Forgive or Forget

Chapter 18

Kinabukasan na ng magising ako. It's only 8 am when I felt someone tapping my shoulder.

"Bonjour, madame! Your parents is waiting for you downstairs. They said that, please be fast 'cause you're going to cemetery now." bungad sa akin ng isa sa mga maid dito sa mansion. She's a Filipina and she looks around 50's. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay matagal na siya dito. Magmula ng buhay pa sila lolo ay nakikita ko na siya dito.

"Bonjour!" magalang na bati ko sa kaniya saka ako tumungo sa bathroom.
Grabe! Triple ata ang laki ng mansion na ito kumpara sa amin. Kung malaki na ang bahay namin ay paano pa kaya ito?

Both of my grandfathers are French. While my grandmothers are Filipina. Nakakatuwa lang na magka-pareho sila kaya hindi naging mahirap sa kanila ang relasiyon nila mom and dad.

Nang matapos akong mag-ayos ay agad akong bumaba papunta sa dining room. Malayo pa ang nilakad ko marating lang ang dining room ng mansion na ito.

Nadatnan ko sila mom and dad na nag-uusap. Nahagip naman agad ako ng tingin nila.

"Bonjour, ma fille! Come, eat with us." (Good morning, my daughter!) bati sa akin ni mommy. I kissed their cheeks before I went to my sit.

"We'll go to Cimetière du Père-Lachaise today, Jeenah. You know that already, aren't you?" ani dad habang kumakain kami.

"Yes, dad. I'm ready."

"Good."

Nang matapos kaming kumain ay agad na kaming bumiyahe papunta sa sementeryo. May dala din kaming flowers na tinatawag nilang Chrysanthemums. Malayo pa lang ay kita ko na agad ang malinis at hindi na ganoon karaming tao dahil November 2 na at kahapon pa dumalaw dito ang karamihan sa kanila.

Nang marating namin ang puntod ng grandparents ko ay tahimik lamang kami. Magkakatabi ang puntod ng mga lolo at lola kong namayapa na. Iyon ang napagplanuhan nila daddy.

We're eaten by silence while looking at their grave. Somehow, it's really felt unfamiliar. We used to visit them yearly while we're complete, but now we're not. I know they're not fully happy right now.

I'm sorry po. Wala akong magawa para maayos na namin 'yung gusot sa pamilya namin. Wala akong maitulong kay kuya. Hindi ko sila magawang mapagkaayos. But I promised you, my lolos and lolas, I'll do everything I can to make our family whole again...

We stayed there for almost 4 hours. Matapos ay umuwi na rin kami dahil may mga gagawin pa sila.

I spent my whole two weeks with visiting my grandparents twice to thrice a week, travelling around, talking to Jiu, doing my activities and works. I also took a pictures with Eiffel tower, of course. It can't be missed. I didn't feel bored but I'm still missing him right now. I'm here in one of the mall here in Paris while buying some pasalubongs.

I took a branded dresses for Czeah, and two sets of branded perfume for Lei as their favorite things. I also bought Miss San a bag, and my other friends in showbiz who told me to get them pasalubongs haha. And of course I bought kuya his favorite rubber shoes. I know he'll be glad. Last but definitely not the least, my Jiulian. I took him some books for his Crim Justice so that he has a books from France, and I know it'll help him, a little, I don't know. He's too good already and I don't know if he still needs this. But I'd give this books to him. I know I will see his smiles when I give this to him. And a black leather bracelet with a touch of gold as it's design. The written JNC there is so fabulous.

Gusto ko lang na initials ng name ko ang nakalagay sa bracelet na suot niya. Territorial ako eh. At isa pa, iniisip ko pa lang na suot niya ito ay kinikilig na ko.