My Father's Last Farewell to Uncle

During that morning, I wake up from my bed and I can smell the fragrance of coffee in my father's cup. Then suddenly I hear a voice from my mother and said, "Temio, ig-agaw nmo, si Jun!". Father was greatly surprised by his appearance. I stand up and trying to look at my Uncle's face. We have the same height, and they have father's same eyes and forehead. Then I go to the bathroom to take a bath so that I can prepare myself for work.Then say goodbye to mother, papa and uncle. 

When I come back from work and school, I see father and uncle drinking "Kulafu" while talking about their past when they're young and still living in Dipolog. They are happy to see each other again. It's my Uncle Jun's first time to visit my father since they were young and still living in Dipolog. After a few hours, they stopped drinking then father said to him, "Matulog nako Jun.", then Uncle directly replied to him, " Sige Mio." Father said to him that, " Ari lang ka tulog sa sala, uban mo ni Michael." Then Uncle agreed.

I prepared my bed foam and placed it on the floor. Uncle ask me, "Nagtrabaho ka dong? Nag-iskuyla ka?"

I suddenly answered, "Nagtrabaho ko sa Chowking dayon nag-iskuyla pod ko Uncle."

Then he replied, " Mao ba. Buotan lage ka dong. Padayona na dong, kay dakong grasya ang ihatag sa Ginoo diha kanimo." I silently laughed to myself. As I am trying to sleep, he is still talking to me about himself, "Gamahay jud ko dong nga nagbisyo ko samtang nag-iskuyla sauna, sige man gud kog inom kuyog ako mga klasmet, Maayo pa ka kay wa kay bisyo. Padayona lang jud na dong. Nagsundalo na lang gud ko, dayon Sargeant ko sa among platoon." 

I listened to him but I fall asleep.

I wake up and it is Saturday, whole day class! 

After the class I went home, the door in the house is closed. I opened it and the lights are off. I switch on the lights and hear my sister's voice coming towards me, "Dong si uncle kay na-ospital." I am in shock and hesitating on what happened to him. I stay calm, thinking everything will be okey.

It is the second since uncle is staying in the hospital. I suddenly wake up and watch my cellphone's clock, it is still 3 am, the temperature inside my room is cold and the windows is open. I try to sleep again because it is still dawn, then someone shouted in my mother's window, "Be, si Jun kay patay na!". I hear it! and I am shock  on what the man, who is with my uncle in the hospital, have said.

After the day, I come home from work. I see gloomy yellow lights from the house. And I run towards the house. I pass in the backdoor then I see a coffin. I try to sneak in the coffin then there I see my Uncle. 

I hear many voices, voices from my mother, father, sisters and other people. Then I see people playing "Mahjong". Mother is cooking peanuts and my sister preparing the food to be served for the visitors.

I asked a question to mother, "Ma, unsa diay nahitabo ni Uncle?"

She answered, " Nakuyapan siya sa CR, dayon natumba siya. Taas kaayo iya blood pressure kay wala siya katulog niaging gabie, sige man gud siya inom bino, samot kataas iya blood pressure. Mao to gidala siya sa ospital, dayon naparalyze siya. Ang pump na lang sa oxygen ang naghatag niyag hangin para makaginhawa siya."

I said to myself, "Kalooy ni Uncle."

3 days later. I come back home from school. I see some people carrying uncle's coffin and behind them is my father looking at uncle's coffin, I go to him. They place the coffin inside the van. As I watch, I see people focusing their eyes on the coffin while it is placed in the van. I place my arm to my father's shoulder. Comforting him because of his cousin's loss. I asked father," Asa na si Uncle, Pa?"

He merely answered, " Nanawag iyang igsuon, adto siya ilubong sa Dipolog."

The van starts to go, then I hear my father's sad voice saying, " Goodbye Jun."