UNTIL YOU : Hezekiah & China (Ongoing)

UNTIL YOU 6: Proposal

     Hezekiah allowed himself to sigh deeply out after a long time of standing before finally approaching his mother's tomb with a bouquet of flowers on hand.

     He gently grazed a palm over her cold tomb in an attempt to feel something like a warm motherly love.

"Anak, nakikita mo na si Mama? Alam mo na mag-tagalog? Naging good boy ba ang baby ko? Lagi bang sinusunod ang sinasabi ni Papa? Lagi bang maayos ang damit? Mataas ba ang grades ng Hezekiah ko? Top ba sa school? Bawal makipag-away? Anak paano kaya kung mag-basketball ka? Maging doctor ka para magamot mo si Papa mo kapag may sakit siya. May girlfriend ka na ba? Maganda? Ikakasal ka na ba?"

     Hezekiah smiled slightly because he could almost hear her jolly voice from her tomb, his mother bombarding him with some of the same questions that she had for him recorded 20 years ago.

     Dahil hindi kagaya ng iba wala siyang nakagisnang ina... A short video left by a dead person was all his 6 year old self had then. Until now all Hezekiah had was that video. Sa video lang siya nagkaroon ng ina. At gaya ng isang masunuring bata sa kanyang ina sinunod niya lahat ng sinabi ng mama niya. With a beautiful life robbed out of her, she deserved at least a perfect son, so he strived hard to become one.

     To Hezekiah, with the little memory he had with her... a soft brush of a mothers hand on his hair... a rain of kisses of goodnight on the face... and a loud and clear I love you in his tickly ears... Venice still was and will always be a perfect mother.

     He never once complained even if his eyes fell out from too much reading... never asking for anything because he didn't want his father to be worried about him... always obedient not once bending a rule, following orders throughout his life... Never Rallying. Never Divergent.

     "Kamusta Ma? Are you having great time up there?" Hezekiah smiled at the thought that up there the possibility that Venice was wreaking havoc was high. Sa kulit ng nanay niya malamang sakit ito sa ulo sa itaas.

     "Anak... 20 years from now... pwede ka nang mag-asawa. PUMILI ka ng mabuti ha? Ang ibig kong sabihin e 'yung babaeng kaya kang mahalin... Anak yung babaeng pang-habang buhay na sasamahan ka hindi gaya ng kay mama... Tandaan mo ha? Dapat hindi ka niya iiwan gaya ko...

P.S. Anak, isa pa... magdala ka ng kahit sinong babae dito sa puntod ko. Alam ko namang magiging kamuhka mo ang papa mo kaya siguradong madami kang maipapakilala sa akin. Makinig ka kasi importante ito. Ang unang matinong babaeng maglilinis ng puntod ni mama asawahin mo. Agad-agad. Hahaha!"

     Napawi ang ngiti ni Hezekiah ng muling maalala ang totoong pakay doon.

      Makinig ka kasi importante ito. Ang unang matinong babaeng maglilinis ng puntod ni mama asawahin mo. Her one last wish on the end of her video will finally be fulfilled.

     The statute of Venice's wish for Hezekiah was today.

     Napapikit si Hezekiah dahil biglang sumakit ang batok niya.

     His mother was right at one thing... He had women falling for his charms but no one tried to touch his mother's tomb. For years he really tried to bring someone over but alas all of them failed.