Along the Avenue

KABANATA VII

I was amazed by my mom's friends, employees and constituents. Almost every single one of them paid their respect and goodbyes here at their funeral. Mabuti pa nga sila eh naalala nila yung mga kabutihan ng mommy ko, di gaya nung 'asawa' niya malapit na lang silang ilibing pero aba parang kung saang planeta pa nagsusuot kasi hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin siya mahanap. No sign of him since the day of that accident, tanggap ko naman eh na wala siyang pake kay mommy pero ano yun kahit man lang si Sheena hindi niya mabigyan ng kahit na konting atensyon?

"Mga apo I know this isn't the right timing but we already have an update on the accident. Do you wanna know what it is?"

I know that lolo Samuel (mom's father) is really exhausted but I don't wanna hear anything about that muna. I want a peaceful funeral for them muna kung pwede. "Lolo, can we talk about it the day after tomorrow? Pagkatapos po ng libing nila please just let me and my brother mourn for now because this will be the last time we'll saw them"

"We understand, General?"

"Of course but hija, hijo I hope you don't mind having a police escorts habang hindi pa natin na-so-solve ang lahat"

"Opo, sige po payag ako at isa pa po pala if you seen my dad can you please don't let him in here please ninong…"

I pleaded with my godfather. Ayoko nang makita pa si papa he's always like this eh, missing in action at ayoko siyang makita!

"I agree General, I hope both of you understands"

He said towards Granny and Lolo Cal both of them just nod as mommy's father he has that right kasi una pa lang naman eh he doesn't accept my father as the perfect candidate for my mom but dahil nakiusap si mom pumayag for our sake. He's a single father kasi iniwan siya ni Mamita Sherrie for someone and mom chose to stay with him kaya naiintindihan ko siya. And speaking of Mamita Sherrie tinawagan niya ako kanina she said she's on her way here na daw from Mexico kaya masaya ako kahit papaano Mommy would see her mother for the last time and Mamita will see her favorite granddaughter Sheena kasi si Sheen lang kasi ang nagmana sa kanya eh. Sheena's passion for music is just like our grandmother bagay na wala ako.

*The last day of the Funeral*

I didn't expect that this day would happen this soon. The last day of their funeral. And the worst is ngayon pa na malapit na sana kaming mag debut ni Kambal. Bata pa lang kami pinaghahandaan na namin yun eh pero ngayon na mag-isa na lang ako? Ayoko na, ayoko nang i-celebrate pa ang araw at sana kung maari wag na lang yun dumating.

I can't imagine how many times I've fainted because of this and until now our so-called father is still nowhere to be found at sana nga wag na siyang bumalik pa. We decided na cremated ashes nina mommy and Sheena ang ililibing dito at dahil wala akong lakas ang grandparents namin ang nag-aasikaso ng lahat. My brother and me also decided na maglakad lakad muna habang hinihintay silang matapos at hindi ko inaasahang makikita namin ang taong ito dito. Wow ah just wow ah kapal ng pagmumukha niyang magpakita ah.

"Mga anak…"

Panimula niya but we ignored him like we didn't see or hear anyone calling us. "I know you're mad at me and I am sorry for that I was in shock after hearing the news at huli na ang lahat nang mala—"

"Wow just wow dad, na shock din naman kaming lahat ah I almost lost ate Shanice pa nga while ate Sheena is on the operating room at hindi naman siya dapat mawawala kung dumating ka lang sana para sa ate ko"

"..."

Vincent lashed towards our father. Left him speechless but he decided to stay with my side kasi alam niya na anytime pwede akong sumabog sa galit pinipigilan ko lang talaga kasi ayokong himatayin na naman ako. "Ano di ka makapagsalita ha papa? Ilang beses kitang tinawagan, we've texted you loads of times but you ignored all of that kasi masaya ka na ngayong wala na si Mommy pwede mo nang magawa ang lahat ng hindi mo magawa noong buhay pa di ba?"