The Parallel Red Strings

CHAPTER 39

“Tita Alhena,” I utter as our embrace was drifting slowly.

“I thought we were losing our mind earlier,” Tito Gary said looking at me unbelieved.

Pansin ko ang pagbabago sa mga itsura nila marahil sa pitong taon na nakalipas ay hindi rin naman na sila bumabata. Still, they look sophisticated.

“I c-can't believe…” she was emotional. “I missed you and your… Mom,” may butil ng luha ang lumabas sa mata niyang namumula.

I couldn’t help but admire her kindness. They're kind. I was so lucky to have them before. I was able to experience genuine support in loving someone as they let our hearts explore.

“I missed you too tita and tito.”

Sabay-sabay kaming bumalik sa tinutuluyang hotel dahil nasa parehas na palapag ang mga silid namin. Napagalamanan kong nakabakasyon sila dahil ang anak nila ay may saglit na inaayos. Ang anak nila ang abogado ng isang kilalang politiko na may kinakaharap na kaso.

I was shocked to find out that he is a lawyer already. Then I just remembered that he took Legal Management in Maharlika which was a three-year Baccalaureate program.

We were an incoming second-year college when I left the Philippines. Kung tama ang bilang ko ay ito palang ang unang taon na ganap na siya bilang abogado. Nasa unang taon siya sa propesiyon pero mabibigat na tao na ang hinahawakan niya. Hindi na nakapagtataka dahil batid kong mahusay siya at pinag-igihan niya upang lumipad sa napiling larangan.

Siguro binalita na akin ng mga kaibigan ko ang mga ganitong detalye sa buhay ng lalaki hindi ko lang talaga pinagtuonan ng pansin kaya hindi ko maalala. Hindi naman talaga ako interesado na sa lalaki.

I told them that I was with my siblings and that we were leaving this afternoon. Kahit pa alanganin ay pumayag ako na makipagkita sakanila mamayang alas dos ng hapon sa isang sikat na restaurant malapit lang dito sa hotel. Pabalik narin naman daw sila sa susunod na araw ng Maynila pero gusto talaga ni tita Alhena na makausap pa ako ngayong araw.

The fluffy ambiance greeted me as I walked towards their table. Eyes were gleaming as they met mine.

“Hay nako hindi parin ako makapaniwala,” bungad agad ni tita Alhena nang bumeso ako sakanila ni tito. “You are successful now.”

“We heard a little about you from your, Dad… congratulations, Jess,” kaswal na saad ni tito Gary.

Hindi ko mapigilang mahiya kaya tipid na ngiti ang sinagot ko sa mga papuri nila.

Until the food had been served and as we started to eat we didn’t stop exchanging stories about our lives to catch up a bit.

Lumabas si tito dahil sa tawag sa telepono na kailangan niyang sagutin. As the moment he got out of the place I felt tita's eyes go serious.

“It’s been years at hindi ko alam kung dapat pa nating pag-usapan,” hinawakan niya ang kamay ko ,“I just wanted to tell you, Jess, that your Mom loves you more than anything, more than anyone. She went to our home one morning before she flew back to Dubai. She told me that she slapped you and she was so sorry.” Humigpit ang dibdib ko sa mga naririnig ngunit hindi ko hinayaang huminto si tita sa pagsasalita. Naglaro ang utak ko ng maalala ang gabing iyon.

“She told me everything that happened, about your Dad and how devastated you were when you found out… and about her life that was at risk due to cancer… she wanted to tell you that she does not want you to blame yourself for anything…”

Doon rumagasa ang luha ko. Isang tanikalang bikig ang nabunot sa dibdib ko ng makumpirma ko kay tita na mahal na mahal talaga ako ng aking ina. Na gusto niyang ipaalala na kahit hindi maganda ang huling tagpo namin ay hindi nabawasan ang pagibig niya. Sa mahabang panahon, alam kong sinisisi ko ang sarili na nagpadalos-dalos ako ng emosyon kaya hindi maganda ang huling ala-alang naiwan sa pagitan namin ni Mommy. Na akala ko ay namatay siya habang nakaukit ang galit sa kaniyang puso.