The delicate man that capCURED my heart

44 : ANNOUNCEMENT

KREIA'S POV

“Ate, uwi ka na. Noche Buena na mamaya oh” I tried to call her and surprisingly she answered the call. Now I’m begging her to come home already.

“Reanne! Sinagot mo nga yung tawag pero hindi ka naman nagsasalita” sabi ko pa, medyo naiirita na rin dahil nga sa hindi ito nagsasalita. “Asan ka ba? Sunduin na kita” dagdag ko pero hindi pa rin nakatanggap ng sagot galing sakanya.

“Our parents weren’t mad at you anymore—” and she then hungs up already.

I heaved a sigh and falls back on my bed. Things are still screwed up, paskong-pasko pa naman pero heto at puro problema ang hinaharap. I hope one day everything will go back to it’s places. This set up makes me feel sick. Hindi ako sanay. We used to be so happy...

May isang tao pa ‘kong gustong tawagan pero baka hindi rin sumagot. He’s still mad at me, i guess. Kasi tatawag naman ‘yon at babati kung okay naman kami, pero hindi. I felt a sudden pang on my chest because of my own thoughts.

Kinagabihan ay naghahanda na kami para salubungin ang Noche Buena, kami-kami lang din ang naghahanda kasi pinauwi muna ang mga kasambahay sa sarili nilang mga pamilya.

I thought we will end up the night with so much happiness, but no. Tahimik kaming kumakain at pasulyap-sulyap sa upuan ni ate na ngayon ay bakante. Alam kong pare-pareho lang kami ng iniisip at lahat ay nagpipigil ding lumuha dahil nasa hapag.

After a while of being silent, Keanne stood up and get his ipad on the living room. Akala ko ay tapos na siya at maglalaro na pero bumalik ito at kinuha ang atensyon namin.

“Listen, everyone.” he said and showed his cute smile. He then tapped on his ipad and browse something there.

Nang mahanap ay hinarap niya ang ipad sa amin at bumungad ang isang video, a video greetings from ate. Ang kaninang naluluhang si mommy ay tuluyan nang humagulhol, si daddy naman ay papahid-pahid na ng mata na siguro’y pinipigilan din ang pagluha.

Never thought that we will become this emotional tonight, para bang nasa abroad si ate at miss na miss na namin. But they will never know the pain, sanay kasi kaming magkakasama palagi kaya ganito na lang ang impact sa amin ngayon na nawala’y sa amin si ate. Ilang buwan na rin ang nakalipas na wala siya rito sa bahay.

“Keanne, tell everyone that I’m okay here. Greet them a Merry Merry Christmas...” panimula ni ate sa video. She was smiling but I can see the longing in her eyes, ramdam kong miss niya na rin kami.

“You have to make them happy tonight in behalf of ate, okay?” saad niya pa na parang kinakausap talaga si Keanne. “I’ll be home soon, I love you all!” she waves her hand and the video ended already.

“Umuwi ka na!” sigaw ni mommy habang umiiyak pa rin.

So I stood up and consoled her, niyakap ko rin ang ama ko na kanina pa tahimik. Dahil sa video na ‘yon ay medyo gumaan ang loob namin. At least we know she’s still thinking of us, that she’s safe and sound there. Hope she’ll be back soonest.

After greeting my family at exactly 12 midnight and giving them my gifts, I already tucked myself to bed. Gusto ko nang matulog pero binabagabag ako ng isa pang tao. I took my phone on my side table, my friends sent some greetings also. I replied to them one by one until I reached the last person who contact me days ago.

I was really trying to tap the call button but I’m hesitating that even my fingers were shaking because of...fear i guess? Takot na baka hindi sagutin o di kaya’y iba ang sumagot.

At the end, I just composed a ‘Merry Christmas’ message and sent it to him before turning off my phone.

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