The Last Wish

Hometown

The trees are swaying as the wind blowing. Some children are playing in the streets and some are flying the kite. I smile. My hometown. I walk along in the rice field. I saw our neighborhood waving at me. There, my father is sitting on our bamboo chair and my mother is busy watering her plants. They were surprised. I hugged them.

"My child," my father said and hugged me tightly and my mother did the same thing.

"I miss you, my child. You look slender now. What happened to you? Have you eaten? I told you to go home here. Nobody takes care of you there." Mom said worriedly.

"Mom, I fine. Don't worry too much about me. I am strong like a cow." I said trying not to c***k my voice.

I am afraid to tell them the truth. I can't. How can I? I don't want to appease that smile to them.

The table was filled with sumptuous foods. Everything is my favorite. Buttered Shrimps, crabs, vegetable salads, pineapple my favorite fruit.

Mom put food on my plate.

"You have to eat that. Don't say no," she said.

"Mom, where is kuya Chester?" I asked (kuya- is an endearment for older brother)

"He is at the other barangay. But don't worry he will go home this evening.

I went to our hammock under the trees. The birds are chirping as the wind blowing. Butterflies are flying in our flower garden as they smelled the fragrance of different flowers. Some are enjoying sipping the nectar of sweet Santan. I was swaying slowly the hammock until I fell asleep.

I was awakened by the tickle of the fur from Minchin, my white fur cat.

" Hello, Minchin. I miss you." I said and carried my cat. She laid on my lap.

In the evening, Mom cooked for our dinner. I helped to chop the ingredients for Menudo. It is one of my favorites food she prepared. I felt dizzy but I hold the chair to support me. Mom furrowed while looking at me. She asked me in a sweet voice.

"Are you alright, my dear?" she said

"Yes, Mom. I just felt dizzy but I am alright." I replied.

"Get a rest first. I'll just call you if the dinner is ready. Maybe your kuya will go home later. I know you are tired from the travel." she said.

"I'm fine, Mom." I protest.

"No. You are not," she said. I didn't have a choice was to follow her. I have to drink the medicine. I hurriedly went to my room and find my medicine and drink it immediately. I was too bewildered to tell my mom and my family about my situation. I don't want them to worry about me.

I hold our family portrait. We were happy and complete but everything was changed when something had happened in the past. It caused too much turmoil in our family. It took us years to recover from the tragedy.

A knocked on the door awakened me from reminiscing the bad memories that we had in our family. It's my kuya who opened the door and smile at me. He is tall, dark, and handsome in his chocolate brown eyes, his hair is blond which perfectly suits him. I ran on him and hugged him tightly.

"Baby princess," he said and chuckled.

"Kuya, I am not a baby anymore. I am big now. Don't call me baby." I said and pout. He pinched my cheeks.

"You are still my baby princess. my little sister," he said."I'm glad you went home. We miss you a lot." he added.

"Of course. I miss you too big bro.hahaha." I replied.

"Everything is ready. Let's eat. Mom told me to call you up so that we can eat now." he said.

"Okay," I said and rode his back. He just chuckled. He used to it. He often carries me in his back when we were still young.

"You are still the same. My skinny little sister," he said.

As often, Mom serves sumptuous and delicious food on our dining table. I enjoyed eating the Pork Menudo and dried fish dipped in spicy vinegar. Kuya Chester put a lot of food on my plate.

" Eat a lot so that you will become big.hahaha." he said

"Kuyaaaaaa," I exclaimed.

They just laughed at me. It's been a year since I went home here. As much as possible, they want me to stay here but I can't. I know they understand me. They tried to understand me because of what happened.

"How many days do you want to stay here, Meana?" Kuya Chester asked. I froze. "Sorry," he said immediately.

"Maybe a week kuya," I replied

"Good. I'll file a leave so that I can have so much time to bond with you," he said and continue eating.

"Thanks, kuya."

I presented myself to wash the dishes so that Mom can take a rest.

Afterward, I went outside to look up at Sky. I saw kuya sitting in the bamboo chair and looking up at the sky. I sit beside him.

"Kuya," I said

"Hmmm" he hummed

"Do you think she is looking at us now? Do you think she is one of the stars?" I said

"Maybe. " Kuya replied uncertainly.

"I miss her kuya," I said

He sighed deeply "It's my fault." he said in a whisper

"Don't say that kuya. We know that it is my fault as well. You tried your best. If I am not _______"

"Sssh. Don't ever blame yourself, little sis. If I was strong enough that time maybe I could save you both." he said

"Did you ever regret saving me kuya?" I asked

"Of course not Princess," he replied immediately. " We should not talk about it, Princess. Get inside now because it's getting colder," he said.

"I wanna stay here for a while, I replied.

I looked up at the sky. I was staring at the stars who shine effulgently.

" Look, Meanna. The stars shine brightly. They are awesome. I wanna reach them. Do you love it? " she said in her sweet melodic voice. She has a thick eyebrow, long lashes, rounded- dark brown eyes, ruby lips, long curly hair. She has the sweetest smile as well. We were sitting under the big tree outside our house.

"They are magnificent," I replied and my eyes were twinkled.

"Indeed. Someday, I got a job. We will tour around the world and go to the best place for stargazing like in Nevada. What do you think so?" She said enthusiastically

"Yehey. You, Dad, Mom, and I." I exclaimed happily and clapped my hands. We smile at each other.

I haven't notice that I cried because of the memories that I remember.

Kuya hugged me and try to calm me down. Then, I fell asleep.