Petrichor's Haven

/82/ - Sunset Memories

The uncomfortable air continued to overpower the room. The silence already killed at least fifteen minutes of the awkward situation.

After hours of negotiation, Gab's parents finally let her talk to Jacque. But in one condition—dapat kasama niya si David.

Ayaw naman talaga sana nina Wilson at Teresa na kausapin ni Jacque ang anak tungkol sa mga mabibigat na bagay pero si Gab ang nagpumilit.

As for Gab, she felt the need to close that chapter of her life kesa naman patuloy siyang magpapakabilanggo sa isang kahapong hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya pa rin alam kung bakit nahinto.

Ironic! Ngayon pa talaga siya nagkalakas-loob na kausapin si Jacque ngayong may sakit na siya.

"Gab," pagbubuwag ni Jacque sa naghaharing katahimikan. Nakaupo siya sa gilid ng kama ni Gab. Nakaupo naman malapit sa pintuan si David, nakayuko pero halatang nakamasid lang sa kung ano man ang kanilang pag-uusapan.

Gab chose to look straight to the eyes of Jacque. Aaminin niya, sa lahat ng ginawa niyang titigan sa kanyang buong talambuhay, ito ngayon ang pinakamasakit.

"How are you?" Jacque continued. She displayed a smile on her face. It was forced yet she felt she needed to do it.

Kabadong ngumiti si Gab, paraan niya upang ihanda ang sarili sa kahit ano man ang sabihin ng babae. Hindi siya nagbitaw ng sagot.

"I know this isn't the perfect time..." pagpapatuloy ni Jacque. Still, her voice was soft. But for Gab, it connoted differently, it made her more frightened. "But I really felt that I needed to talk to you now." Huminto si Jacque at saglit na humugot ng malalim na hangin. Muli niyang nginitian si Gab nang mapakla. "Alam mo naman siguro kung bakit ako nandito, 'di ba?"

Marahang tumango si Gab, mas lalong kumabog ang kanyang dibdib. Isa lang ang dahilan kung bakit gustong makipag-usap ni Jacque sa kanya. It's common knowledge. It's all about... Sixth.

"I know until now galit ka pa rin sa kapatid ko," Jacque continued as she gently caressed Gab's right arm. "And I fully understand that." Her voice broke in between her phrases. "But I want you to know that my brother never stopped loving you." Pilit siyang ngumiti sabay hawak sa kamay ni Gab. Jitters manifested in her grips. "Ang dahilan kung bakit bigla kaming lumipad ng States noon ay dahil doon namin balak na ipagamot si Sixth," dagdag na pagpapaliwanag ni Jacque.

Bahagyang napasipat si David sa dalawa at saka kunot-noo niyang tinitigan si Jacque. May sakit ang dating boyfriend ni Gab?

"He did not tell you this..." Tumikhim muna si Jacque bago nagpatuloy. "My brother had astrocytoma. Before we left, palagi nang sumasakit ang ulo niya. Minsan, nagsi-seizure siya tuwing gabi. Actually, we told him to talk to you about it pero ayaw niyang ipasabi sa 'yo ang totoo. He wanted to hide it from you kasi baka raw mag-alala ka pa. We just followed what he wanted." Bumuga siya ng mabigat na hangin at saka sandaling pumikit. "We lost him a year ago."

Gab's face dropped in an instant, her entirety went numb. Tumindi ang pintig sa kanyang dibdib. She thought she was ready to hear this pero bakit ang sakit? Wala na pala si Sixth?

"Pero bago siya mamatay, we tried to contact you," Jacque continued. "Kasi 'yon ang hinihiling niya. But we couldn't reach you or any of your family." She drew in another long breath. "Until last year, he was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Ang sabi ng doktor, baka dahil 'yon sa sakit niya. We tried seeing both a psychologist and a psychiatrist, but Sixth was so resistant to any treatments given to him."

Muling napatigil si Jacque, yumuko siya at hinugot ang panyo galing sa kanyang bulsa.

It was that moment when David finally sat beside his sister. Ramdam niyang kailangan ni Gab ng kaagapay. Jacque's revelations were already heavy, and given the situation of Gab, it would be so hard for his sister to process everything.