Aliyah Yajaira Liwanag has been struggling with life ever since their family fell apart, kaya naman nang makatanggap siya ng offer mula sa isa sa pinakamayaman sa bansa na si Benedict Amadeo ay agad-agad niya itong tinanggap. Sino ba ang makakatangg...
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It was heart-wrenching. The news was deafening, and the agony from the wails of people nearby wrapped around me like a frozen blanket, sending shivers down my spine.
Maybe it wasn't true, that this was just a bad dream that transpired because I had been overthinking about the situation, but Blake loosened his tight grip on my hands to pound against the wall while his tears streamed down his face, and it felt real. Perhaps God wasn't real because he didn't listen to my pleas.
Benedict died.
I took a deep breath before I walked towards Blake.
Inawat ko ito mula sa kaniyang pagsuntok sa pader bago ko siya niyakap nang mahigpit.
Hindi ko inaasahan ang lakas ng mga hikbi ni Blake. Kahit na barumbado ito pagdating sa kaniyang ama ay pinahahalagahan niya pa rin ito. Ramdam ko sa kaniyang pagtangis ang lubos na pagmamahal sa kaniyang ama, maaaring may kasama rin itong panghihinayang dahil hindi niya nasulit ang kanilang huling pag-uusap.
Kahit na mabigat ang aking loob ay pinilit kong ituwid ang akong isip para maproseso ang mga kailangang gawin.
Ang pagtawag sa serbisyo, pag-aayos sa papeles sa ospital, at pakikipag-usap sa pamilya ng driver ni Benedict na si Kuya Henry. Sa kasamaang-palad ay binawian din ito ng buhay dahil magkasama silang dalawa sa sasakyan.
I contacted Blake's assistant and requested his help.
Hindi ko naman alam lahat ng pasikot-sikot sa kanilang pamilya kaya kailangan ko ng gabay. Hinayaan ko na lamang si Blake na mamahinga at magluksa, iyon ang kailangan niya sa sandaling ito.
After a few hours, Ben was home with us. However, he wasn't smiling, he was peacefully lying on his casket na para bang kuntento ito sa mga nagawa niya sa buhay.
Para bang ayos lang sa kaniyang mamatay, basta si Christina ang huli niyang kasama.
Ang tanga mo, Ben.
Tahimik namang nakaupo si Blake sa isang gilid, tumatayo lamang ito tuwing may dumadating na kakilala ng kaniyang ama. I gave him the space he needed and made sure I was able to handle everything para hindi na niya kailangang intindihin.
I may be occasionally asking him for his preference and approval, pero hangga't maaari ay iniiwasan ko para bigyan ng espasyo ang kaniyang pagluluksa.
"Ms. Ali, let me know if I can help you with anything," Theo offered, popping out of nowhere while I was staring at Blake, entertaining his father's guests.
"Ah, yes. I need someone to accompany me tomorrow. I will be visiting Kuya Henry's family to check if they need anything, and to give their compensation too," pormal na sagot ko sa kaniya.
Theo sighed. He looked at me with a hint of worry. Marahan itong tumango sa akin kaya nginitian ko ito nang malungkot.
I asked Blake's assistant to help compute how much would be the best amount to give to Kuya Henry's family. May pinag-aaral pa kasi itong mga anak kaya naman nagpaestima ako ng halaga na kakailanganin sa pag-aaral nila, tapos nagpatuos din ako para sa maintenance ng kaniyang asawa pero hanggang sa makatapos lamang ang panganay na anak nila. Siguro naman ay sapat at patas na iyon para sa kanila.
