Heartstrings

♬ 41 The whole story

"Then, you need to come with me." Sabi niya at nilahad ang kamay niya sa akin.

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Tinignan ko ang isang abandonadong building. Halos sobrang luma na. May mga halaman na ang pader, nangingitim na din ito sa tagal ng panahon at may mga lumot na din.

Nakangiting nakatingin si lolo sa harap ng lumang gusali. Napangiti ako dahil maganda ang ngiti niya.

"I was 17 years old back then when I was abducted." Matapos ng mahabang katahimikan ay nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Tumingin siya sa akin and ngumiti saka tumingin ulit sa building.

"Yes, apo. I was abducted together with the son of a fontanilla. We are not friends. We rarely saw each other at campus. Mas matanda siya sa akin ng tatlong taon. We have been abducted for how many weeks. Ilang araw na kami lang ni Ferdie ang magkasama. Walang ligo, konting pagkain at tubig ang binibigay sa amin. I was a sick teenage boy. He took care of me. I almost lose hope. Dahil alam kong hindi naman ako hahanapin ng magulang ko dahil ang anak nila ay ang mga negosyo nila. But ferdie promised me that we will get out soon. And he was right. After many gun firing we are both saved. Their family have the best security organization. They have a lot of connections." Sumandal si lolo sa hood ng sasakyan. Pinapanood ko lang siyang mag kwento.

"Nang makalabas kami. Nakita ko naman na nag alala ang magulang ko but after days that I came back they left me again to go abroad para asikasuhin ang negosyo nila. I was lonely growing up. Wala akong kapatid. I saw ferdie at the campus. Right there and then I knew I found a brother. We hanged out everyday. Minsan sa bahay siya natutulog minsan doon ako sakanila. Halos hindi kami mapag hiwalay. My parents were happy and glad that I have ferdie with me and so was his family. Para na talaga kaming magkapatid. We knew each other's secrets, weaknesses, strengths, problems. Lahat lahat jazz. Alam namin."

Mataman akong nakikinig kay lolo. Nakatingin pa din ako sakanya. Nakita ko ang mga maliliit na ngiti sa labi niya habang kwinekwento ang tungkol sa matalik niyang kaibigan.

"I was always the troubled teenager. Had lots of gang fights, accidents and all the worst things a teenage boy did. But ferdie was always on the rescue. Did you know that I slept at the police station for one night because I was involved with a fight that almost took my life away?" Umiling ako ng lumingon siya sa akin. I can't even imagine him in the prison. And I can't imagine him as a rebel kid back then.

"If it's not because of ferdie I would've slept there for more days until my parents will found out and I'll be dead. And if it's not because of him, those bastards could've killed me when I got out from the prison. In short, I owe him alot. Kulang pa ang buhay kong pagbayad sa lahat ng utang na loob ko sakanya. Because that was not the only thing he'd done to me. Madami dami pa."

"He was still my savior even after we have our own wives and kids. Until he was diagnosed ischaemic heart disease. He never told me about it. He didn't show me that he was suffering. Buong akala ko walang problema. He was still there. He didn't just took care of me but he also took care of my kids. Whenever I was out of town or out of the country with business. Your lola was always hospitalized. Ferdie and Nadia always there to the rescue. Nadia will stay with your lola in the hospital. And Ferdie will go to his business then go home and take care of your uncle damian, uncle Arthur and your mother. My children was like his own children. At ganun din ako sa mga anak niya."

I saw lolo tears dropped from his eyes. Hanggang ngayon ay nasasaktan pa din siya. I admire him for his loved on his friend. Matalik na kaibigan niya ang lolo ni reed sa father side.

"Huli na ng malaman kong malala na ang sakit niya. It was all sudden. Imagine, he was suffering from all the pain but he still managed to take care of me and my family. All through our 47 years of friendship. He only asked me only one favor before he died. He wants our family to become and official family someday. Anyone in our family that can fit to get married."