Star-Crossed ~ An ISITL Novel (On-Going)

3: Susanna

Chapter 3: Susanna

Dad was kept in a closed casket.

Sa sobrang tindi ng pagsabog ay nasunog ang buo niyang katawan. Only dental records proved that the body inside the casket belongs to our father. Umaga nang dinala ng mga taga-funeral parlor ang kabaong ni daddy at nag-set-up sila sa sala naming. Inilipat ang TV set sa kwarto nila Kuya Alphonse at pati na rin ang mga ibang cabinet at side table. May naglagay rin ng monobloc chairs sa terrace at sobrang abala sa kusina si Yaya Maring at mommy para maipaghanda ng makakain ang mga makikipaglamay.

Tahimik kaming lahat na magkakapatid. Si Diosa ay nakaupo sa tabi ng casket ni daddy na animo mawawala ito kapag - inalis niya ang kanyang tingin. Sila Kuya Albert at Alphonse ay busy naman sa pag-aasikaso sa mga dumarating na bisitang nakikiramay at mga bulaklak na ipinapadala. Nagmistulang flower shop ang bahay sa dami ng mga bouquets na pinapadala ng kung sino-sinong grupo na kakilala o kinabibilangan ni daddy.Si Kuya Alfredo ay nagkulong lamang sa kanyang kwarto. Ayaw niyang lumabas o kumain man lang.

Laman din siya ng balita at tumanggi kaming magpa-interview. Tanging si Kuya lamang ang bumasa ng statement ng pamilya tungkol sa pagkamatay niya. The family wanted privacy to mourn his death.

"Diosa, dito ka kay kuya." I called my sister's attention. She turned melancholy eyes at me and I had to turn my eyes away. Wala ang karaniwang ngiti at sigla ng aking kapatid. Hindi ako sanay na ganito kami. Noon, kahit wala si Daddy maingay ang bahay dahil sa kulitan naming magkakapatid. Nabibingi ako sa katahimikan - the hushed whispers, the silent prayers, and those looks of pity from strangers cut something deep inside me.

How does one deal with death?

Death is not some foreign thing. Death is as natural as life, yet faced with the death of someone close to you, even someone estranged like my father feels unnatural. It felt unreal.

I feel like if I open my father's casket, there will be nothing there and he would one day come back through our front door and greet us and tell us stories from his travels once more. He would laugh at us for crying and worrying, and my siblings would welcome him and things will be the same as always.

I had this strange fantasy conjured up in my mind. It's silly, I know but it's better than the reality right before my eyes.

I blinked back tears. When did they start to form? I started to stand when I heard loud voices. Sabay-sabay na nagsipagtayuan ang mga taong nasa sala upang mag-usyoso sa nangyayari sa gate ng aming bahay.

"Kuya, ano pong nangyayari?" Naramdaman ko ang pagkapit ni Diosa sa aking t-shirt. Pati siya ay nakisiksik sa may pintuan para makita ang kaguluhan.

Tuluyan akong lumabas ng pinto. That's when I saw her for the first time.

Susanna Yapkingco. My father's mistress.

"You will let me see him!" She's screaming at my mother and brothers. Pinipilit niyang pumasok sa gate at pinipigilan naman siya nila Kuya Albert at Alejandro. Hawak ni Kuya Alphonse at Yaya Maring si Mommy na galit na galit.

"For once Susanna, magkadelikadesa ka naman," galit na singhal ni Mommy. Si Mommy na parating kalmado at masayahin. "Tantanan mo na ang asawa ko. Bigyan mo naman kami ng kahihiyan!"

"Mahiya? Bakit ako mahihiya? Asawa ka lang niya, pero ako ang pinili niya." My mother looked stricken. Susanna raised her nose haughtily and I have the sudden urge to wipe the smirk off her face. I walked to where they are pero may maliit na kamay na kumapit sa damit ko. I turned and saw Aya's huge, questioning eyes.

"Stay inside baby," I told her while prying her fingers off my shirt.

"Ma..." A boy with glasses was pulling at Susanna's dress. Halos magkasing-tangkad kami nung bata. May isa pang bata na nasa likuran nila at mukhang hindi alam ang gagawin.