Breathe My Angel

Chapter 26

"Atty Monteferrante! Congrats napanalo mo na naman ang kaso mo! May hindi ka pa ba kayang gawin?" Taurus greeted me as soon as I walked inside my office. 

Talagang sinusundan nila ako hanggang dito sa opisina ko? 

"Pare, tara celebrate tayo!"Aya ni Khyro.

I immediately shooked my head, "I can't it's her birthday today."

Napatigil naman silang dalawa, "Ay, oo nga pala ngayon iyon."

"Pakisabi happy birthday nalang. Next time nalang tayo mag celebrate"Khyro said and I nodded my head.

I walked out of my office at nag maneho na papunta sa pinakamalapit na mall. When I already parked my car, I went outside para pumasok sa loob ng mall. 

"Hi sir, how may I help you?" The sales lady asked when I went inside their store. 

Inikot ko ang paningin ko sa buong store hanggang sa makita ko kung ano ang hinahanap ko. I pointed the DSLR camera na nakadislpay. 

"I will get that." 

Agad na kinuha ng sales lady ang camera at pinakita sa akin, to check if there is any damage. Nang masigurado ko ng maayos ang buong camera, I brought out my card inside my wallet, at binigay sa sales lady. 

Once I got the camera with me, lumabas na ako ng store at nagtungo na sa parking lot. Habang nag mamaneho ako pauwi, I can't help myself but to think kung magugustuhan nya ba ang regalo ko sa kanya. 

"Hi love, happy birthday" I greeted her once I went inside the house. 

"I thought you're going home late today?"

I smiled at her, "No love, umuwi ako ng maaga because it's your birthday."

Bunaba ang tingin nya sa hawak kong paper bag, at napakunot ang noo nya doon, "What's that?" 

I handed her the paper bag, and she immediately open it. Agad na lumiwanag ang mukha nya habang tinitignan kung ano ang nasa loob non. 

"Thanks dad, you're the best!" Masayang sabi nya at niyakap ako, "Can we visit mom na?"

I stiffened after hearing what my daughter said. It's her birthday today, meaning it's also her death anniversary.

Ginulo ko ng bahagya ang buhok nya, "We're going to visit her tomorrow. It's already late." 

Tumango naman sya sa akin, "By the way, dad. Nag paluto ako ng simple dinner kay manang, or we're going to eat outside?" 

Nag baba ako ng tingin sa anak ko at hinalikan sya sa noo nya, "Do you want to eat outside?" 

Ngumuso sya at agad na umiling sa akin, "Sayang naman po ang pinaluto ko kay manang kung ganon." 

Napangiti ako sa sinabi ni Hilary. Mag mula pa noon, nakikita ko na kaugali nya si Hosea. Masyadong mabait, pero in a lowkey way. 

Just like her mom, she loves photography kaya naman sinusuportahan ko sya doon. Every year, laging bagong camera ang binibigay ko sa kanya, or yung request nya. I even enrolled her sa University kung saan may photography na subject. I'm not spoiling her, at marunong naman siya mag pahalaga sa mga bagay. 

I just want to satisfy her needs. 

Nag lakad kami papunta sa dining area at gaya nga ng sabi ng anak ko, it's plain and simple. May dalawang dish na nakahain, plain rice and some salad and tacos. Napangiti pa nga ako nang makita ko yung picture frame ni Hosea na nasa upuan. 

We sang a happy birthday song at nang hipan nya ang kandila, kinuhanan ko sya ng larawan sa phone ko. 

"Mommy! I'm 15 na!" Hillary said while she's kissing Hosea's picture frame. 

Natawa ako at binalik ang phone sa bulsa ng slacks ko, "Baby, stop it already, baka mamaya puro kiss mark si mommy sa taas" I teased her. 

Pinagsaluhan namin ang simpleng pagkain na hinanda ni manang. Hilary even asked manang to join us for dinner. 

"Dad?" Tawag sa akin ng anak ko habang paakyat ako sa staircase ng bahay. 

I looked at my daughter, "Yes? Do you need something?" 

She didn't say anything, but she handed me an old envelope, "I saw this po sa box kasama ng mga gamit ni mom, and it says our name po, so I got curious and opened it." 

Kunot noo kong tinanggap ang envelope na iyon. This is the same envelope ate Heaven gave me after Hosea died. Hindi ko inabala na buksan iyon dahil hindi pa ako handa, kaya sinama ko sya sa mga gamit ni Hosea na binigay sa akin nila nanay. 

"You need to read it dad, hindi pwedeng ako lang po ang umiyak. Damay damay po ito" sabi ng anak ko at agad syang tumakbo papasok sa kwarto nya. 

Sinundan ko sya ng tingin at napailing nalang ako. She's still afraid of me pag sinasagot nya ako ng pabiro. Although, hindi ko naman sya pinapansin tungkol doon because I know that it's just a joke. Marunong naman lumugar ang anak ko. 

When I entered my room, I sat down on my bed and put my black suit on my bed. I fold the sleeves of my white dress polo at binuksan ang unang tatling butones sa taas. I ruffled my hair while I'm looking at the envelope. 

Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago ko binuksan ang envelope na iyon. 

Hi love and hi to you my dear Hilary, 

First of all, I want to say sorry for the both of you. Maaga ko kayong naiwan dalawa. Hilary, my daughter, I'm sorry hindi mo nakita si mommy. I'm sorry if you only grew up with your dad. I'm sorry if you will only see me sa mga pictures. 

But baby, please don't blame yourself na kaya wala ako dyan sa mundo ay dahil sa nabuhay ko. You're not a mistake. Do you understand? Isa kang biyaya, so don't feel sorry. 

Trivia! Did you know that your name 'Hilary' ay galing sa anghel? Believe it or not, while I was having yoh, may nagpakita sa aking anghel at kapangakan mo sya. 

Baby, I know that at the back of your head sinisisi mo ang sarilu mo sa pagkamatat ko, and I tell you, wala kang kasalanan doon. Mommy will always be there for you, not physically but I'm in your heart. 

And to you my love, Icerael, thank you for loving me, accepting me for who I am. Sino mag aakala na yung crush ko simula noong 2nd year college, ay ama ng anak ko? Kaya kesson learned, pag may crush ka, huwag agad aamin para ma crushback. Kidding aside. 

I hope pinalaki mo ng maayos ang anak natin. I'm sorry iniwan ko sayo lahat ng responsibilidad, but I think nakayanan mo naman habang nasa law school ka, and I assume you're already a lawyer by now. 

Congratulations, attorney! 

Always remember that I will always be there at your side. Guiding you and protecting you. I love you both, and I will always love you, until the end of time. 

Sincerely your, 

Hope Asea De Sanjose-Monteferrante (yes I'm already claiming this since hindi ko naman magagamit ito.) 

Morning came at agad akong naligo at nag ayos. Palagi kasing ako ang nag hahatid sa anak ko sa University nya. 

I put on my white dress polo, gray slacks and blue neck tie. Yung suit ko ay hindi ko suot at binitbit ko nalang sa braso ko. 

"Good morning, dad!" Energetic na sabi ni Hilary ng magkasabay kami pababa ng hagdan. 

I furromy eyebrows when I looked at my daughter, from head to toe. 

"You're wearing that in your University?" 

Ngumuso sya at tinignan ang sarili nya, "Pangit po ba dad? This is the new uso sa mga kablock ko eh." 

She's wearing a high waisted denim shorts and a color sky blue off shoulder as her top. Naka suot din sya ng blue na bandana as her headband and a white Gucci shoes. 

"No boyfriend?" Tanong ko sa kanya at agad nyang tinaas ang dalawang braso nya, showing an X sign. 

"No boys. Study first, dad" sagot nya at tumango ako. 

We ate our simole breakfast manang made before we went outside. 

"Dad..... ano.....kasi po......" 

I looked at my daughter while I'm putting my seat belt on, using my right hand. 

"What is it?" 

From the corner of my eyes, I saw how my daughter breathe a large amount of air, like she struggling to say something. 

"Maynagkakaghstoposaakinsaschoolandhekeepsongivingmeflowersanditssoannoying."

Kumunot ang noo ko habang nakatingin sa harapan, "What? A little slower, honey." 

"May..... nagkakaguto.....po......sa......akin......sa schoo.... and he keeps on.....giving me flowers..... and it's so..... annoying." 

I tsked before looking at my daughter who is grinning from ear to ear. Tuwang tuwa pa sya na inaasar ako.

"Give me name." 

Agad nyang hinampas ang dashboard ng sasakyan ko kaya kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya. 

"Peace" Hilary said while she's showing me a peace sign. 

"Back to the topic" sabi ko at agad nyang pinagkrus ang braso nya. 

"As I was saying, there's someone who likes me and keeps on bugging me evey single day! So annoying!" 

I can't help myself but to chuckle while my daughter is talking. 

"Relax, Hilary, it will fade away" sabi ko sa anak ko na nakakunot ang noo ngayon. 

"I'm going to fetch you later since we're going to mommy's grave this afternoon" sabi ko para naman mawala ang inis na nararamdaman ng anak ko. 

Once again, hinampas nya ulit ang dashboard ng sasakyan ko kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. This time, I'm mad. 

"Dad, peace, sorry na, bati tayo" agad na sabi ng anak ko nang makita nya ang emosyon sa mukha ko. 

Of course, I'm soft when it comes to my daughter. 

"Na excite lang po ako kasi minsan nyo lang ako sunduin, and we're goint to mommy mamaya!" She reasoned out. 

"Bye dad, see you later" paalam ni Hilary bago ako niyakao at lumabas ng sasakyan. 

Hinintay ko muna syang makapasok sa building nya bago ako umalis. It's 15 years already since Hosea passed away, and I'm not getting any younger. 

Naalala ko pa noon when I'm studying in law school, halos hindi ako matulog because I'm busy studying and taking care of Hilary. Good thing, mom and dad went here in the Philippines to help me. 

Noong panahon na iyon, akals ko katapusan ang lahat. I nearly committed a sin because I want this to be over, but whenever I see Hilary, I always come back to my senses. 

Hilary became my light when everything is dark. 

Now, habang nakikita kong lumalaki ang anak ko, laking pasasalamat ko na hindi ako gumawa ng kasalanan before. 

"Icerael" sabi ni Khyro when he entered my office. 

I looked at him and raised and eyebrow on him. Agad naman syang nag taas ng kamay na para bang he's surrendering. 

"I'm innocent, no need to prove it" agad na sabi nya sa akin. 

"What do you need?" I asked him and leaned my back on my swivel chair, while I'm tapping my desk with my fingers. 

"May regalo kami ni Taurus sa inaanak namin, here" he said and handed me the paper bag na tinatago nya sa likod nya. 

Kinuha ko iyon at tinignan ang loob. Kumunot ang noo ko habang pinagmamasdan ang laman ng paper bag. 

"What's this?" I asked, clueless. 

"Well original merchandise lang naman iyan ng kanyang favorite kpop band. Hati kami ni Taurus ng bayad, so technically sa amin galing. Putcha ng dahil inintay pa namin dumating iyan since galing sa Korea pa" Khyro explained and I nodded my head. 

Afternoon came and I stacked up all my papers in my desk before bringin my briefcase and heading out my office. 

"I'm going, kung may client na gusto ako kausapin, tell him or her that I will be available tomorrow" bilin ko kayla Taurus nang madaanan ko sila. 

"Aba himala, ang aga umalis. May lakad kayo ni inaanak?" Taurus asked and I nodded my head. 

"Saan? Sama naman kami" Khyro said and agad akong umiling sa kanya. 

"We're just going to Hosea's grave today, that's it" sagot ko at tumango tango naman sila. 

"Daddy! You're early!" Hilary said when she saw me leaning on my car, paglabas nya ng building nya. 

Agad kong kinuha ang gamit nya at nilagay sa back seat, "Of course, surprise?" 

Pumasok na si Hialry sa shot gun seat at agad na sinuot ang seat belt nya, habang ako ay umikot para makapunta sa drivers seat.