The Last Teardrop (TS3)

Chapter 3

The accident that happened few months ago didn't only take away the life of Andrew's father, but it also took away Andrew and Ate Miella's enthusiasm.

I haven't experienced losing a loved one or anyone who's closed to me but seeing how Andrew and Ate Miella coped up with the sudden changes in their lives, I knew then that it's really hard. I've seen Ate Miella cried a lot few months ago while Andrew would always remain silent but his eyes were red from stopping his tears.

Hindi na rin sila pumupunta sa mansion and Dad also prohibited me and Ahia from going with them. I don't know why he suddenly changed his mind about the Martinez's. Noon naman hinahayaan nila kaming makipagkaibigan kena Andrew.

Ahia would always find ways to visit the Martinez's siblings but he can't take me with him because it would be too obvious. Binabalitaan niya na lang ako kung kumusta ba sina Ate Miella sa kanila. He said ayaw raw siyang papasukin sa mansion ng mga Martinez kaya sa mga katulong na lang siya nagtatanong.

Sa school, I've noticed that they were distancing away from us. Dahil hindi kami magkaklase ni Drew, naging mas mahirap na lapitan siya. Minsan hinihintay ko siya sa labas ng room nila pero he's always too quick to avoid me.

I don't know why they were pushing us away. Wala naman akong maalala na pinag-awayan namin. Noong huling araw na nagkausap kami, that was after their father's body cremated. Pagkatapos noon, bigla na lang silang lumayo sa amin. Hindi rin alam ni Ate Lhexine kung bakit, though nakakasama pa rin naman niya ang magkapatid. Kami lang ni Ahia ang nilalayuan nila.

"Ahia, will you go to Ate Miella and Andrew's house again?", I whispered while we were sitting on a bench here in the garden. Nandito kasi ang iba naming kamag-anak since they were planning to surprise our grandparents.

It's already our sembreak and a few days from now, we'll be going to China to visit Ahma and Angkong. Ayoko sanang sumama pero sigurado naman akong hindi ako papayagan ni Daddy.

"I can't. Dad knew that I was visiting the Martinez's mansion", he sounded so irritated. He looked so cold while his face remained stoic.

"What if we'd try to tell him? Baka pumayag na siya this time? Bakit ba ayaw niya tayong lumapit kena Andrew?"

That's been a mystery to me since then. Gustong gusto kong tanungin kay Daddy kung bakit biglaan siyang umayaw kena Andrew pero dati naman hinahayaan niya kaming makipagkaibigan sa kanila. He even told me to befriend Andrew and Ate Miella and don't give any problems to them.

But after Tito Fernand died, everything changed in a full degree. He warned us to never befriend and connect with the Martinez again. Nag-away pa sila noon ni Ahia dahil ayaw sumunod ni Ahia. He even got grounded for almost a month but that didn't stop Ahia from visiting Ate Miella.

I don't know what's in between them but I'm sure that she's special to Ahia. He wouldn't risked his freedom if there's no something special between them.

"I don't know and I don't care about his reasons. He's being too unreasonable!", Ahia said coldly.

The dinner in the mansion was quiet, well, it's always been like that. Parang lahat sila, seryoso. Even their children were quietly eating and would never dare to speak to top creating any noise.

It's been part of our table etiquette. Since I came here, I knew that the only one allowed to speak on the table are the old ones. Pwede lang magsalita ang mga bata kapag tinatanong o kapag may hinihinging opinion. They said that it's our way pf respecting the elderly and the foods.