Angel in Disguise

Kabanata 10

Fifteen years ago...

"Ali, give it to Riri!" Utos ng ate Alissa niya habang umiiyak si Riri dahil sa laruan na kinuha niya.

"They're so cute!" Tuwang tuwa si Alliah at Cassandra habang pinagmamasdan ang mga anak.

"Mom, look!" Tinuro ni Alissa ang pagbigay ni Ali ng laruan sa batang babae at pinicturan ito.

"Ang cute!"

Ali and Riri's mom are bestfriends kaya naman pati sila ay close noong mga bata pa. Riri born that has a heart complication kaya lahat ng taong nakapaligid rito ay iniintindi ang kalagayan niya. Ali and Riri are always together hanggang sa lumaki ang mga ito.

Ali treated Riri as a princess. As the time passes by he admitted to his self at a young age that he likes her. Bata pa lang ay si Riri na talaga ang gusto niya. Ayaw niya ng nakikitang umiiyak ito, he always care for her at alam niya kung kailan sila titigil sa paglalaro because he knows how sensitive Riri's heart is. Bawal itong mapagod.

At the age of six they become a part from each other. Riri and her parents went to America for her operation but unluckily she didn't survive the operation of heart transplant. She's too young to be gone in this world.

"Mom, are we going to see Riri there?" masayang tanong ng batang Ali na walang kaalam-alam sa nangyari.

"Yes, Ali..." nagdadalawang sagot ng Ate Alissa niya sabay tingin sa Nanay.

"Yeheeyyy!!" Hindi nila magawang sabihin kay Ali ang nangyari dahil nabigla rin sila ng marinig ang balita sa mismong Nanay ni Riri. Lalo na at ganoon pa ang reaksyon ng anak.

"Nariyan na ang Daddy niyo sa baba, halina kayo at baka maiwan tayo ng eroplano."

Nang makarating sila ng America ay dumiretso agad sila sa bahay nina Cassandra, Riri's mom.

A lot of people are crying. Nagtataka si Ali sa nakikita. Even his parents and his Ate Alissa are now crying.

When they entered the door of the mansion he run too fast until he stop at the white and gold thing where in Riri was sleeping peacefully.

Nilingon ni Ali ang mga magulang habang nagtataka. "Mama Cas, can you wake Riri now? We're gonna play!" Napailing na lang si Cassandra habang tumutulo ang luha. Lumuhod ito kapantay ni Ali at hinawakan ito sa balikat.

"Ali... Riri's now on heaven, anak..."

Kinusot ng batang lalaki ang mata at kumunot ang noo. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"She's gone. Hindi na natin siya makikita u-ulit, " her voice broke.

Little Ali cried even though he's not totally know what is happening around him. Hindi pa nagsi-synch-in sa bata ang nangyari sa kaibigan.

Binuhat ng ama si Ali at pinakita si Riri ng maayos.

"Look at her, she's pretty, right?" pag-aaliw nito sa anak na umiiyak na ng sobra.

Alister nodded immediately. "You like Riri, aren't you?" Tumango si Ali at kinusot ang mata.

"Why did she left us? Daddy, we're gonna play her doll. Even though barbie is for girls, I don't mind. I'm not gonna make her cry and tease again. Please, daddy wake her up..."

"She's gone, son. Because she can't take the pain anymore. She's too young..." malungkot na sagot ng ama.

"When I grow up, daddy... I'll look for her." Natawa ng bahagya ang ama.

"She's no longer here, Ali. She's in heaven already. How do you look for her?"

"She'll come back. She promise me yesterday!" Pasigaw na sabi nito.