So this is LOVE! (ONGOING)

STIL19: PREDESTINED

Hindi alam ni Vida kung tama nga iyong address na nakalagay sa kapirasong papel na hawak niya noong hapon na iyon. Kasalukuyan silang nakatayo ni Elle sa tapat ng isang Funeral Home dahil iyon ang nakasaad na address.

 

“Are we going inside or what?” Elle asked Vida who was scrutinizing the Funeral’s sign board. For a funeral home it was slightly flashy with its choice of color which Vida doubted as appropriate for its services. “Have you called Tita beforehand?”

 

China’s Funeral Services

 

“Close kayo?” tanong niya sa anak.

 

Elles eyes looked up in wayward and slightly nodded as if she wasn’t sure of her answer.

 

Vida didn’t want to go there but she had no choice. She had no one to talk to for her current dilemma… Which was her husband and the feelings she was having as of the moment. Vida felt that it was awkward if she turned to her mother for some advice or to Elle who was mentally mature enough but not with this kind of topic. She needed to talk to a woman about this and the only friend she could come up with was Hexekiah’s wife. Sabi naman ni Hezekiah magkaibigan sila kaya pakiramdam niya pwede siyang payuhan nito.

 

Gulat na napa-oo agad si Elle ng sabihin niyang gusto niyang magpasama dito kaninang umaga. She tried to look uninterested but somehow Vida felt that her daughter was excited with the idea of going out together so there they were right now.

 

Maingat na tinulak ni Vida ang front door na salamin na bumunggo sa nakasabit na wind chimes sa itaas ng kisame. The whole place was brightly clean and quite solemn to look at with the soft chiming sound surrounding the place. Without any soul at sight Vida and Elle decided to sit there for a while. Hindi naman sila nagantay ng matagal dahil mula sa likuran may sumilip na tao mula sa pintuan.

 

With gloved hands up in the air, a whole black linoleum like suit and boots on the person moved past the swing by doors from the back. The person had a clear eye shield and mask on covering half of that small face.

 

 “I think that’s Tita China… in action.” Elle said somewhat hinting what China was doing at the back with her full gear on.

 

“ELLE! VIDA!” a cheery bright and loud voice came out from the person approaching fast now.

 

Hindi nagdalawang-isip na mabilis na naitungkod ni Vida ang kamay sa dibdib ni China na hindi makilala noong mga oras na iyon dahil sa suot nito. Akma kasi nitong aakapin si Elle gayong muhkang kasalukuyan nitong suot ang damit nito para sa trabaho nito na sa pagkakatanda niyang sabi ni Hezekiah ay pag-e-embalsema.

 

“You’re not hugging my daughter with that on.” Banta niya dito habang taas baba niyang pinadaan ang mata sa suot nito.

 

“Eh! Arte! Tagal ko nang hindi nakikita itong si Little Henyo e! Miss na kita baby!” natatawa namang sabi ni China sa kanilang dalawa ni Elle, sa malapitan nakikita na ang mga mata nitong nakatawa. Ang boses nito rinig na rinig kahit may pantakip ang bunganga nito. “Hindi ko pa ito nagamit. Magsisimula pa lang ako!”