Watashi no Ai (My Love)

Dai 41-shou: Saisyuutekiniwa

I am not a kid anymore. I saw how paper cranes were always around the house. Lola even hanged a string of thousand cranes in the window.  She plastered a smile everytime the wind with blew the senbazuru softly. From a distance,  lolo stared at her lovingly with a hint of sadness in his eyes.  I saw two types  of love from my grandparents when I was young.  Both were yearning in different ways.

I saw the red string on her wrist.  It's been years but she kept it.  Kung mapuputol man ito,  isasama niya ang lumang tali para makagawa ulit ng bagong string bracelet. She always make sure that a piece of the old string is still in the bracelet.

I remember na napakamisteryosa talaga ni lola. There was this time when lola told me about the lines,  same story she shared to Monica.  May batang babae daw na nangako sa mga bituin na  ang taong makikita niya sa tatlong pagkakataon sa magkakaibang panahon ng kanyang buhay ay ang kanyang taong mamahalin habang buhay.  It was quite confusing at first but now,  I kind of see it.  In lola's last breath,  she was able to joined hands with Seiji. 

Maingat kong ipinarada ang aking sasakyan. Matagal ko na rin siyang hindi dinadalaw.  Being one of my favorite persons in this world, ayaw ko siyang magtampo sa akin. 

"I'm sorry," sabi ko pagkaupo  ko sa harap niya.  Inilapag ko ang dala kong  flower basket sa tabi niya.  "I was so busy." Ipinakita ko sa kanya ang napublish kong libro.  "Look,  grandpa,  I made it."

Nakangiti siya sa harap ko.  "Thank you for everything, grandpa."

After I finished writing the book,  I saw that grandpa was the ideal second male lead from a romantic movie.  He was happy and contented with the love lola can give him. 

His love lesson revisited my memories.  We were both watching the sunset while grandma was folding paper cranes. 

"How did you met grandma?" I asked him.

"It was love at first sight." His eyes glimmed.  "I love her.  It's okay if she doesn't feel the same." He smiled gladly. "As long as she's by my side."  He looked at me. "You know, kid,  sometimes,  contentment is the key."

A real hopeless romantic. 

"I love you gramps. " 

My fingers traced the writings on his tombstone. 

"May you play your guitar as the angels sing. 

George Alexander H.  Ryann. 

Hakuna matata."

I laughed at the last phrase.  He  was a big fan of Lion King and  he really took it with him.

A week later,  I chose to open the box in the university library.  Pinili ko ang spot kung saan wala masyadong tao.   The box contained an old book,  a letter,  a hair ornament, and a dog tag.  Masasabi kong inalagaan ito ni lola.  Dinala nga niya ito hanggang sa nursing home.  Mahalaga talaga sa kanya ito.

The old book and letter were written in Japanese. The page was
really fragile.  I decided to use gloves as I flipped the pages. Its good that they have it in the reception.  The dog tag necklace looked really nice.  Lola polished the tag regularly. 

Kumuha ako ng libro tungkol sa Japanese writing. Umaasa ako na kaya ko itong itranslate pero hindi.  Dumagdag pa itong buhok ko na istorbo. Nagmamadali ako kanina kasi may klase akong kailangang habulin.  Hindi na ako nakapagblower or nakapagdala ng scrunchie.  Wala talaga akong balak na buksan itong box pero nakita ko siya sa backseat. Wala naman akong klase after ng first class kaya binuksan ko na ito. 

Naiinis kong kinuha ang hair ornamet. Pinusod ko ang buhok ko at ginamit ko itong anchor para hindi kumalat ulit. 

Okay. Time to concentrate.