Unbind the Strings

Twenty Two

"Salamat pala sa paglinis ng bahay ha, 'di mo naman kailangan gawin 'yun." sabi ko habang hinihila ang upuan para saluhan siyang kumain.

"Wala namang ibang tutulong at magtutulungan kung hindi tayo lang." sabi niya habang nakangiti.

"Ay wala na palang tayo, awit." natawa rin siya sa sinabi niya.

He placed a portion of food on my plate to make sure that I'll eat it. He also poured a drink on my glass para wala na akong poproblemahin. He is very caring, even until now. 

"Ubusin mo 'yan para matuwa si Tita sa'yo, ha?" another reminder I got from him. I nodded and ate my food slowly. He cleaned the table after we're done eating. He told me to just sit down and wait for Mommy.

 A few hours later, my Mom already arrived. They placed her safely inside the living room and we fixed the flowers as well as the candles to make it look presentable and to show some respect. I was trying not to cry as I put her picture frame on top of the coffin glass. 

Mom's friends and our other relatives already came to pay a visit. Some of my aunts will be staying with me throughout the funeral. My friends also came and paid some respect but they didn't stay for a long time kase marami parin silang inaasikaso.

"Bakit hindi ka pa nauwi? Baka hinahanap ka na ni Mommy mo?" I asked Jay as I went to the kitchen to get some drinks. He was washing the dishes and fixing the countertops.

"Wala kang kasama, Cali. Hindi kita pwedeng iwan dito." he said before returning back to what he was doing.

"Andyan na 'yung mga tita ko, kaya na namin 'to. Kailangan mo na umuwi, baka sabihin tinatago na naman kita." I closed the refrigerator and went back to the living room.

I noticed that he still didn't go home after I told him that. Ngayon kung kailan wala na si Mommy saka siya mag eeffort na makasama ako. Hay buhay.

"Cali, ligo ka muna. Ako muna dyan." he approached me, looking wet because he washed the dishes.