>Sheloah's POV<
It would be a great challenge for us and I'm sure pinag iisipan ngayon ni Sir Erick habang nasa loob sila ng kotse para pagbalik namin ng bahay, masasabi niya na ang buong plano para alam na naming lahat kung ano ang gagawin bukas as a group since may mga groupings na ginawa. Seven in all with six members each.
Nauna ng nagmaneho ang dalawang kotse at nasa likuran lang kami ni Kreiss pero hindi kami masyadong malayo sa mga iba naming kasama. Nasa likod lang kami ng kotse ni Veon. Nakakapit lang ako kay Kreiss at tumigil na ako sa kakaiyak kaso nga lang, my eyes felt dry and so tired. Gusto kong uminom ng tubig dahil ang sakit din ng lalamunan ko. I want to have some rest once everything is settled at the house.
"Sheloah, have you calmed down?" Kreiss got my attention because of his question. I just nodded as an answer. Sa totoo lang, I calmed down kaso nga lang, gusto ko lang manahimik ngayon. "Okay, I'll shut up now, sorry," dagdag sabi pa niya at tumahimik na talaga siya.
Nararamdaman ko ang gem na nakasabit sa leeg ko. Hinawakan ko ito at tiningnan ko ito ng Mabuti. Medyo mabigat ito. It's purple in color and it's pretty. Kumikinang ito at napakasmooth nitong hawakan despite the size of it.
"Kreiss, why did you give this gem," I suddenly asked at hindi muna siya nagsalita noong nagtanong ako, but he spoke eventually.
"Let's not talk about this for now. I know your condition's not great due to your mother's death. Use this time to mourn or think for yourself," sabi niya at napaiyak nanaman ako.
He's really sweet.
I cried for a while. When I calmed down, that's when Kreiss spoke.
"The gem…" He trailed off at inalis ko ang ulo ko sa likod niya para tingnan siya. "It's just a family tradition. All men should give this to a certain girl they like, that's it," Kreiss said and I was just silent.
"You don't have to know everything, princess. Think of yourself," Kreiss just said and I just sighed, thankful of him being concerned. But what he said earlier had struck me.
"All men should give this to a certain girl they like."
It took us quite a while for us to reach Dannie's place but now we're finally here. Pumasok ako ng bahay at pagkapasok ko, bigla silang tumahimik. Napatigil ako sa paglalakad ko at tiningnan ko rin sila. Hindi sila makatingin sa akin ng deretsyo at yung iba nakatingin pa sa sahig.
Nilapitan ako ng isang classmate namin. "Sheloah, narinig namin ang nangyari. Condolence," sabi niya sa akin at inulit din ng iba naming classmates and I smiled at them slightly.
"Thanks for the concern. Ngayon alam ko na ang nararamdaman niyo. Kaya noong hindi pa tayo umalis sa school, I fully understand now kung bakit galit kayo sa akin since most of my family made it alive," sabi ko sa kanila and they gave acknowledged what I said.
"Past is past, Sheloah. Alam ko na ginusto ito ng mga magulang natin para mabuhay tayong lahat," sabi naman ng isa kong classmate sa akin at tumango ako sa sinabi niya. What she said is indeed true.
Tumaas ako sa second floor papunta sa kwarto nina Tito Jun. I want to be with my family for the moment. I was walking towards their room when Veon saw me and suddenly hugged me.
"I'm sorry, Sheloah," sabi niya sa akin at tumigil siya sa kakayakap sa akin.
"Why are you apologizing," tanong ko at tiningnan niya ako. He gave me an apologetic smile at nag sigh siya.
"Ewan ko. Natatakot ako. Buti nakarating kami agad kanina para ligtas ka pero… sorry for the loss of your mother," saog tniya sa tanong ko and I frowned by what he said.
Alam ko they feel sympathy towards me pero ayaw ko talaga na naaawa sila sa akin. But their concern for me is indeed heartwarming, especially now at the time I needed it the most.
"Thank you for worrying," sabi ko sa kanya and I walked towards my uncle's room. Everyone that had survived in my family heard what happened and hugged me tightly and all of us started crying again.
I wish I could've slept beside my mother… one last time.
I lost my mother and I wasn't able to protect her. She never wanted me to die so she sacrificed herself. She wanted to let me live, but I just want to be with her but now I can't.
She's gone.