Souls in November (Holiday Series #1)

28

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have just landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines Airlines welcomes you to Manila!"

Philippines, it's been a while. As I exited the plane with mom and Ashra, I let out a deep sigh. I then instantly felt the country's intense heat coming over me. A scorching hot breeze began to blow across my body. Mas lalo pang naging mainit ang pakiramdam ko dahil sa suot na jacket.

Tinext ko na rin si Sydney na uuwi kami ng probinsiya pero wala naman ito ngayon at nagbabakasyon sa Cebu! Nagkasalisi pa ata kami! Gusto niya na tuloy bumalik pero ang sabi ko ay enjoyi'n na lang ang bakasyon niya.

"Mommy, carry! Ashra is sleepy!" napatingin ako sa anak kong nakahawak sa laylayan ng damit ko.

"Later baby. Marami tayong dala. Mommy and Lola will carry those things first." I told her.

"But Ashra is sleepy too! Should I just sleep here?" she even pointed the floor.

Sasakit yata ng ulo ko agad. Anak naman e! 'Yan kasi hindi natulog-tulog sa eroplano! She became very busy observing the sky earlier, as though it were the most precious thing to her.

I sighed with no option at all. "Come on. Mommy will carry you."

Masaya itong binuka ang kamay at nagpabuhat sa akin. Oh God! How can I even do the work? She's so heavy now! At the end, I carried her the whole time. Kawawa na din tuloy si Mama dahil siya na ang nagbubuhat sa mga gamit namin.

"Ma, kaya mo ba 'yan?" Tanong ko dito habang hinihila ang maleta namin. "'Tong si Ashra kasi..."

"Oo. Hayaan mo na. Pagod 'yan." dinedepensahan niya pa ito.

Kaya naman hanggang sa makasakay na kami ng bus papuntang Ilocos ay buhat-buhay ko ito. Nakakapagod talaga ng sobra dahil wala kaming sariling sasakyan. Lalo na mahaba ang byahe at marami pa kaming bagahe.
The journey lasted for eight hours, yet I didn't even have time to get any sleep. Naninibago kasi si Ashra kaya hindi niya ako pinatulog. She would either ask me a lot of questions or simply tell me not to close my eyes.

The moment I saw the arch that said "Ilocos," a flood of memories rushed back to me. It was so still evident to me, but at some point it stopped hurting me, and it stopped making me weak. It's possible that the years I lived in Canada had an effect on me. I was able to recover from it and emerge from it stronger. It helped me be grateful for the life I have and prevented me from being affected from those past experiences anymore.

Dahil siguro, nagawa ko ng mahalin ang sarili ko, hindi na masakita. Dahil siguro, nagawa ko ng abutin ang mga pangarap ko. Nagawa ko ng maging masaya. Wala ng sakit.

"Your province look so Europe, Mommy!" Ashra said in a high pitched as we enter the City of Vigan.

I smiled at her. "You have a lot to learn about my province. Ipapasyal kita soon."

Magkatabi kami ni Ashra, samantalang si Mama ay nasa upuan sa harap namin. Hindi naman kasi kami kasya sa dalawang upuan lang.

"Talaga po Mommy?" nag-beautiful eyes pa ito.

"Yes. Basta makapagpahinga lang muna tayo." I pat her head.

We ride a tricycle to get to our subdivision. And as soon as we got there, I couldn't help but be stunned by the beauty of the house. Hindi nga kami nagkamali sa disenyo. Ang lawak ay sakto lang din. We have our own house now. Matagal din namin 'tong pinangarap ni Mama. Panigurado ngayon, ang bahay na tinutuluyan namin noon ay nasa sa kabit na niya.

Hindi naman namin kawala 'yung bahay na 'yon. Mas maganda pa 'tong pinatayo naman kesa sa bahay niyang pangit! Wala akong pakialam kung ibigay niya 'yon sa kabit niya!