Free Spirits With Wild Hearts (Ravana Series #5)

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Maybe it's true that everything happens for a reason. Gaano man kabigat ang mga nangyayari, may rason pa rin kung bakit iyon nangyari sa buhay mo. It could be something that will teach you a lesson or something that will make you stronger than before.

Hinawi ko ang buhok ko pagkatapos lumabas ng sasakyan para buksan ang pinto ng backseat. I got the flowers inside and then, unbuckled the little champ's seatbelt.

"Ezekiel!" I shouted when he detached my fingers around his hand and ran. Napabuntong-hininga ako at binilisan ang lakad. "Baby, stop running!" I shouted once more.

He giggled and ran back to me. Hinawakan muli nito ang kamay ko at kinuha sa kabilang kamay ko ang isang paper bag na pinaglagyan ko ng kandila. We walked side-by-side until we reached my family's mausoleum.

"Say happy birthday to your Tito, baby," I told my son who is now a grown up cute little boy.

"Happy birthday, Tito! I hope you have a lot of toys in heaven," he said quietly.

Napangiti ako roon at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. I knelt beside him and put the flowers in front of their tombs. Kinuha ko rin sa kamay ni Ezekiel ang mga kandila at sinindihan iyon.

"Say hello to your Lolo and Lola," I urged him.

"Hello, Lolo Emanuel! Hello, Lola Madeline!" he even waved his hand while saying those words.

Isa-isa kong hinaplos ang kanilang lapida at pinilit ang sarili na huwag maiyak. It's been so long since the last time I saw them in person. Hanggang ngayon, kapag binibisita ko sila sa sementeryo, hindi ko maiwasang hindi makaramdam nang sobrang kalungkutan. I was left with no one, but good thing, a precious cargo came to save me and gave me a reason to move forward in my life.

"Happy birthday, Kiel! I hope all the angels are singing to you in heaven. Ate missed you so much. Miss na miss ko na kayo ni Mama at Papa," my voice croaked on the last part. Pinilit kong lunukin ang namumuong bukol sa lalamunan ko.

The sight of him inside my arms, bloody and unconscious, never left my mind. Sa halos anim na taong nagdaan, parang sariwa pa rin sa akin lahat ng nangyari. We left the city without having last words to any of my friends there. Naglaho na lang kami ng parang bula. Sinubukan pa ni Nanay Yolly na hanapin ang nakasaga kay Kiel pero iyon ay hindi na natunton pa kailanman.

During Kiel's wake, I thought I'd lose my mind. Gabi-gabi akong umiiyak at palaging wala sa sarili. Noong gabing umuwi kami ng probinsya, wala akong ibang naramdaman kundi pagkamanhid. I just lost all of them. Naiwan akong mag-isa at wala man lang makapitan.

"Emanuelle!" Auntie Edith ran towards me. She was still wearing a formal suit and it just looked like she just came home from work. For the first time after years, I saw her again. She aged a lot, but her face still looked beautiful. "Oh, God! It's true! You're still alive!" she said and burst into tears.

Hinila ako nito palapit sa kanya at niyakap nang mahigpit. I was like a stick standing there... with no emotions at all.

"I'm sorry for what I've done to you. Sobrang pinagsisisihan ko lahat ng iyon. Patawarin mo sana ako..." she cried. "Where's Kiel? Where's your brother?"

I couldn't find my voice. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya at walang ibang ipinapakita. Ynes went beside me and held my elbow.

"Wala na po si Kiel. Dumiretso po sina Nanay sa funeral," aniya at alanganing tumingin sa akin. "Ma'am, kailangan po magpahinga ni Emanuelle. Ipapaliwanag ko na lang po sa inyo pagkatapos ko siyang ihatid sa kanyang kwarto."

The moment I was left inside my old room, my tears started to fall again. Nasa gilid ako ng kama at nakaupo sa sahig habang sabu-sabunot ang aking buhok. It was really devastating. I didn't know what to do anymore. Pakiramdam ko ay walang katapusan lahat ng paghihirap ko.