PAINFULLY FALLING [BOOK 1]

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Violet

Tuluyang bumuhos ang malalaking patak ng ulan bago pa man nakalabas ang aking kotse sa Centenial Park. Ang bawat pagdagundong ng madilim na langit dala ng kulog at kidlat ay sumasabay sa kantang tumutunog mula sa stereo ng kotse.

Another terrifying lightning struck in the sky that made the hair on my nape stand. I gripped my left hand on the stirring wheel tighter before I adjust the volume of the stereo. A remix of Noah Kahan's latest song, "Hurt Somebody" is playing, and somehow, I felt better as I started singing along.

Mother of eff. Isang marahas na buntong hininga ang aking pinakawalan nang makita ko ang saradong daan. Blue and red lights illuminated a few meters away like a police or an ambulance's siren. I just can't see what it is. Nakaparada ang ilang sasakyan at sa kabila ng napakalakas na buhos ng ulan, marami pa ring taong nagkukumpulan mula sa pinanggagalingan ng ilaw.

I lowered the volume of the stereo. Doon ko tuluyang narinig ang ingay ng sirena. What is it this time? A bumper-to-bumper car accident? I shook my head before putting the gear on reverse. What else is new anyway? East Dawson Avenue has always been an accident prone area because of irresponsible drivers.

Sumulyap ako sa aking relos bago ako tumulak sa isa pang daan patungo ng restaurant na napag-usapan namin ni Dad. Panigurado ay naroon na sila ni Nathalie. And I'm pretty sure Nathalie chose that resto. She knows how much I hate seafood.

I parked my car and took one more look at my face on the rearview mirror. I tied my natural platinum brown curly hair in a messy bun, revealing my slim face. There are freckles on my pale cheeks and I blame Mom for this though Lemuel always compliments me and says I look good with it. I just don't know if he's just being the supportive friend he's always been or if he's telling the truth and I am just too insecure to accept it.

I put my jacket back on before I finally hopped out of my car. Tumakbo ako patungo sa bungad ng restaurant at pilit pinagpag ang basa sa aking jacket bago ako naglakad patungo sa pinto.

Outside the double door glass with silver frame is a huge signage that clearly states, "house of the best seafood dishes in the city". Yeah right. They sure do.

"Any reservations, Ma'am?" Nakangiting tanong ng babaeng sumalubong sa akin sa pinto.

Ibinulsa ko ang aking mga palad sa aking pantalon saka ko siya tinanguan. "Uh, yeah. Actually my Dad made the reservation. Mr. Vince Carter."

Lumawak ang kanyang ngiti. "Yes. This way, please."

Tiniklop ko ang aking mga braso sa tapat ng aking dibdib saka ko sinundan ang babae. A classical song played by the resto's orchestra is on the background, as we make our way to the resto's...reception area?

The woman pushed the glass door with wooden frame before she gave me a sweet smile but my body froze when I saw my dad on his knee...while holding a box of ring from Tiffany's. A few familiar faces of Dad's friends and some of our relatives are there, surrounding him and his girlfriend.

A lump formed in my throat when I saw the expression written on Nathalie's face. That was the same expression I'd seen on Mom's face on their last anniversary celebration. I never thought it'll hurt to see it on someone else's even when it's still because of Dad.

Tears trailed down her cheeks as she nodded her head. "Ofcourse, honey I will!"

Sinuot ni Daddy ang singsing na halos kapareho ng promise ring na binigay niya kay Mommy noon. Tumayo siya at nang tuluyang lumapat ang mga labi nila sa isa't-isa, hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtraydor sa akin ng mga luha kong hindi ko man lamang namalayang namuo.

I felt my knees lost its strength. Tumalikod ako mula sa mapait na senaryong nagaganap sa aking harapan at luhaang tumakbo paalis. Ilang waiter at customer ang napatingin sa akin ngunit wala na akong pakialam. Nanlalabo ang aking paningin dahil sa luhang walang patid sa pagbuhos dahilan upang hindi ko sinasadyang mabangga ang isang waiter na may dalang tray. Natapon ang kanyang bitbit at gumawa ng ingay ang bumagsak na tray.

I sniffed and tried to wipe my tears with my jacket's sleeves. "I'm sorry." I whispered in a low, quivering tone. Sinubukan kong tulungan ang waiter na damputin ang mga natapong pagkain ngunit nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na tinig na tumawag sa pangalan ko, tila bigla na lamang namanhid ang aking buong katawan.

I tried to get back on my feet. Pinunasan ko ng sleeves ng aking jacket ang basa sa aking pisngi bago ako tuluyang humarap kay Daddy.

"H-Hey. Am I late?" To stop this nonsense?

Nathalie walked towards Dad. Niyakap niya ang braso niya sa braso ni Daddy saka ipinakita ang singsing sa akin na tila nang-aasar.

"I'm so glad you made it, Sweetie. Your Dad and I are getting married! We'll officially become a family soon!" She proudly said in an insensitive way.

No way. Kumuyom ang aking mga kamao dahil sa poot na unti-unting lumalamon sa akin. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga upang pakalmahin ang aking sarili. "Getting married? I'm sorry, did I hear you right, Natalie?" May iritasyon kong tanong.

Dad's brows furrowed and his fists formed into a ball. "Stop calling her that way. Where's your manners, young lady?" Aniya saka hinawakan ang kamay ng kanyang nobya.

Mapakla akong natawa sa narinig ngunit mas nairita ako sa aking nakikita. I really cannot stand the sight of them. Humapdi ang aking mga mata at sa pangalawang pagkakataon, trinaydor akong muli ng aking mga luha.

"Manners..." I murmured. "What about your respect for Mom? For me?"

Dad's expression darkened as his jaw clenched. "I am disappointed with you, Violet. This is not how your Mom and I raised you."

Inis akong natawa. "Mom's dead..." My lips quivered. "But I know she wants us to be happy. To move on...hindi ko lang akalaing ganito kabilis." A painful smile made its way to my lips. "I wish for your happiness...even if it means I have to exclude myself from your life. I'm sorry."

Lumambot ang ekspresyong nakaguhit sa mukha ni Dad. Bumitaw siya kay Nathalie upang humakbang palapit sa akin ngunit bago pa man niya nagawang lapitan ako, tuluyan ko silang tinalikuran saka tumakbo palabas.

My fingertips touched the cold granite tombstone of mom. Mariing lumapat sa isa't-isa ang aking nanginginig na mga labi habang pilit kong pinipigilan ang nagbabadya kong mga luha.

Why is it so hard for me to move on from you, Mom? Bakit kay Daddy napaka-dali?

I felt a lump in my throat as I wipe away the tears that trailed down my cheeks. Humahalo ang aking luha sa malamig na patak ng ulan ngunit tila masyado nang namanhid ang katawan ko sa kirot na nadarama ko ngayon. Ni ang ginawin yata ay hindi ko namagawa.

I sniffed. Tuluyan akong nahiga sa tabi ng puntod ni Mommy at tahimik na dinama ang patak ng ulang humahalik sa aking mukha. Sa kalangitan ay gumuguhit ang nakakatakot na kidlat at umaalingawngaw ang nakabibinging kulog ngunit sa unang pagkakataon, tila hindi magawang makaramdam ng dibdib ko ng kahit anong emosyon bukod sa sakit na dinulot ni Daddy.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga kasabay ng pagsara ng aking mga mata. My body is already numb with the coldness of the night but as another lighting struck the sky, my eyes slowly opened.

Sa muling pagtama ng kidlat sa kalangitan, isang imahe ang aking nakita dahilan upang biglang mapabangon ang aking katawan.

In the midst of my painful night, I had a glimpse of something I don't know if real. In a couple of seconds, I swear to Mom's grave, that I saw a man with a pair of white wings with bluish glow, gracefully flying in the air...while carrying another man. A wingless man.

Kinurap ko ang aking mga mata at sa muling pagtama ng kidlat, wala na ang imaheng aking nakita.