Regrets are Always at the End

Kabanata 11

Ganella's POV

"Please tell me hindi kay Gizelle ang katawan nakita niyo," sabi ni mama sa mga imbestigador. She was crying. Well, who wouldn't? Namatayan siya ng anak. Kahit na itinuring niya ito na bagay, I'm sure she cared for Gizelle.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Alcante," sabi nung isa. "Pero nag-positive po sa DNA test ang flesh na nakuha namin sa bankgay."

"No! Hindi pwede yun," mom screamed. "She can't die! Kakakasal lang niya kay Sean. Hindi siya pwede mamatay. Wala pa silang anak dalawa. Walang tutuloy sa Montemayor-Alcante."

"WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP IT, MA?!" sigaw ko sa kanya. I was mad, like really mad. Ganun lang ba talaga tingin niya kay Gizelle? Isang bagay? Tumingin sakin sila mama and papa, with puzzled faces. Huminga ako ng malalim bago aklo nagsalita. "Hindi gamit si Gizelle, okay? Tao siya. She has feelings, too! Kaya pwede ba, tumigil ka na sa pagiging desperada mo sa pagkakaroon ng good business relationship with the Montemayor? She is your f*kcing daughter, not a toy to play with."

Mas humagulgol si mama sa sinabi ko sa kanya. I didn't know kung umiiyak ba siya kasi nasaktan siya sa mga sinabi ko, o dahil natauhan siya sa mga ginawa niya kay Gizelle? Nilapitan ako ni Jason at saka niyakap. Hindi ko namalayan na umiiyak na pala ako. It felt so surreal. It felt like a dream.

"Wala na siya, love. Wala na si Gizelle," bulong ko kay Jason at mas umiyak pa. I felt his hug tighten, kaya niyakap ko na rin siya. He was crying, I know. His shoulders were shaking. We just lost someone dear to us.

"How will we tell Sean?" tanong ni Jason sakin. "For sure hindi niya matatanggap ang balitang ito. I know he loves Gizelle. Hindi lang niya maamin."

Humiwalay ako sa yakap ni Jason at hinawakan yung kamay niya. "I don't know. Pero alam kong hindi siya makakauwi sa libing ni Gizelle dahil sa problema sa kompanya nila."

"Sige, ako na ang iisip ng paraan," alok ni Jason. "You better rest tonight. I'm sure tomorrow's going to be a tiring day for everyone." He kissed me on the forehead and held my hand.

Nilapitan namin sila papa at nagpaalam. I told them that they should go home pero they decided to stay. Sila na lang daw ang bahala sa lamay ni Gizelle. I kissed both of them goodbye at nagpaalam na rin kanila Myrick. Pero hindi kumibo si Myrick. Kaya niyakap ko siya ng sobrang higpit.

"W-wal-wala n-na s-si b-bu-bunso," utal-utal niyang sabi. I felt tears form in my eyes nung nagsimula ng umiyak si Myrick. My brother never cried, not even once. Not even when he was hurt, or he sprained his foot, or when he got burned. He never cried, not until tonight. "Wala na si bunso, ate. Wala na siya."

"I know, Myrick," sabi ko sa kanya. Humiwalay ako sa yakap at saka tiningnan ko siya sa mata. "Pero we both know she's in a better place na, diba? A place na hinding hindi na siya masasaktan ng kahit ano. So we have to be strong for her. I'm sure that's what she wants, right?"

Hindi kinayang magsalita ni Myrick kaya tumango na lang siya. I hugged Shaira at saka ipinagbilin si Myrick sa kanya. Shaira was also teary-eyed. Kahit na hindi sila masyadong nagkapag-bonding ni Gizelle, I'm sure minahal na rin niya eto. Palabas na kami ng ospital ni Jason. And to be honest, I was walking like a zombie. Naramdaman ko yung paghawak ni Jason sa kamay ko. I glanced up to him, and saw his smiling face. I gave him a faint smile at niyakap siya.

The whole ride home, nakatingin lang ako sa labas ng bintana. Hindi pa rin sumisink in sa utak ko na wala na si Gizelle. Why did she need to die so young? Hindi pa nga niya naaabot yung mga pangarap niya for herself. She wanted to do a lot of things. She wanted to make mama and papa proud. She wanted me to be proud of her. But little did she know, I was already very proud of her.