Midnight Breeze (Chasing Dreams Series #3) | C O M P L E T E D

Prologue

The rain kept pouring down and when our car stopped, I thought we're not going to make it. A man appeared out of nowhere and knocked on the driver's window. He was crying and my mother assumed that we found another survivor of the typhoon.

Our driver, Rudy, rolled the window down. "Manong! Ayos ka lang ba?" he asked.

I peeked on the window at my side to see what the estranged man looked like, but due to the heavy rain, I wasn't able to see his face properly.

"Saan daw siya pupunta? Tinangay ba ng baha? Pasakayin mo, Rudy!" Mommy sounded so worried.

Nag-thumbs up si Kuya Rudy at tumunog ang lock ng mga pinto. Bigla na lang bumukas ang pinto sa tabi ko kaya kusa akong umusog papunta kay Mommy para makaupo 'yung lalaki. Pinagmasdan ko ang unti-unting pagtulo ng tubig mula sa upuan pababa sa sahig. Muling umandar ang sasakyan. Sumandal ako at tiniis na lang ang 'di kaaya-ayang amoy ng bagong pasahero.

"Manong, napano ka? Kumain ka na ba? Saan ka pupunta? Nasaan ang pamilya mo?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Mommy.

Sa halip na sumagot ay mas lalo lamang humagulhol ang lalaki. Dinampot ko 'yung bote ng mineral water sa harapan at inalok iyon sa lalaki.

Tiningnan niya ng matalim 'yung bote. "Maibabalik ba niyan ang buhay ng mag-iina ko?!"

Kumalabog ang dibdib ko sa lakas ng kanyang sigaw. I was just trying to comfort him, but I wouldn't blame him for that. I don't know what it feels like to lose someone I love, but it makes me feel sad to see him like this.

"Condolence po..." yumuko ako at marahan kong ibinalik ang bote sa lalagyan niyon.

My mother held my hand tightly as she looked at the man with the same expression like mine. "Ikinalulungkot po namin ang nangyari at nais kong ipahatid sa 'yo ang aming pakikiramay. Papunta po kami sa Kapitolyo at naroon ang labi ng mga...nasawi. Baka natagpuan na ang mag-iina mo... Tanggapin mo sana ang tulong pinansyal para sa—"

Sininghalan ng lalaki si Mommy. "Tulong pinansyal? Hindi ba kayo namimili ng oras? Gagamitin niyo talagang dahilan ang kalamidad na ito para bumango ang pangalan niyo?"

I clenched my right fist. My mother looked offended that she couldn't even meet the gaze of the man. She really meant what she said; she just wanted to help him, but instead of being thankful, he used her words against her. But then again, I truly understand where he's coming from...

Minutes of silence had passed and we finally arrived at our destination. The man went off the car without looking back or saying a word.

Inayos ni Mommy ang nakatakas na hibla ng aking buhok. "Hayaan na natin, anak. Intindihin na lang natin ang kanyang sitwasyon. But keep in mind that he didn't mean what he said, okay?"

Tumango ako. "I know, Mommy. I know that I shouldn't take it out on him just because we were offended..."

Kumapit ako sa braso niya. Tahimik kaming lumapit sa tatlong malalaking tent na itinayo sa loob ng complex ng Laguna Provincial Capitol sa Sta. Cruz para sa pamimigay ng relief goods na pinangungunahan ni Daddy at ng dalawang kapatid ko.

"There they are..." ani Mommy at 'agad akong inakay sa kinaroroonan nina Daddy.

Binulungan ng bodyguard na si Mang Balmo si Daddy at inginuso kami. Dati siyang sundalo at ngayo'y tumatayong bodyguard ni Daddy. Then we quickly approached their table and I gave my father a tight hug after not being able to see him for almost six months.

"How's my baby? Look at you! Big girl ka na talaga! Sana sa bahay na lang kayo tumuloy ng Mommy mo," aniya at ipinakilala ako sa ilang government officials.