Ephemeral You

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Maingat kong tinahak ang madulas na pathway patungo sa maliit na hukay na kanina pa kinukulkol ng mga trabahador. Ang kaninang maaraw na panahon ay napalitan ng lamig at dilim nang biglang bumuhos ang nagbabadyang ulan.

Sa isip ko, I was right to bring an umbrella outside. I knew knowing na magkikita ulit kaming dalawa.

It was raining that night, too.

I shook my thoughts away as I loomed near the sea of white and black. Kahit nakuyo ako, nakikita at naririnig ko pa rin ang nangyayari sa paligid ko. Sa kaliwa ko ay may umiiyak na matandang babaeng inaalalayan ng dalawang babae na mas bata sa kanya.

Sa tingin ko ay lagpas na siya sa edad na kwarentay singko dahil kulubot na ang kanyang balat at halata na ang maitim na eyebags niya.

Base rin sa kanyang kasuotan ay 'di siya gaano ka mayaman because if you compare her wardrobe to those of the deceased's family and relatives, layong-layo talaga nito sa kanila.

Nahuli ako ng isang babae na nakatingin sa kanila. Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. I ignored it. Sanay na rin naman ako. Tutal, nasa teritoryo ako ng mga Sinclair at isa akong Cojuangco.

I stared blankly at the woman to my right. She wore a plain simple long sleeve black dress with a sharp v-neckline that had a black belt on the waist to compliment the outfit and tiny ruffles beneath the first layer of fabric.

To the naïve eye, simple at 'di gaano ka kamangha-mangha ang suot niya. But to those who knew who she was, you'd realize she's wearing a Louis Vuitton Fall 1998 Ready-To-Wear look. Look number 16 to be precise.

This woman right here is none other than Eolalia Sybille Sinclair, the only daughter and heiress of Former Governor Claude Sinclair, and she's Xiao's birth mother.

Sa tabi naman niya ay nakatayo ang regal at marangyang si Former Governor Sinclair. Puti na ang karamihan ng buhok niya at kulubot na ang kanyang balat. Halata na rin ang pag uugod-ugod niya na isang testamento ng ilang dekada niyang pagserbisyo para sa mamamayan ng Cavite.

Halatang hindi siya nakatulog ng ilang gabi. Mamula-mulang mata, chapped lips, pale complexion, lahat ito ay senyales ng pagkakulang sa tulog.

Hindi ko naman siya masisisi. Ganon din naman ako.

The former governor caught my gaze and instantly his face hardens at the mere sight of me, as if kinamumuhian niya ang pag parito ko. I avoided his gaze. I'm not here to start a fight. I'm here because of the funeral.

I stared at the white casket as it's closed by the men digging the pit earlier. Mas umaalingawngaw na ang hagulgol ng lahat nang sabihin ng pari na kailangan nang mamaalam sa patay.

I scoffed as the corner of my lips quirked up.

Akalain mo naman Xiao. We're just reunited tapos ngayon kailangan ko na mamamaalam sa'yo? Unfair naman.

You're dead, Xiao. I should be able to accept that, but I can't.

When the casket's closed after the last viewing, I gripped the handle of my umbrella tighter. Emotions I thought I had under control began to surge within me, slowly drowning me and my pulse like the downpour that drowned out the sorrowful mourning of the relatives of the bereaved.

A short woman with a comforting smile handed out a singular white rose to me. I looked at her face. Something in her expression made my heart ache as she forced my balled up fist to hold the stalk of the already wilting flower. She's familiar. I looked at her hand which was holding mine tightly.

"I'm sorry if I'm evading your privacy, but I've been looking at you. Hindi ka lumapit sa kabaong niya," sabi niya. "Hindi mo siya gustong tiningnan Phie?"