"Goodmorning gwapo--!"
Hezekiah ended the call he received abruptly and lazily pushed the silent switch on.
Muling nginuya ni Hezekiah ang cereal na pansamantalang pinagantay niya habang nakatitig sa telepono niyang nasa ibabaw ng mesa. Gusto niyang tumawag ulit si China para mapindot niya uli ang end button ng telepono niya na kanina pa tunog ng tunog dahil sa iisang caller.
The screen was on again. Her name registered on it. CHINA
"O bat di mo sagutin?" takang tanong ng kararating lang na si Heath habang nirorolyo nito ang sleeves ng polo nitong puti. Kasunod nito mula sa kung saan ang stylist at manager nito na abala sa mga aktibidades ng ama ng araw na iyon. Madami ang dala nila at muhkang handang-handa sa taping nila na naka-schedule ng araw na iyon.
As if he had all the time in the world Hezekiah just continued to eat his half-finished bowl and non chalantly pushed the answer button and loudspeaker.
"HEZEKIAH! Hello! Hello!? Sang bundok ka ba at di mo ako sinasago---"
He ended it again while looking at his father whose mouth was raised ear to ear and like a giddy puppy waiting for a treat he just stood there with eyes glinting with mirth. Hezekiah sighed deeply and set his spoon down because of the look his father was giving him.
"We're supposed to discuss the details of the wedding later but China had to cancel last minute." Ayaw sabihin ni Hezekiah sa ama na siya ang nagyaya ng date kay kulot. She was the one who kept on bugging him about dates and about the wedding but she stood him up today. Mayroon daw itong gagawing importante sa funeral parlor.
"At nagtampo ka naman agad." Nangaasar na sabi ni Heath na may kasamang paniningkit ng mata. May sinenyas ito sa manager nito na iabot sa kanyang sobre na agad naman niyang kinuha.
"I'm so happy she cancelled. At least makakapagpahinga ako today." Liar. Hezekiah was boiling inside while opening the envelope. It was not easy to request changes in schedule sa roster nila sa hosp. All the effort he made to ask her went to drain. Ayaw na ayaw pa naman ni Hezekiah na nasasayang oras niya, gusto niya tuloy sakalin ang kulot na iyon.
"Deny all you want son. Ganyang-ganyan din ako kay Venice noon. That's my wedding gift."
Hezekiah held two plane tickets to Spain and their itinerary card. Complete vacation package. Habang binabasa niya ang itinerary naisip niya na may honeymoon nga pala. Hezekiah have foregone that part buti na lang pinaalala ng Papa niya.
Heath started to eat heartily. Tahimik naman na pinagmasdan ni Hezekiah ang ama niya na ngayon ay matanda na. Tumandang mag-isa gaya niya. All these years they only had each other and he couldn't ask for more. But like the perfect father that he is in his life he kept on providing all the things he needed.
"Pang honeymoon. Sa bandang huli kayo pa rin pala ng batang yon!" Parang gusto pa nitong pumalakpak sa tuwa. Sa lahat ng taong nakapaligid sa kanya at sa nalalapit na kasal niya kay China eto lang ata ang pinakamasaya. Hezekiah asked him yesterday to cancel all media coverage because he even prepared up to that extent. Akala mo ito ang ikakasal.
"Thank you for this Pa but you didn't have to bother." The moment Hezekiah said it nagsisi siya dahil napantig tenga ng Papa niya.
"Bakit ginawa niyo na ba ha?"Nabitawan ni Heath ang kubyertos bigla sa gulat sa sagot niya. Heath raised his brows and gave his son a playful nudge on the feet, his hearty laugh echoing their big but lonely house. There was an awkward silence after that. Mula kay Hezekiah, sa stylist at sa manager pati sa kasama nila sa bahay na muhkang abang na abang sa sagot niya. And infront of his innocent cereal! Lahat naka-pause habang nakatitig sa kanya.
"I can see Pa how happy you are but NO we didn't." Kalmadong sabi ni Hezekiah kasi muhkang tatalon na sa tuwa ang Papa niya kapag sinabi niyang oo. Sabay sabay na parang natalo sa grand lotto ang mga nagaabang ng sagot niya.
"Son. You never lied to me." Tuloy na pangungulit ni Heath sa kanya. Tampo-tampuhan pa ito. Dismayed at the honesty of his answer seryosong binalingan ni Heath ang manager niya."Paki-cancel ang schedule ko. Mag-uusap kami ng masinsinan ng anak ko. Kailangan niya ng tulong ko. Pakisama sa regalo ko sa kanya ang mga copya ng pwede niyang pagkuhanan ng impormasyon..."
"Ok this discussion is done." Awkward as hell Hezekiah had to stand up. Alam na niya ang takbo ng utak nito. There was no way he was discussing his sex life to his lunatic father. "I swear I'll call out Mama." Banta ni Hezekiah ng parang gusto pa siyang habulin ng Papa niya.
Iniwan niya itong tumatawa kasama ng mga alipores nito at habang pataas ng hagdan nagmessage si China. She explained that her emergency involved her funeral salon. Napatingin si Hezekiah sa regalo ng ama at sa message ni China. Kesa naman sumakit ang ulo niya sa kakulitan ng Papa niya pupunta na lang siya siguro para ibigay ang mga iyon kay China.
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China had received no answer from Hezekiah.
Kanina pa niya hindi macontact ito matapos niyang itext na may importante siyang gagawin sa punenarya. Pansamantalang binulsa niya ang telepono matapos na patakas na suyuin muli si Hezekiah at napatingin siya sa mag-anak na nagiiyakan sa parlor niya. Sarado sana ang shop niya noong araw na iyon kasi may date sila ni Hezekiah pero pinakiusapan siya ng pamilya ng namatayan. Ayon sa mga ito wala silang pera at di makayanan ang gastusin ng pagpapaembalsamo sa namayapa nilang nanay. Kompleto silang magkakapatid ng namatayan na nagmamakaawa sa kanya na sana bawasan ang singil sa serbisyo ng punenarya niya.
China always had a soft spot for family because she never had one.
And her ultimate dream was as simple as having a complete set of family. Ganoon siguro talaga... kung ano ang wala ka yun ang pinapangarap mo.
Mula pagkabata nag-iisa na siya. All she had was her doting grandfather, her guardian Heath and his bully son Hezekiah. Growing up she also had no friends so she only had Venice at ang mga bangkay sa sementeryo at lahat ng kliyente niyang patay na pumupunta doon sa maliit niyang parlor.
The only one she genuinely had already passed away. Ang lolo niya.
Kung di pa siguro siya inalok ng kasal ni Hezekiah siguro hindi madadagdagan ang buhay na nakakasalamuha niya. Once Hezekiah marries her she'll have a family.
Magiging tatay niya si Heath at magiging asawa niya si Hezekiah. And who knows if she gets lucky enough she'll have a son or a daughter with Hezekiah. Palalakihin niya ang batang iyon na punong-puno ng pagmamahal ng isang pamilya. Her child would never feel alone because he/she will have parents like her and Hezekiah who knows how it feels growing up alone.
Buti pa nga si Hezekiah dahil kahit maiksing panahon lang nakasama pa rin nito si Venice. Hezekiah once had a family. Gusto ni China ng ganoong klase ng pamilya... just like the one that Hezekiah had.
"Ma'am pwede niyo po ba kami tulungan. Hindi po talaga naming kaya. "
"Wag na ho. Libre na po." Awang-awa na sabi ni China. Biglang natuwa ang pamilya.
Napayakap sa kanya ang anak na lalake ng namatayan sa tuwa at buong pusong nagpapasalamat sa kanya. All of a sudden her wind chimed door opened. Akala ni China dagdag pang kapamilya ng namatayan kaya laking gulat niya ng niluwa noon si Hezekiah.
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"Hezekiah!"
Biglang napasigaw si China sa tuwa ng makita siya. Hindi nakaligtas sa kanya na kahit gusto na siyang puntahan ni China hindi pa rin umaalis sa pagkakayakap ang lalakeng nakalingkis dito.
Hezekiah noticed a change in his breath. He suddenly had the urge to puff. Competitive as he is he didn't want anyone touching what was supposed to be his. He skillfully grabbed China to his side in one swift motion. Through a quick scan of the scenery Hezekiah came up with a conclusion. Having a clear view of what was happening Hezekiah now had a better understanding of it.
"So shall we start?" He said and gave one of his calm smiles to the people around them. Hezekiah tugged her close to his chest in a muffled embrace while walking. Naamoy tuloy ni Hezekiah ang mabangong buhok ni China na siguradong naamoy din ng lalakeng nakayakap dito kanina.
"Sisimulan na po namin. Paki-antay na lang po." China said to them politely .
Hinawakan ulit ng isang kamag-anak ang kamay ni China. "Talaga mo neng na libre ha..."
"Opo. Opo." Panigurado ni China.
The family kept on asking if the services were free. Tahimik na sinundan niya lang si China pagkatapos ng paulit ulit na usapan paloob ng embalming area. "Ok lang ba sayo na pumasok ditto? Pwede mo naman ako antayin sa labas o kaya tatawagan na lang kita pagkatapos. Mga tatlong oras siguro to kasi maliit lang naman si nanay."
"Just do what you usually do. Don't mind me." Hindi naman siya maselan sa patay dahil kasama na iyon sa rabaho niya bilang doctor. Noong nasa kolehiyo pa nga siya pinag-aaralan nila mismo ang katawan ng patay.
Nakabihis ng gear at inayos ni China ang buhok sa isang tali palikod sa maganda nitong muhka. Seryosong seryoso si China na humarap sa patay. She stood infront of the cadaver and said her prayers. And as expected she dealt with swift steady hands. Like a surgeon fixated on doing the best that she can for the dead. If there was something China was serious about in her life it was her job and utter love for the dead. Patunay nga doon ang pagiging bestfriends nito sa nitso ni Venice at sa lahat ng inaalagaan nitong patay.
Tumunog ang phone ni Hezekiah. It was a message from a colleague who shared the same enthusiasm in Medicine like him. (Hezekiah. Incoming admission next month. You won't believe what I found for you.)
"I just need to make a quick call and I'll come back." He said but China was too preoccupied with what she was doing.
Paglabas niya ng embalming area napatigil si Hezekiah ng may marinig na parang pagalit na bulungan sa harap na lobby. Halfway through the hallway where he was Hezekiah could hear what they were arguing about so he decided to eavesdrop. Pansamantala niyang nalimutan ang gagawin niya sanang tawag.
"Magkano ba makukuha natin sa bangko?"
"Galing niyo din ngayon lang kayo nagpakita sa bilangan pa ng pera ni Nanay."
"Mas malaki dapat sa akin kasi ako naman nag-alaga sa matandang yon. Kayo petiks lang."
"Wow nagsalita ularing anak! Ayaw mo nga galawin mana mo para lang ipa-embalsamo si nanay!"
He smiled sarcastically before making his way again inside the embalming area but his feet stop in their tracks. They were asking the services for free but they didn't look the part. Come to think of it naka-rolex nga pala ng gold yung lalakeng yumakap pa kay China kanina. They had acted perfectly just enough to convince that gullible China.
China's too kind for her own good. If this was any other person Hezekiah would blame them for their own stupidity. But this was China.
Hezekiah convinced himself that he can pretend that he couldn't hear for a bit longer and go back to China who was diligently doing her best inside pouring her heart out to a cadaver who was unfortunate to be a relative of these opportunistic strangers.
But no! The pressure on his chest intensified so his feet pivoted.
Tiim bagang na tuluyang nilapitan ni Hezekiah ang pamilyang nag-aantay sa lobby. Halatang nagulat ang mga ito at nagkunwaring iiyak ulit but Hezekiah stopped them.
"Stop. I'm not as soft-hearted like her." Hezekiah tried to talk trying to control his emotions although he didn't try to hide his anger. "Just do me a favor. Don't ever come and talk to my fiancée again. Dahil pamilya ko siya hindi siya pwedeng utu-utuhin ng mga kagaya ninyong oportunistang tao. Magkano ba kailangan niyo para sa embalsamo?"
Hezekiah pulled out his wallet and grabbed some cash. "Mas totoo pa yung iyak ng misis ko para sa nanay niyo sa loob kaysa sa inyo."
He gave the money to the nearest relative and walked inside the embalming area trying to compose himself. When he entered again the embalming area the sight of China's back hit a raw nerve. Anger and hurt rose up so far inside him he thought he would choke since this was something so important to her.
The pressure in his chest intensified to crushing pain.
Hezekiah stood there while sorting out the warning signs.
The sudden epiphany hit him... He knew China was important to him but he was clueless of the intensity of it until now.
Psychosomatic chest pain and shortness of breath, never ending irritation whenever she's around, anything involving around her greatly affects him, sniffing her hair every time possible and looking at her when she wasn't looking. These feeling just kept on piling up whenever she was around.
Pumunta siya sa bihisan ng gear at nagsuot narin. He walked his way around and positioned infront of China. Nagulat pa ito ng Makita siyang nakagayak ng gear gaya niya. He motioned for the other instruments needed. Find out where it hurts and why- and fix it. China was the reason why his chest hurts... because he always held himself and his feelings back and the only way to fix his pent up emotion was to give it away. Through the goggles he could see her bright doe eyes shining. He could bet his life that behind her mask she was smiling beautifully.
"Nanay. Si Hezekiah po. Tutulungan niya po ako na ayusin kayo." She said to the cadaver before they started.
"Thanks for this date." She said as they finished wrapping up.
Nang lumabas na sila ni China lobby agad na inabot ng mga kamag-anak ang bayad para sa embalsamo ng nanay nila. Nagulat tuloy si China.
"Nakakuha po kami ng pambayad Ma'am." Dahilan nila kay China na nagpumilit pa din na libre iyon. It took 5 minutes more to convince China to take the money.
"Sobra po!" Balik ni China sa perang hawak. Pero tinangihan ng pamilya iyon at takot na tumingin sa direction ni Hezekiah na tahimik lang na nakatayo sa likod ni China. They must have been scared that Hezekiah might report them to the authorities at maudlot pa ang mana ng mga ito. Umalis din sila agad matapos makuha ang bangkay.
"Hezekiah dami ko tip o!" pinaypay pa ni China ang pera sa muhka niya. "Ano gusto mo libre ko. San tayo kakain? Jollibee? Mcdo? Hangang dun lang ang budget a!"
He just gave her a bored stony look just like he always did. Kung alam lang nito na pera niya iyon. Hezekiah sighed heavily in front of his doom who looked exceptionally beautiful today of all days. Even if she had this utterly nonsense side China was still winning his heart every day.
"Eto naman joke lang!" sabay hila at lingkis ni China sa braso niya. "Sige na nga Mang Inasal na lang. O mahal doon konti unli rice pa! HAHAHA!"
Sa babaw ng kaligayahan nito paano na lang pag inabot niya mamaya sa Mang Inasal ang regalo ni Heath sa kanilang dalawa. Siguro i-announce na lang niya kapag punong puno ng kanin ang bunganga ni China.
Napangiti ng lihim si Hezekiah, nagpapaubaya habang hinihila siya palabas ni China sa funeral parlor.
He was really falling in love with China.
A/N: July222017
Song: It's gotta be you - isaiah
After 10 years. Moy Ghaaaawd I missed writing! Syempre to be continued pa etong sina Hezekiah at China!
Happy Reading! Have a blessed Sunday everyone!