Make Him Move On In 50 Days [#Wattys2017 Winner]

Chapter 23

Chapter 23
Vanished

"Hey..." A soothing voice from a guy called my attention.

I was crying at a park near our school. Wala masiyadong tao sa parke na ito dahil hindi naman ito ganoon kagandahan. Ang gusto ko lang naman ay isang matahimik na lugar. Tumakas ako sa sundo kong driver namin. I'm a grown-up woman now. I don't need someone to fetch me but my Dad wants me too. Tingin niya siguro ay iyon ang magiging sagot sa pagkawala niya ng oras sa akin.

My Mom just died and I can't even ask for my own father's comfort who's distancing himself away from me. Ayoko pang umuwi ng bahay dahil hindi rin naman ako papansinin ni Daddy o baka late nanaman siyang uuwi.

It sucks because still need a parent. I still need a father and I need him more now that my mother's gone. But right now, it feels like both of my parents died. Hindi ko rin maramdaman ang presensya ng ama ko.

"It's not good sight to see a pretty girl crying." Mahinahon niyang sabi na parang kumakausap ng bata at saka nagsquat sa aking harapan para mas matanaw ako.

Inalok niya sa akin ang kaniyang blue, black and white striped na panyo na dahilan kung bakit ako napa-angat ng tingin sa kaniya.

My lips parted when I sight a beautiful man giving me his sweetest and warmest smile. Somehow, it made me feel comfort even though he's just a stranger who happened to see me crying.

"T-Thank you..." I sniffed and took his handkerchief.

Mas lalo naman siyang napangiti nang tanggapin ko ang maniyang panyo kaya nag-iwas na lamang ako ng tingin at pinunasan ang aking luha.

Bigla naman siyang tumabi sa akin sa sementong bench dito sa parke at napatuwid na lamang ako sa pagkakaupo.

"You know... You can tell me everything. Hindi mo naman ako kilala at hindi ko ipagkakalat ang nagpapalungkot sa'yo. I will listen to you." He tried to persuade me. "Sabi nila, mas gumagaang ang bigat na pasan ng isang tao kapag hinahayaan nila ang iba na tumulong sa pagbubuhat nito. I might not be able to give you a proper advice, but I can assure you that I can help you feel a little better but letting you open up your worries."

Muli naman akong tumingin sa kaniya. I can that he's sincere and that he really wants to be of help.

"My Mom died." I stated before I looked away.

"Oh..." He sounded shocked with what he just heard. "Sorry. I didn't mean to... I thought it is just a plain heartbreak that's making you cry."

Agad akong humarap sa kaniya at bahagyang napatawa. "Okay lang." Sabi ko. "Gaya ng sabi mo, kailangan ko rin ng taong mapagk-kwentuhan."

Ngumiti naman siya at saka inayos ang upo kung saan magiging madali ang kaniyang pagtingin sa akin.

"Then tell me everything." He said.

That's what I did.

I told him everything about how much I love my Mom and what happened to her. I also told him that I blame my self for her death. Kung hindi ako nagpasama noong araw na 'yon ay hindi siya maaaksidente.

Sometimes I wonder, why didn't I just die with her? Bakit ako lang ang naka-survive?

"Thank you for listening." Pinigilan ko ang aking paghikbi nang pinasalamatan siya.

I used the handkerchief he lent me to dry my tears.

Nabigla naman ako nang bigla niyang kunin ang kamay ko. "Let's go." He said.