Artistry of Love (Abstract Series #3)

Chapter 27

"Here."

Dumako ang mga mata ko kay Trip na kakaupo lang sa tabi ko habang may inaabot sa akin na isang bote ng mineral water. I grabbed the bottle and adjusted the sunglasses in my eyes, making sure they were appropriately positioned to conceal my swollen eyes.

"May gusto ka bang kainin?" he questioned, clearly keeping a close watch on me.

Tipid akong umiling. We just arrived from the cemetery. Kakalibing lang kay manang. I couldn't accept it any second. Death is so cruel that it often steals our loved ones in unexpected ways, without even allowing us to utter our final farewell.

Marami pa akong gustong sabihin kay manang pero hindi ko na 'yon magagawa dahil wala na siya… hindi ko na maririnig ang boses niya.

I dropped my head, attempting to suppress my weeping. Alam kong pagod na si Trip sa ilang araw na pagsama sa akin dito sa Isabela. I understand how concerned he is, and I don't want to add to his worries.

Nagulat ako nang dahan-dahan niyang ginapos ang dalawa niyang braso sa akin. When he kissed my hair, I closed my eyes fiercely. My eyes gleamed up with tears, and my heart tightened with each passing instant. No matter how hard I try to protect my feelings from him, he always manages to figure it out.

"Umiyak ka lang pero 'wag mong sisihin ulit ang sarili mo," he murmured calmly, fondling my strands of hair.

Ilang minuto kaming ganoon hanggang sa kumalma ako. Everyone is busy, and I want to help in some way. We would spend the night in the mountains, assembling lanterns to be launched into the heavens. Si mommy ang nag-suggest nito. She suggested that we write our wishes and prayers on the lanterns and unleash them into the sky, believing that they would reach Manang. Alam kong isa rin ito sa mga paraan para mapagaan namin ang mga nasa puso namin. Also, wondering that those sentiments will somehow compensate for the unspoken ones.

Tumutulong si Kuya Cy at Trip na ayusin ang mga dadalhin naming gamit. Napatitig ako kay Kuya Cy na nagbibigay ng minsang sulyap kay Trip. I'm sure he's asking himself a lot of questions right now. He was taken aback when he saw me and Trip together, as if it were a truly unbelievable sight. Pero hindi niya ako tinanong ng kung ano. I appreciate how he addresses my emotions and suppresses his questions.

"How are you?"

I was about to jump in where I was standing when Mommy appeared near me. Mukhang nagulat din siya sa reaksyon ko. I sighed and averted my gaze. I'm not sure how to respond to her remark, given that she hasn't spoken anything to me since she came. Nakakagalit lang na para bang kakausapin niya lang ako kung kailan niya gusto.

"Alam kong sinisisi mo ako sa nangyari kay manang," I began because I couldn't stand hearing her harsh things any longer. "You don't have to say anything because I'm already condemning myself."

Nahuli ko ang pagkabigla sa mga mata niya na para bang hindi ganoong mga salita ang inaasahan niya mula sa akin. Perhaps my melancholy is making me braver, allowing me to speak those words to her. O siguro pagod lang talaga ako para pakinggan pa ang mga sasabihin niya.

"I-I was just…" She took a deep breath, unable to find the right words to respond. Tipid lang akong ngumiti at iniwan siya doon.

Nang makalapit ako sa pwesto nila Kuya, puno ng pag-aalala ang mukha niya.

"Are you okay?" he inquired solemnly, casting a glance in the direction of Mom.

I nodded and beamed. Trip was gawking with the same troubled expression Kuya Cy had as my attention reached him. Mayroon na din kasi siyang ideya sa relasyon naming dalawa ni mommy.

Tumunog ang phone ko at nang nakitang si Keith ang tumatawag ay pumunta muna ako sa may ilog para sagutin ang tawag.

"Nakauwi na kayo?" tanong ko agad na ang tinutukoy ay ang buong pamilya niya. They attended the funeral, but had to return home right away since Keith's grandma had been sent to the hospital for an unexplainable reason.