For the Love of an Angel

Chapter Nineteen

"San tayo?" asked ni Mr. Driver.

"Sa Pasig Memorial Park." Si James yung nag-reply.

"Sige." Pinaandar na ni Mr. Driver yung fare meter niya. Umandar na din yung taxi.

And after thirty minutes, nasa memorial park na sila.

Like what she promised, hinatid ni Isabel si James sa harap ng tombs ng parents niya. "Doon lang ako," sabi niya afterwards, pointing at a mausoleum which was about seventy meters away.

"Sige," reply lang ni James.

"Kapag kelangan mo na ko, sumenyas ka lang..."

"Oo."

At that point, serious mode na si James. He was already staring sadly sa tombstones ng parents niya. Nagmo-mourn na naman siya.

Iniwan siya doon ni Isabel. She went doon sa mausoleum which she pointed out. Tumayo lang siya sa gilid noon. From a distance of seventy meters, tinitigan niya lang si James, guarding him like a true guardian angel.

Si James naman at that time, naka-close na yung eyes niya. Deep in his mind, he was remembering the happy times of his family noong buhay pa yung parents niya. Toddler pa lang siya at that time, before pa yung second pregnancy ng mommy niya. They were a very happy family way back then.

With tears in his eyes, nag-start siyang mag-monologue para sa parents niya, in a very soft voice.

"Mommy, Daddy... Nasan man kayo, alam ko nakabantay kayo sa kin. Alam nyo naman siguro na nahihirapan ako. Hindi madali na iwanan nyo ko dito nang mag-isa. But knowing you, siguro gusto nyo talaga yung ganito, para matuto akong tumayo sa sarili ko. Kung ganito talaga yung gusto nyo, wala naman akong choice. Pero Ma... Dad... miss na miss ko na kayo..."

When I looked at Isabel, I realized na umiiyak na din siya. Obviously, naka-tune in yung eyes and ears niya kay James, using her powers. Naririnig niya yung voice ni James from that distance. Nakikita niya din yung tears ni James. And she could almost feel what he was feeling. Almost nga lang.

Syempre, ako, feel na feel ko yun. Ako kaya yung guardian angel ni James, the only one who was given the right to hear his thoughts and feel his emotions. Ang difference lang namin ni Isabel, hindi ko pa na-experienced maging human being. Therefore, hindi pa ko nagiging emo kagaya niya.

Haay naku. Human life is so sad talaga...

Wait lang. Napuwing yata ako. My eyes are kinda moist...

Duh? Hindi ako umiiyak ha...

"Mommy," continue ni James. "Tinutupad ko na yung request mo sa kin. Hindi ko na inaaway si Liza. Sa totoo lang, pareho na kaming walang family ngayon, di ba? Might as well accept her. May purpose naman siguro yung pagdating niya sa life natin..."

Napa-glance na naman ako kay Isabel. Nakita ko yung slight smile niya after yung lines na yun ni James. Naka-smile siya kahit teary eyed. Ang loka, parang kinikilig na naman.

"Dad... I don't know kung bakit sa kin mo ipinamana yung company. Wala akong alam sa management, di ba? Hindi nga ako naka-graduate ng college. Challenge mo ba ‘to sa kin? Do you want me to learn from experience by force? Kakayanin ko ba ‘to kahit naka-wheelchair ako?"

And then I heard Isabel's whisper. "Kaya mo yan, James..."

And ako na si Miss Gaya-gaya... "Kaya mo talaga yan, James," whisper ko din.

At that point, nag-stop na si James sa pagsasalita. He just looked down and then iyak lang siya nang iyak.

Trying to avoid the emotions, I closed my senses na lang from James. I also avoided looking at him. Nag-look around na lang ako sa memorial park, trying to change my mood.