Bisaya Stories

BISAYA 038.2

Wala ko gitulog sa paghuna-huna about sa picture, kinsa siya? Should I ask Mama for answers?

Akong gipangita ang picture nga naas akong drawer og akong gikuha pag usab. I stared it once again, I can't see happiness sa iyang nawong. It feels like, mura siyag naay dako kaayong problema.

Naa or wala? I don't think so.

Arra, who are you? I asked myself.

Why are you kinda mysterious, are you part of our lives? If part, then who are you? Nganong wako ka kabalo about nimo, bisan usa ra background nimo.

And why I saw this picture in my room, does my family hid something that I don't know?

Because of my curiosity, I went out from my room then went downstairs. I tiptoed, then reached my parents room. Akong gi tan-aw ilang kwarto and I saw them peacefully sleeping, so akong gi sirado og balik hinay-hinay nga pamaagi.

Niadto ko sa basement, I know makakuan kog things nga maka-answer sa akong mga pangutana. Di man sad siya lock, so ako rang naibrihan dayun. Daghan kaayo og lawa-lawa ag basement, wa siguro ni nalimpyohi ni Mama.

My eyes roamed at the whole basement, searching for things nga maka answer sa akong pangutana. Wala koy nakita nga things nga possible maka answer sa akong questions, but I tried hard to. Akong gi kalkal or gibungkad ang nga gamit, while gi lantaw tanan wala gihapon.

Pero nipadayun ko. No one can stop me. And until, I saw a picture. I think a guy's picture. But wa nay ulo, mura siyag gigisi and nakit-an nakong nawala-wala ang print tungod sa basa? Or tears siguro. Maybe someone ang naghimo ani nga part sa among family. Malamang di ba? Amoang balay, niya naa ni nga mga things.

Few hours later, naglingkod nalang kos daplin tungog sa kakapoy. While to the picture that I found earlier, staring it confusedly. Still, wa gihapon ko kaila base sa iyang lawas. Layo ra kaayo siya sa lawas ni Kuya, or ni Papa.

Who is he? Is he related to Arra? But basing on his physical features, seems familiar.

Who are they? Because of my confusion, naa koy nalangkat nga curtain-like cloth nga naka tabon sa usa ka dako nga frame. My grew bigger when I saw it.

Is that Arra? With a guy!

But the guy looks like Papa or Kuya. Someone knocked at the door then I immediately went near it then it opened. Nibungad si Mama nga giduka, she's sleepy.

“What are you doing here, sweetie?” She sleepily asked me, but her eyes went to the big wall picture frame, then she smiled sadly.

“You saw their picture together?” Pangutana pa niya og wala ko kabalo unsay buhaton, motando or dili. But nitando nalang kadugayan.

“They're your Great Grand Parents, Arra.” Wait, grand parents? Lola og Lolo nako sa tuhod? But, nganong wala koy nahibal-an about nila?

“I know, there are questions running in your mind. They kept their identity for the sake of the family.” What? Unsay about sa family og nganong naapil na ang among family?

“What do you mean?” I confusedly asked, then stared at the picture frame.

“A long story sweetie, your Lola, I don't think he fell in love with your Lolo. Murag naay tawo nga dili niya mapulihan sa iyang kasing-kasing, but she tried to love your Lolo but they didn't work out together. They broke up, the day when your Lola and Lola died, wa sad mi kabalo nganong nagdungan sila og kamatay and sa adlaw pa gyud nga gabulag sila. They're both holding a handkerchief, and naay nakasulat sa usag usa.” Iyang pag share nako about nilang Lolo og Lola, what a tragic love story.

“You know, naay nakasulat sa panyo ni Lola nimo. Ang nakasulat, I'll meet you at 3:00 am.” Wait, familiar. Katong nakit-an nako! I think ka Lola to!

“Pero kabalo ka unsay nakasulat sa panyo sa imong Lolo?” Nilingo-lingo ko, og she sadly smiled at me.

“I love you, Arra.” Then wa ko kabalo nga naghilak nas Mama and I immediately hugged her, he hugged me back tightly.

“Wala ko kabalo sa reason nganong wala gi love back, ni Lola Arra si Lolo Kaleb.” Kaleb? So Lolo's name is Kaleb?

“They're classmates, and yes funny kaayo ilang love story and wala sad ko kabalo kung unsay reason nga na force ras Lola nga i love si Lolo.” Now she wiped her own tears and smiled at me, then I smiled back.

“I know, there's a reason ma. But atleast, nabuhi ta diba? If wala gi force ni Lola nga i love si Lolo wala unta ta ron.” Ana pako og wala rasad ni tingog si Mama.

“Nope, naa say reason nganong nanganak sila. Ana si Lola nimo nga, someone told her nga dapat our name will start with a letter 'A' and dapat duol sa Arra. But sa ikatulo nga generation, dapat Arra nasad and it's you.” She looked at me while I looked at her, with questioning eyes.

“Ma? Ngano?”

“Wala sad ko kabalo, but I know wala ra na so don't mind it.”

Naa nako sa akong kwarto ron, looking at the wall clock. 2:47 am. But wala siya, nganong wala siya.

“Looking for me?” Nisulpot ra siya og kalit sa akong kilid nga maong nakagunit kos akong dughan.

“Buang gyud ka ba, HAHAHA.” I laughed hard so as he.

“Sorry for being late, naa lang koy gibuhat.” Nitando lang ko, I know naa siyay gibuhat. Basin busy siya sa iyang studies.

That 13 minutes, we spent it from sharing each other's day, or should I say my day. Wala siyay share-share, if it's his turn dili siya mo share instead moingon siya nga maminaw ra daw siya so mao to. Gitulog nako, I didn't mentioned about what I knew earlier about my great grand parents. I think, it's personal.

“Sleep now, Arra.” Then I closed my eyes, and in a snap he's now gone in my room. Nakatulog nasad ko pagkahuman with a smile curved into my lips.

But before I totally closed my eyes, I whispered, “I love you.”