Until the Flowers Bloom | Book #1

Chapter 15

Zaiden's POV
I decided to go back to my old house. For sure, nandun yung kapatid ko. I rang the doorbell and surprisingly ang bumukas ay si Manang Lilia.

"Zaiden...ba't naparito k-ka?" tanong niya sakin. I think they all know na nagka amnesia ako, but ngayon naalala ko na ang lahat. It took me a while though.

"I guess I'm back manang Lilia. Where's my brother?" sabi ko.

"Nandoon sa loob, may kasama siya. Halika pasok. Total bahay niyo naman to. Na miss kita, Hijo"

"Na miss din kita manang, sige pasok na ako" sabi ko at na iwan si Manang doon para diligan ang halaman. Pumasok ako sa loob and I saw Clayton.

"Z-zaiden, why are you here?"

"Surprise? Wag kang mag alala. Alam ko na ang lahat" kalmadong sabi ko even though I'm angry at them for not telling me the truth. Sino ba naman ang hindi magalit dahil nagsinungaling sila?

"Look, I know you're blaming yourself for what happened. It's not your fau-"

Sinuntok ko siya and napadapa siya sa sahig. Nandun din si Mia at nagulat sa ginawa ko. Tinulungan niya pa ang kupal kong kapatid.

"What's wrong with you Zaiden!?" sabi ni Mia. Tch! Isa pa to, paki-alamera.

"What's wrong with me huh? What's fvcking wrong with you all! After all, nagsinungaling kayong lahat saakin. Why? Because baka sisihin ko ang sarili ko sa pagkamatay ni Mom and Dad? Or ikaw Clayton, gusto mong ma solo ang kompanya?" sinuntok niya din ako. I touched my side lips and dumugo na pala.

"Gago ka! So what if we lied to you? It's for your own good-"

"For fvck sake! You all are just selfish! Alam niyo na hindi niyo matatago ang katotohanan habang buhay. Malalaman at malalaman ko din-"

"We know! That's why we didn't tell you yet cuz we know you'd suffer-"

"Nonsense! Kung sinabi niyo na sakin to noon, noon pa ako nag kusa! And if you all told me earlier hindi magiging ganito. 2 years? 2 years na nag tanga-tangahan ako at walang alam na namatay na ang tunay kong magulang! 2 years you all kept lying to me." at natahimik siya.

"If that's what you understand, fine. I'm sorry" at umalis na sila ni Mia. I was left alone here in the house. Pumunta ako sa kwarto ko and nakita ko ang picture namin nina mom and dad. Fvck! I miss them.

I cried so hard because I feel like my chest is tight. Hindi ko na kaya! I hate myself! I was the reason kung bakit namatay sila! "Zaiden, hijo huminahon ka. I know ayaw ng mom and dad mo na makita kang ganito. Please hijo, it's not your fault" sabi ni yaya. Bakit ba lahat sila nagsasabi hindi ko kasalanan? I felt guilty.

"M-manang. Kasalanan ko to. If I wasn't reckless mom and dad is still here right now!-"

"Hijo, wala kang makukuha sa galit sa sarili mo. Hindi mo yun kasalanan. Yung driver ng truck ang may kasalanan kasi nilabag niya ang batas"

"But manang-"

"Tahan na Zaiden. Mag pahinga ka muna. Magluluto ako ng favourite mong pancake. Sige na" sabi ni Manang Lilia at sinara ang pinto.

manang Lilia was the one who took care of us when we were young. Me, Clayton and Tim. Tumira din kasi dito si Tim saamin eh pero nung nag high-school kami lumipat na siya sa Iloilo. I roamed aroun my room. Looking at my things, then nakita ko picture namin nung batang babae noon. It was me and Naomi.

Nandun yung isa pang keychain sa desk ko. Then I remember we took a photo noon before I was going back here. Nandito pa ata yung letter na bibigay ko sana sakanya before I leave, pero I wasn't able to. She gave me a letter so ayun sana bibigay ko din sakanya.