Fourth of October (Juntarsiego Series #1)

Chapter 32

I left them there peacefully as I made my way to the cemetery. Nagtagal ang usapan namin at binigyan ko sila ng sapat na oras. Right now, I still don't have plans to go to school and teach my subject. Ngayon lang naman ako lumiban.

Bumili ako ng bulaklak bago ako tuluyang sumakay sa jeep papunta roon. Mataas ang sikat ng araw at nakakapaso ang init.

It's been months since I last visited my parents' grave. Masyado akong naging abala sa mga ginagawa kung kaya't naging madalang ang pagbisita ko.

There are few leaves that scattered on the pathway as I took a step on the area where my parents are located. Maraming damo at halos iilang parte lang ng sementeryo iyong nakikita ang lupa. It was all covered by the green grass, the color that symbolizes life and yet people are dead here.

Nanliit lang ang mga mata ko nang maaninag iyong isang palumpon ng bulaklak na nakapatong sa harap ng kanilang nitso. Palapit pa lang ako, iyon na kaagad ang nabungaran ko.

I crouched my feet as I held it with my cold hands. My forehead creased at the realization of what flower is in front of me.

It's my favorite flower. Someone dropped some white daisies in here.

Noong una ay hinayaan kong may nagdadala ng bulaklak sa puntod ng magulang ko. Everytime that I am going here, I can really see some flowers, thinking that it might be from Jaeden's parents or my mother's parents.

I assumed before that maybe someone's just dropping those flowers in here o kaya naman ay nilalagay ng ibang tao sa ibang nitso. Turns out that there is someone who's really dropping these all here intentionally.

Hinanapan ko ng pangalan nina tito Gael iyon pero wala. I searched for a familiar name inside of it but I saw nothing.

Tito Gael's flowers has a label, indicating that it's from him or tita Olivia. Pero itong natanggap ko ay wala. An unknown person sends a flower here.

Baka naligaw lang? And a coincidence that the person gave white daisies.

Imposible namang si Jaeden iyon. The only daisies he's picking were from the province. Impsibleng siya dahil alam niyang galit ako sa kasalanang nagawa niya. So brave of him to drop this here if ever.

Itinabi ko na lamang iyon saka nilapag iyong binili. I knelt in front of them and offered them a silent prayer. Hindi ko rin napigilang maglabas ng hinanakit sa kanila. I may look like crazy in here but it is my only way to release my current emotion and feelings.

They are lying peacefully inside while me, I am left with a broken heart and life. I don't blame God for taking them away from me at an early time. Mahirap tanggapin ang lahat pero habang tumatakbo ang buhay, natuto akong dahan-dahang iproseso ang lahat.

They raised me well. They let me live the life I cherished before. At kung ako ang tatanungin, handa akong balewalain lahat ng naabot basta't makasama lang sila.

My parents are my only success. Nauna sila kaysa sa mga pangarap ko kaya pipiliin at pipiliin ko sila.

I ended my prayer with voicing out how much I love them. Naupo lang ako sa kanilang harap habang hinihintay ang araw na matapos.

And I know the fact that no one will welcome me home like how they used to welcome me. Nangungulila pa rin ako roon minsan.

There were times that I am crying in the middle of the night, finding their presence knowing that they are the only ones who can calm me. Needing their presence and will eventually appear in front of you was such an impossible wish.

Nothing can bring back the dead. How I wish I can invent something.

Hanggang sa bumuhos ang ulan ay nanatili lamang ako roon sa sementeryo. Pinasilong lang ang sarili sa ilalim ng puno habang hawak ang payong.