The Rising Sun

Chapter 11

It was the day of Auntie Elena and Uncle Koji's wake. A Japanese wake is called tsuya: "passing the night".

All funeral guests wear black: men wear black suits with white shirts and black ties, and women wear either black dresses or black kimonos.

The guests are seated, with the immediate relatives seated closest to the front.

Takeshi Onizuka Soryo sees Charmaine sitting in front. He decided to be seated near to the woman that he secretly loves. Takeshi knows that she needs someone beside her.

She remained quiet the whole time, and Takeshi was worried for her. She keeps on staring at the pictures of her Uncle and Auntie.

Tears flow from her eyes. She immediately wiped it upon seeing him, sitting beside her.

"Charmaine, are you okay?", he asked while holding her hand.

She sniffed from her handkerchief and gave him a nod. "I'm okay.", she answered.

"Have you eaten anything?"

"Not yet..."

"But, you have to.."

"Yes. Maybe later."

"Okay, good. I'll ask Aunt Ayako to prepare your food."

She gave him a smile but still, he could feel the pain inside her. "Thank you, Takeshi.", she said.

A few minutes later, the Buddhist priest then chants a section from a sutra: a Buddhist Scripture. Charmaine, as the only family member offered incense three times to the incense urn in front of the deceased.

At the same time, the assembled guests performed the same ritual at another location behind the family members' seats.

Each departing guest was given a gift, which has a value of about half or one-quarter of the condolence money received from the guest. The closest relatives stayed and keep vigil with the deceased overnight in the same room.

Takeshi approached Che Che, her friend. He found out that she will be staying with Charmaine for tonight. He felt relieved. Ryu arrived and handed him a letter. He asked his cousin to get it for him.

It was a letter for Charmaine from her Auntie Elena. He remembered how she gave it to him, a few days before she and Uncle Koji died.

***flashback***

"Soryo, I would like to ask you a favor."

"What is it, Auntie?"

She handed him a letter wrapped in a white envelope. "What's this?", he asked her.

"If anything happens to me and my husband, please give this to Charmaine.", she pleaded while handing him the letter.

"What are you talking about, Auntie? Please, don't say that."

"We don't know what will happen in the future, Soryo. We just want Charmaine to be safe."

"She will be safe. You are all safe. I will do everything to protect you."

Suddenly, Auntie Elena kneeled in front of him. Takeshi was surprised.

"Please, don't do this Auntie Elena.", he begged as he assisted her to stand up.

"Soryo, please promise me. If anything happens to me and to my husband...please take care of Charmaine..."

"But, Auntie..."

"Please, Soryo. She has no one left, except us. She will be all alone if something happens to us. Please, promise me that you would take care of Charmaine and give this letter to her."

"Okay, Auntie. I promise. I will give her this letter, and I will take care of her."

"Thank you very much, Soryo. You're the only one that we can depend on for Charmaine. Thank you very much.", she said while bowing her head.

***end of flashback***

Kanina pa siya pinipilit ng kaibigang si Che che para kumain. Pero, kahit anong gawin ni Charmaine ay wala talaga siyang gana. Hindi siya makatulog. Gulong gulo ang isip niya dahil sa mga nangyari.

Sa totoo lang, ay pakiramdam niya na tila isang napakasamang bangungot ang lahat.

Gusto niyang magising pero tila ba kasalukuyan siyang naka kulong sa mundo na puno ng kalungkutan. Lahat ng sakit na naramdaman niya noong namatay ang mga magulang niya, ay muling nanumbalik sa puso at isip ni Charmaine.

Dahil kagaya ng Uncle at Auntie niya, pinatay din ang mga ito habang nasa school siya. Wala na silang buhay nang madatnan niya ang mga ito sa kanilang tahanan.

"Bes, kumain ka naman oh.", pakiusap ng kaibigan sa kanya.

"Sorry talaga bes. Wala talaga akong gana eh."

"Pero bes, kagabi ka pa 'di kumakain. Gusto mo bang magkasakit ha?"

"Mamaya nalang siguro bes."

"Alam mo...sa tingin mo ba matutuwa si Auntie Elena at Uncle Koji na nakikita ka nilang ganyan?"

"Pero kasi bes...ang sakit sakit kasi eh.", sabi niya dito na umiiyak.

"Alam ko. Masakit din naman sa 'kin eh. Parang pangalawang magulang ko na sina Auntie Elena at Uncle Koji. Hindi lang naman ikaw ang nasasaktan dito. Pati din kami na nagmamahal sa kanila."

"Ang daya daya nila, 'di ba? Sabi nila sa 'kin, aalagaan nila ako. Hindi nila ako iiwan. Pero bakit ganun? Lahat ng mga mahal ko sa buhay, nawawala sa 'kin? Bigla nalang silang kinukuha sa 'kin. Ba't ganun bes? Anong ginawa ko? Hindi naman ako masamang tao, 'di ba?"

Niyakap siya ni Che che. Marahil ay nararamdaman nito ang bigat ng nararamdaman niya.

"Bes, minsan nangyayari ang mga bagay bagay sa buhay natin dahil may dahilan ang mga ito. Hindi man natin maiintindihan sa ngayon, pero dadating ang panahon na magiging maliwanag din ang lahat."

"Bes, natatakot ako. Mag isa nalang ako ngayon dito. Anong gagawin ko?"

"Wag kang matakot. Hindi ka nag iisa. Andito kami para sa 'yo. Kami nila Mommy at Daddy, pati na din 'yung mga staff niyo sa flower shop. Hindi ka namin iiwan."

Maya maya ay dumating si Takeshi. Kumalas siya mula sa pagkakayakap sa kaibigan.

"Umph, can I talk to you Charmaine?"

"Yes..."

Umalis muna si Che che upang makipag usap silang dalawa. Sa totoo lang, ay humanga siya kay Takeshi. Kailanman ay hindi ito nawala sa tabi niya simula ng nangyari ang krimen hanggang ngayon.

Lagi siya nitong tinatanong kung nasa maayos ba ang kanyang kalagayan, kung kumain na ba siya, o di kaya ay nakatulog ba siya ng maayos. Umupo ito sa tabi niya. May napansin siyang isang white envelop na hawak nito sa kanang kamay.

"Charmaine, I have something to give you.", he said while handing her the letter.

"What's this, Takeshi?"

"It's a letter from your Auntie Elena. She gave it to me a few days ago, before they died. She said that if anything happens to her and Uncle Koji, I would give this to you."

Dahan dahan na binuksan ni Charmaine ang sulat ng Auntie Elena niya. Napaluha siya dahil sa nilalaman nito. Nakatingin lang sa kanya si Takeshi. Punong puno ng pagmamahal ang sulat na binabasa niya.

Minamahal kong Charmaine,

Marahil habang binabasa mo ito ay wala na ako, o 'di kaya kami ng Uncle Koji mo sa iyong tabi. Wag kang malungkot, Mahal ko. Wag kang magalit sa mundo. Nais kong sabihin sa 'yo na mahal na mahal ka namin ng higit pa sa isang pamangkin. Mula noon pa man, ay itinuring ka na namin na parang isang tunay na anak. You are a blessing to us, my dear. Patawarin mo kami kung mayroon man kaming pagkukulang sa 'yo, anak. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng pagmamahal at masasayang alala na ibinigay mo sa amin. Pinaramdam mo sa amin na isa tayong pamilya.

Anak, nais naming ipagpatuloy mo ang iyong buhay. Ipinapakiusap namin sa 'yo na manatili ka dito sa Japan... sa pangangalaga ni Takeshi Onizuka Soryo. Nais kong manatili ka sa tabi niya. Wag kang hihiwalay sa kanya, kahit kailan. Siya at ang pamilya niya na lamang ang aming pinagkakatiwalaan sa ngayon. Wag na wag kang uuwi ng Pilipinas. Mas magiging kampante kami na nasa pangangalaga ka ni Takeshi. Alam kong mahal ka niya. At alam ko din na aalagaan ka niya.

Charmaine, mahal na mahal ka namin. Wag ka nang malungkot. Palagi lang kaming nasa tabi mo. Gagabayan ka namin sa lahat ng oras. Hindi ka nag iisa. Palagi mong iingatan ang sarili mo. Alam namin na kayang kaya mo ang lahat ng pagsubok. Matatag at malakas ka. Tandaan mo 'yan. Paalam na muna sa ngayon, mahal naming Charmaine.

To Takeshi Onizuka Soryo, please take care of Charmaine for us. Don't let her out of your sight. We beg you. We are giving you the authority to look after her, from now on. Thank you very much for everything. We love you, Takeshi.

Love,

Uncle Koji and Auntie Elena

Saglit na pinunasan ni Charmaine ang mga luha sa mga mata niya. Ipinagkatiwala na siya ng Uncle at Auntie niya sa pangangalaga ni Takeshi. Nalilito parin si Charmaine. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang gagawin niya sa ngayon.

"What does she say?"

Charmaine handed him the letter. She gave him the permission to read it. Takeshi didn't understand the first part of the letter because it is written in Tagalog. But, his heart almost sank when he read the last part. It was for him.

The word, "I love you". Takeshi grew up in an unexpressive environment. His parents were all busy with the business. They never heard them said that they loved him.

Now, he understands why Auntie Elena make him promised that he would take care of Charmaine if something happens to them. They loved her that much, like a precious gem. They wanted her to be safe and secure, and he understands their intention.

"So, what do you say Charmaine?"

"I don't know, Takeshi. I can't decide for now."

She holds her hand tight, "Don't worry. I'm here for you. From now, I will take care of you as what I've promised with Auntie Elena.", he said to her in assurance.

"I feel so lost...and...alone."

"You will never be alone. I promise. I'll protect you to the very best."

She nodded. Takeshi promised to himself that he would take care of Charmaine, more than just fulfilling his promise.

But because he loves her, and he will do everything to love and protect the woman that he loves, wether in life and in death.