We Can't See You

Chapter 18

Lumabas si John mula sa restaurant, nakasunod ang tingin ng ilang customers sa kaniya. Tinungo niya ang sasakyan sa parking lot. Hinatak niya pinto ng driver's seat at pumasok sa loob.

Ilang saglit siyang nakasandal lang sa upuan bago binuksan ang makina ng kotse at nag maneho palabas ng gate ng Golden Cuisine.

Golden City Memorial

Everything in this city is Golden, the prestigious University, the private village, and the viral restaurant, John sneered. He's now entering the cemetery. Of course, he was exaggerating about the names.

Nakatutok ang tingin niya sa trademark kung saan malapit ang pakay niyang puntod na matatanaw habang umuusad ang kotse niya.

May kalakihan ang sementeryo at naka-ilang ikot din siya bago ihinto ang sasakyan. Bumaba siya at umapak sa damuhan papunta sa pwesto ng lapida ng kaniyang mga magulang.

Umihip ang malamig na hangin. Natulala siya sa mga pangalang nakaukit.

Laurice E. Ceno

Sa tabi naman ay...

Axel I. Ceno

Suddenly, John felt something cold on his shoulder which seemed like a hand.

He slowly looked up and his heart jumped as he saw a woman with pale skin and flying straight long black hair caused by the wind, making it look more dramatic.

"Bwiset ka!" sigaw niya habang naka-squat pa rin.

The lady flinched but chuckled later on when she realized why she got such a reaction from him.

She joined him from sitting on the flat markers with a lurking grin on her lips.

Nililipad ang buhok nilang dalawa dahil sa hangin. Because of the gloomy ambience, she realized something about John.

Nagulat siya kanina hindi dahil sa pagsigaw ni John ngunit sa salitang binitawan nito. Hindi siya sanay makatanggap ng ganoong salita mula sa Kuya niya. He never cussed, he's very polite and he always treats people gently.

Bukod sa mahilig ito sa puti, ang pagiging mabait nito ang isa sa dahilan kung bakit inaasar itong "Saint John".

"Ginagawa mo rito?" Nakakatitig na si Ran bago humarap sa kaniya si John.

Well, she heard about what happened from Victoria. She didn't think that her Kuya would visit his parents for some drama time like in the movies when the protagonist has no one to lean on and ended up talking to the dead about life problems. But, here he is. She won't tell him that, though so she just shrugged.

"How about you, why are you-" Hindi natuloy ni Ran ang sasabihin nang mapansing may kakaiba sa mga mata ng kuya niya habang nakatuon 'yon sa lapida ng papa nila.

"Nakikita mo pa rin siya?"

The fact that John's trying to conceal the fear and uncertainty in his eyes made Ran feel more nervous.

Narinig ni Ran ang pagtunog ng doorbell. Sinara niya ang librong binabasa at umalis ng sofa para tignan kung sino ang nasa labas.

"Bean?"

"It's Montero for you."

"A-hah! May kakambal pala si Bean."

Her gaze moved behind Bean. And there she saw Axel, looking at her and grinning at their conversation.

She looked away from what seemed like their late father's manifestation as if she saw nothing. She just distracted herself by looking straight at Bean's eyes.