Nauna ng bumyahe pabalik ng Pilipinas si Nel. Her mother is getting weaker and he's scared that he might not see her before she pass away.
Saktong pagbaba ko ng eroplano ay tumawag si Nel. She lost her mom.
My heart ached and I immediately drove to his house in their province in Abra.
He's sitting infront of her mother's coffin.
Hindi siya umiiyak at nakatitig lang sa kawalan.
Nakatitig silang lahat sa akin nang pumasok ako at dumeretso sa harapan. Malamlam ang mga mata ni Nel nang lumingon siya sa akin at dali dali akong niyakap. He sobbed on my shoulder.
"Condolence..."
"Sana hindi ko sila inilagan. Baka... baka wala akong pagsisisi ngayon." Hikbi niya. Nakwento niya sa akin noon na umiwas siya sa nanay niya dahil baka kaayawan siya kapag nalamang nitong hindi siya pusong lalaki.
I also cried as I comforted him, Nel became my family for almost 6 years. Seeing him cry this hard broke me into pieces.
I helped him for days with her mom's funeral.
I offered him I'll pay for her mom's burial. She's my best friend's mother and I will make sure that she will rest peacefully.
Nagtagal pa si Nel doon kaya umalis na ako at tumungo sa libingan ni Aelia, malapit lang din sa pinaglibingan ng nanay ni Nel.
I sat infront of her name.
A ghost smile appeared in my lips. My Xyphere said that this baby would be our sunshine.
But none of them became my light through these years. I am not alone but no one made me feel I'm okay. Years passed and I know I will never be okay.
Hinaplos ko ang lapida niya.
"How are you, baby? I'm sorry kung isang beses lang ako dumadalaw ha." I smiled. "Hindi ko kasi kayang makita ang pangalan mo rito. Your mommy is such a cry baby." I chuckled as I wiped again my tears. I looked up at the blue sky. "It's such a beautiful day, isn't it?" She smiled.
I brought out my snacks. Balak kong magpahapon dito, I'm doing this for the past years but unlike last years, I'm not crying the whole day. Unti unti ko ng natatanggap na wala na siya.
I contacted father Austin, ate Celia and Brenna.
I had plans on visiting them to thank them for what they did to me noong panahong walang wala ako.
Bumisita na rin naman ako sa kanila noong isang taon. I just want to thank them again. I sent my donations in church to thank father Austin. Nagbigay din ako ng tulong kina ate Celia.
"Aalis na si mama, ha?" Muling hinaplos ko ang lapida niya. I didn't put my surname in her gravestone because I know it wasn't my real surname. "Baka isang taon na naman tayong hindi magkita." Pakikipag usap ko pa rito.
Tumingin ako sa itaas, it's sunset. The half moon was visible as the red orange sky was seen.
I bid my goodbye at my daughter's gravestone, the doctor said before that she's a girl.
Tumayo na ako at naglakad papunta sa pinaglibingan ng mama ni Nelson.
Naroon pa rin siya at nakaupo.
"Nel?" Tinapik ko ang balikat niya.
"Hmm?" Humarap ito sa akin, namamaga pa ang mga mata niya.
"Tara na." I smiled.
"Mauna ka na, Pauline." He stated and suddenly chuckled. "Aurelia pala. Grabe hindi pa rin ako nasasanay." Aniya at pinilit na tumawa. I couldn't even smile. Looking at him this miserable broke my heart.
"Pauline or Aurelia, ako pa rin naman ‘to. ‘Yong napahiya noong unang nakita ang demonyong boss natin." There I saw him smile, a genuine smile.
"Ang demonyong mahal na mahal mo." Napatigil ako sa sinabi niya.
I cleared my throat and laughed. "Grabe ‘to! Move on na ako ‘no."
"Weh? Maniwala tanga!"
"Totoo nga! I don't think about him anymore." I playfully rolled my eyes. "All I think now is my son." And that's true. No more Vince disturbing my peace of mind.
I learned to accept things and I don't have any hard feelings for him. It's all in the past.
I have to relax, but I have still more works to do. The companies and my plans.
I stared at my wallpaper, it's my Xyphere, kissing my cheeks as I smile at the camera.
I miss him so much, if only I could hug him right now.
"Teh? Swimming tayo?" Biglang aya naman ni Nel.
It's been 1 week since the burial of his mother. Seeing him smile genuinely, I know he's getting better.
I stood up from the couch. Andito kami ngayon sa Manila. Dito sa Manila ko inilibing ang mother ni Nel.
Hindi rin naman kasi maayos ang lugar nila roon at gusto rin ni Nel na maayos na ililibing ang mama niya. So I contacted my mom if she'll let me borrow her private jet.
"Okay! Kakapalinis ko lang ng pool."
He rolled his eyes at me. "Hindi, sa beach."
"That wasn't on our plan." Tutol ko, kasi naman bukas ay babyahe na kami pauwi.
"Edi ilagay! Gaga! Bilisan mo na."
"Sinong kasama?"
"Si Tristan tsaka sila Brenna." Nagpamewang siya. "Naalala mo pa ba si Tristan? Si Tanning!"
"Oo naman, wala naman na akong amnesia." I laughed.
"Dapat kinalimutan mo na ‘yon."
Makapag aya naman ng swimming si Nel, akala mo ngayon mismo. Hindi pa naman pala siya napagdecide kung saan kami mags-swimming.
Nang makapagplano na kami ay napagpasyahan naming sa Bataan na lang din mag outing.
I invited my family in Bataan.
"Father, buti naman ho nakarating kayo." Nagmano ako sa kaniya at iminuwestya ang lagayan ng pagkain. Nagdala kasi sila.
"Oo naman, minsan ka lang mag aya ng ganito Pau- Aurelia." Ngumiti ito sa akin.
"Pwede niyo pa rin naman po akong tawagin Pauline." I stated, it's really okay with me, ako pa rin naman ang Pauline na kilala nila.
"Ngunit hindi naman yan ang totoong pangalan mo." Hinawakan nito ang balikat ko. "Kaya’t tatawagin kitang Aurelia. Mas lalo kang gumanda, nagkalaman ka na rin. Malayo sa Pauline noon na umiiyak sa likod ng simbahan at mapayat." I stopped myself to cry.
Ang Pauline na umiiyak dahil kulang ang pambili ng gatas, ang Pauline na umiiyak dahil nagkakarashes na naman ang anak niya. Ang Pauline na pagod na pagod sa trabaho dahil isinara ang pinagtatrabahuhan niya at ang Pauline na umiiyak dahil sa wala siyang karamay.
"Bakit gusto mo bigla mag outing?" Biglang tanong ko kay Nel, nakahiga kaming pareho sa sun lounger na malapit sa dagat.
"Pamparelax lang." Aniya at sumipsip sa lemonade juice niya. "Alam mo issue ka! ‘Di ba pwedeng bored lang? Gagang ‘to!"
I stopped for a minute. “I don't see you talking to him anymore over the phone.”
"Kainis, ‘di ako makapagtago sa yo!" Tawa niya at tumingin sa kumikinang na dagat.
"So, wala na talaga kayo?" I worriedly asked, a bitter smile came out of his lips.
"At least natikman ko diba?" He tried to laugh it off but he failed when tear scaped at his eyes.
Ibinuka ko ang mga kamay ko. "Come here."
"Ih! Ayokong umiyak! Nakakainis ka talaga." Sabi niya na umiiyak bago pa man ako yakapin.
"You cried with me when no one's there to do so. So now I'm doing the same. You know your worth diba? Ikaw nagturo sa akin niyan." Haplos ko sa buhok nito. We stayed for a moment until he calms down.
"Hoy! Bakit nag iiyakan ang mga bakla?" Pareho naman kaming nagulat nang biglang sumulpot su Brenna sa gilid namin .
"Panira talaga tong si Brenn- amag." Pinunasan ni Nel ang luha niya at tumayo oara sabunutan si Brenna.
"Palibhasa kasi hindi na ako part ng friendship niyo! Fake friends!" Angal naman nung isa kaya natawa na ako.
We stayed for the night, nang mag umaga naman ay maagang umalis si Father at Henry dahil may dadaluhan silang binyagan.
For the first time in years, I enjoyed what I'm doing. We rode a kayak, swam at blue crystal clear water and played with the kids. Napakaraming pictures din ang kinuhanan namin.
"Pak! Sexy si ate mo oh!" Nel is the one taking my pictures. Nahihiya na nga ako sa ibang turista kasi nakatingin sila sa akin.
I'm wearing a red two piece bikini, it suits me, mas pumusyaw kasi ang balat ko.
"Post mo ‘yan, Aurelia ah! Tapos lagay mo, 'eto nga pala ang sinayang mo, edi sana may sinasawsawan ngayon ang hotdog mo.'" Brenna stated and all I can do is to hide at the coconut tree. Nakakahiya sila.
"Hoy gago!" Nel just can't stop laughing.
I walked out, out of embarrassment, wala na kami sa ibang bansa, malamang ay naiintindihan na kami ng ibang tao rito.
"Hi, Aurelia." Kakaupo ko lang ng sun lounger nang may magsalita sa gilid ko.
"Tristan." Itinaas ko ang suot kong sunglasses at inilagay ko ito sa ulo ko.
"Ganda mo, hehe." Titig niya sa akin.
"Uhm, thank you." I awkwardly smiled. He's really not my vibes. Para kasing kakaiba siya lagi tumitig sa akin.
Umupo siya sa katabing sun lounger. "Hanggang ilang araw kayo rito?"
"Babalik na rin kami sa isang araw." I answered.
"Hindi na naman kita makikita nang matagal."
I stayed silent.
Naramdaman ko siyang tumayo ngunit hindi ako tumingin dahil may nakita akong babae. She's very familiar. She looks like... Heather.
"Aurelia."
"Hmm?" I looked at him, ang mukha niya ay malapit na sa mukha ko at wala na akong pagkakataong umiwas.
It was sudden, naalala ko na lang ang malakas na sampal ko sa kaniya at ang paghatak ni Nel sa kaniya palayo.
He stole a kiss!
I was shocked the whole day and was not at the mood. Nakakainis, wala pang ibang humalik sa akin at hindi ako pumapayag kung mayroon mang magtangka.
Hinayaan ko na lang na pauwiin ni Nel si Tristan dahil baka magalit ako nang sobra sa kaniya kung nakita ko pa siya ulit.
At night I called mom. "Mom, I'll go back in 3 days."
"Xyphere is in the Philippines." My heart just stopped.
"W-what?" Para na lang isang bulong boses ko.
"Yes, my investigator said it was really him. Check the photos I sent to you." She said and I checked it.
It was recently taken because the time and date was indicated.
A boy smiling, holding a contton candy on his right hand while he was holding a guy's hand on hid left hand. Before I could react, mom confirmed who the guy was.
"And he's with Vincent Alvarez."
Then and there, I felt my heart sunk.