Una kong binuksan ang iniwan kong body  bag ni dad sa sala. Nasa sealed plastic pa ito nang iabot sa akin ng inspector sa lamay. Returning home, this is the last thing he had before he died. Kung nakakapagsalita lang ito. Tinanggal ko ito sa loob ng plastic at binuksan ang laman nito. May kasama ring maliit na plastic that covers dad's phone.

Inside his bag was a small plastic with a logo of a popular supermarket here. Maybe he forgot to remove it from his bag. May laman itong mouth wash na maliit at shaving cream. Hindi pa nagagalaw at kasama pa sa loob ang receipt na nakatupi. Siguro sa sobrang lutang ko na, kahit naman walang dulot na bagay sa mundo tinanggal ko ito sa pagkakatupi. Another small paper appeared.

I caressed my temple when I remembered where did I saw this paper before. It was the same one Sir Thomas had before he died! It was the tangible omen!

Agad kong kinuha ang phone ko mula sa bulsa. Ite-text ko sana si Road pero naalala ko na nabanggit niya na noon na Runic Alphabet 'to. So instead of calling him, I tapped the Google icon to search for it. I took a screenshot of the Runic Alphabet.

And this written alphabet on a small sheet has the same pattern with Sir Thomas'. Tinype ko sa notes ang mga salitang unti-unting nabubuo. Medyo natagalan ako dahil sa pabalik-balik sa gallery. And it says,

time of death
0239 am
car

epsilon dimension

Dad have no idea on what it is. Agad kong chi-neck ang date ng resibo. He bought these items exactly a week before the day he died.

I got it! When you received this kind of omen from Epsilon dimension, you only have seven days on your life span. And by having this, and decoding it, you have the chance to avoid your death!

It saddens me that the thought the Grim Reaper had to make my dad a person of interest never crossed my mind. Ang tanga ko na hindi siya naisip na posibleng kasama siya sa mga nabanggit na 'taong malapit sa inyo', ng mga taga-Foxtrot. Stupid Vaughn. Teffy missing night deceived us.

Totoo nga, mapaglaro nga ang tadhana, kaya sa susunod kakalabanin ko na ito.

Thanks for reading!💙