My Little Moon - 𝗂𝗋𝖾𝗇𝖾 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝖼𝗈𝗌

00. prologue

Napakaganda ng buwan. If only people realized that.

It waits for its own moment to shine, at kung sakali na dadating na yung sikat ng araw, it hides beneath the light. But it never disappears. Nan-diyan lang 'yan kapag oras na muli niyang magpakita.

Pero bakit ganon?

Bakit kung sakali kailangan na siya, hindi siya nagpa-pakita? Parang bigla na lang tuloy siya nawala.

Ang sakit.

Irene sat on the floor, her hands clutching a piece of old, crumpled up photo. Hindi na niya napigilan ang kaniyang mga luha, they caressed her cheeks gently as they trickled down her chin.

'Miss na miss na kita,' she thought. She kept staring at the one and only picture she have left of her daughter.

'Bakit ba at nangyari pa 'yon?' No matter how many times everyone told her it wasn't her fault, she still blamed herself.

Napatigil na lang siya nung narinig niyang may kumakatok sa pintuan. Dali-dali niyang pinahid ang luha niya at nag-ayos ng kaniyang sarili. "Pasok. . ." ang mahina niyang wika.

The shuffling of feet can be heard before Imee emerged in front of her sister. "Hindi ako tatagal, may sasabihin lang ako sayo—"

Imee suddenly stopped. She noticed the fresh tears on her sister's face at bigla na lang siya nag-alala. "—umiiyak ka na naman ba?"

Irene could only nod in response before bursting into another set of tears yet again. Agad-agad naman umupo si Imee sa tabi niya at hinaplos yung likod ng kapatid niya.

"Tungkol na naman ba 'to sa anak mo?"

Imee felt Irene nod against her shoulder.

She sighed, "ading. . .it's been twelve years."

"Ganun na nga Manang. It's been twelve years and yet wala pa din tayong alam kung buhay pa ba siya or what!"

Imee tried her best to calm her sister down, she whispered soothing words before facing her.

"Shh. . .'wag kang mag-salita ng ganyan. Buhay na buhay 'yon. Hindi 'yon magpapatalo. Marcos 'yon eh."

Irene didn't reply.

"Araw-araw dinadasal ko sa Diyos na makauwi na yung pamangkin ko, safe and sound." Imee continued, stroking her sister's hair while she quietly listened.

"Ang gusto ko lang naman is maka-kasama ko na siya dito. . ." bulong ni Irene, her sentence trailing off. "Am I asking for too much?"

Imee sharply sighed, "no you're not asking for too much. You're in pain, Irene. Hindi masama ang iyong pananabik sa bata. That's normal because you're grieving. And it's totally okay for you to feel that way."

"Trust me, ading. Maka-kasama natin siya," Imee reassured. She continued to stroke her sister's hair, wishing it would at least do its job of calming Irene down.

Irene could only nod before silence took over. She couldn't stop thinking about her daughter, kung okay lang ba siya or kung napa-ano. But, for the sake of her Manang, she stopped and thought about something positive instead.

"Nga pala, ano yung sasabihin mo sana sakin kanina?"

"Wala na, nakalimutan ko."

Irene softly chuckled, "ayan kasi. Tumatanda kana talaga."

"As if naman hindi ka sumusunod sa edad ko ah." Imee playfully rolled her eyes at her.

"Eto naman, binibiro lang eh."

"Bipolar kaba? Parang kanina ka lang humahagulgol sa sahig tapos ngayon nagbibiro-biruan kana?"

Irene slightly pouted. "Si ate naman, bipolar agad?"

They laughed, enjoying each other's company before Imee noticed Irene yawn.

"Oh, sige na. Matutulog na ako. Mag-pahinga kana din, I know all that crying made you tired." Imee gently removes her hand from her sister's shoulder, not before caressing it slightly for the last time.

"Salamat ate, ha?" Irene softly starts. "Salamat kasi andito ka palagi to make me feel better, kahit saglit lang. It means so much."

"Nako, wala 'yon. Trabaho ko 'yan bilang panganay. Irene just know that you're not suffering alone,okay? Lahat kami nandito para sayo, tandaan mo 'yan."

"I know ate."

They both exchanged smiles. "Goodnight, sweet dreams."

Imee waved goodbye and left. Leaving Irene inside her room alone. Her gaze lingered on the door before she turns to look away, just in time to see the moon outside her window.

"Goodnight, anak. Wherever you are."