Gavin's After Life | On-Going | Under Edition

Gavin's After Life 33.

[2 years after Gavin's death]

Dad promised me to give me everything I wish on my graduation day. May sapat na ipon na daw siya since then, kaya kahit ano na gusto ko kaya niyang ibigay.

Nahihiya ako, syempre pinag-aral na nila ako, tapos darating pa sa puntong ibibigay niya ang lahat ng gusto ko, pero I thought of a place, sa panaginip ko, 2years after Gavin's death, irerenovate ang sementeryo kung san siya nakalibing.

Naisip kong, bakit kaya hindi nalang ako ang magrenovate nun, I will make that place into a memorial museum. I just need to have some investors para masimulan ang building.

"This will sound ridiculous, and selfish, but I want to have the place where Gavin was buried." I told Dad.

"Are you sure about that Sweetheart? What will you after, then?" Tanong niya.

"I'm planning to make a memorial museum for Gavin, kasi naisip ko na kapag may mga youth and young teens na pumunta sa museum na yun, and if ever they'll see some of Gavin's words, I think they'll be inspired." I answered.

"It's not a selfish thought sweetheart, your wish is granted." He answered.

I hugged him, I didn't pay attention to what he just said. I thought sinabi niyang "Your wish is granted" kasi bibilhin niya na. And saka lang nag sink in sa akin. It's already granted. Kumawala ako sa pagkakayakap kay Dad, at tumingin sa likod.

There was Mom, she's holding some kind of envelope, and a huge smile was pasted on her face. She handed me the envelope, at inabot ko ito without knowing what could be inside.

Nanginginig pa ang kamay ko sa pag bukad nito, there were papers. Some kind of important papers. My tears were flowing down in my cheek, without even realizing it.

"How was that as a Graduation gift, sweetheart? Hindi ko ibinigay sayo last time, thinking na hindi mo magugustuhan." Mom said.

I just cried and hugged her. Lumapit naman si Dad at nag group hug kami. I can't believe this, nasa plano ko palang, pero parang nabasa na agad nila ang isip ko.

Ang papers na ibinigay is ang mga titulo ng lupa kung saan ang puntod ni Gavin. Hindi parin ako makapaniwala, kaya't tiningnan ko pa ng maigi ang papel na hawak ko, at totoong titulo ito ng lupa. Sinampal ko pa ang sarili ko. Baka kasi tulog pa ako. Pero totoo nga.

"Totoo ang lahat ng yan sweetheart, hindi ka nanahinip." Mom said, as if reading my thoughts.

Tumingala lang ako, and saw their beautiful faces with a beautiful smile. Napansin ko si Nana na sobrang saya sa nangyayare, mula noon hanggang ngayon, wala siyang ibang hinangad kundi ang mabuo kami ulit, kaya hindi siya umalis sa tabi namin. It's like a dream come true for her, seems like she achieved her very goal.

Habang nakatingin ako kay Nana, hindi ko namalayan na may inabot pa sa akin si Dad. It's a small envelope, pero sobrang nipis nito, nang inabot ko, there was a book-like figure inside, and a hard card-like object.

"Here's another present. I looking forward for your success sweetheart. Buti naman at may maganda kang plano, with that thing, you can start your own business, or build the museum you wanted. Or study arts, like you used to be dreaming of." Dad said.

Binuksan ko ang sobre na hawak ko. At bumungad sa akin ang Card at bank book. Kinuha ko ito at binuksan, nanlaki ang mata ko sa nakita.

"That's a savings with your name as a owner. Sana makatulong sa'yo yan." Dugtong pa ni Dad

"Don't you think it's too much, Dad? Baka wala na pong natira sainyo?" I asked, amused

"In giving, there is no thing such as too much. Especially kung ibibigay mo ito sa taong mahalaga sa buhay mo. Matanda na kami ng Mom mo, ilang taon mula ngayon, we'll retire  from our works. May pension kami, kaya don't worry about us, okay?" Mom answered while holding my cheeks.

I hugged them again, hindi ko alam na after all this years, kinabukasan ko parin ang iniisip nila. Nung mga oras na akala ko, kinalimutan na nila ako, they were dying to work just for me.

Hindi ko kayo bibiguin. I promise na ang gagawin kong bagong museum ay hindi lang dadaanan ng mga kabataan, kundi ito ang isa mga dahilan kung bakit patuloy silang mabubuhay. Millennials now a days, agad sumusuko sa kaunting problema lang, I promise that they'll be inspired, and this project will be a big help for them.

-

Umakyat ako sa kwarto, dala-dala ko ang mga papers na binigay sa akin nina Mom and Dad. Hindi parin ako makapaniwala hanggang ngayon, nasa kamay ko na ang lahat, all I need is confidence and a brave heart right now.

One year ago, na tackle ko na kay Pia ang tunkol sa project na ito. At sinabi niya iyon sa harap ng Arcadians and they all agreed to the idea.

Nangako kaming mag-iipon ng sapat na funds after four years, saka namin gagawin ang plano. But with this papers in my hand, and this money on my bank account, I think di na kailangan umabot pa ng four years ang pag hahanda. So I called Pia for this great news.

"Are you serious?!" She exclaimed.

"Yeah, A year ago they already with the land owner, at thankfully few months ago, pumayag na siya. And here I am now, holding the title for the land. I just need to start the building, or post some construction plans online and look for an investor."

"Pero wala pa tayong sapat na ipon for that Isabelle." She worriedly said.

"Guess what, Mom and Dad gave me another graduation present. A bank account, and meron sapat na fund para masimulan ang construction."

"When you say enough, how much was it exactly?" She again asked.

"10M. I know na kulang to, but I will pray na may magkakaroon ng interest kapag na post ko na ito online."

"The Arcadians are always here for you, Isabelle."

-

Pinagawa ko na ang blueprint ng building. And even transacted with an engineer for the plan, he liked the Idea so much. Kaya I provided the primary needs for the construction. At sa primary needs palang ng construction, I think kukulangan na ang 10M.

Sinimulan nila sa pagbubunkal ng lupa. At pina-flat ang paligid, para maging posible na ang building.

"The Grave with an encrypted name of Gavin Javier Nicholo Delos Reyes, wag niyong isama sa pagbubunkal. This project is dedicated to him, I wanted to have a memorial museum under his memories." I told the Engineer.

Napangiti ang engineer sa sinabi ko, at mukhang mas lalo pa siyang na inspired. Maingat silang nagbunkal ng lupa, maging ang mga construction workers ay mukhang na inspired sa idea.

"Because of you love for him, hindi mo makalimutan ang mga sinabi niya, because that's what made you live? At gusto mong ibahagi ang inspiring words niya sa mundo? What a bright Idea. Kaawaan ka nawa." The Engineer said.

Kilala ba niya ako? Pano niya nalaman ang mga bagay na yun? Or have he been on such a situation like this? Kung ano pa man yun. Mas lalo akong naging motivated sa gagawin dahil sa mga sinabi niya.

I took a picture of the place, I posted it online. Alam kong kulang ang pera na meron ako, pero I know na merong taong magkaka interes sa project na ito. And After a short while, a message popped up on my laptop scree. This is it. Or is this it?

****

Author's Note: So ayun. What can you say about Isabelle's Idea? Let me hear your feedbacks. Hehe.

Kamsa!