And it could’ve stayed a nice moment if we weren’t interrupted. We look up when a car drives by and parks on the road across from us.
Is that…
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
My hair tie’s starting to fray from how hard I’m pulling on it.
With literally no shame, my mom lets go of my arm andruns to greet Dr. Derrick as he steps out of his car. He didn’t even bother to change out of his dentist scrubs. His presence is already irritating enough without me getting braces PTSD.
He places his hand on Ma’s side as he greets my achi. When he moves on to me, Dr. Derrick pats my hair like I’m a freaking Shih Tzu. “You doing okay?”
How dare he copyright the same question Majustasked me.
I grumble in response and straighten out my hair that he messed up. He squints at the sun outside and decides to bring up the freaking weather. “Nice day out. Buti walang rain,” he comments. “Looks like someone from up there is smiling down at you all.”
He points to the sky (probably at his bestie, the moon).
Ma then hands Dr. Derrick matches while he grabs from our incense supply. I start thinking how easy it’d be for his purple tie to catch fire when he uses the candle to light three incense sticks. He proceeds to bow in front of the grave, as if he actually knew my dad. Once he sets down the sticks, he pauses in front of Pa’s picture. “I’m so sorry this happened,” he says, glancing at me and my sister. “I’m sure you all miss him.”
He steps closer to the picture. “Purple jade should help grant spiritual support…”
What he does next is what makes me snap. With no warning, he slips the jade bracelet around the picture frame in his hands.
If he stuck to praying and lighting incense, maybe I could’ve stayed quiet.
Maybe we could’ve left this place drama-free.
OrmaybeDr. freaking Derrick could’ve kept his hands off my dad’s picture.
I quickly snatch the portrait away from him. “You’re not supposed to be here.”
“Nika,” Achi calls me out before Dr. Derrick can speak for himself.
My anger is still directed athim. “This was supposed to be family only.”
“Annika.” Ma hits me with my full name and tells me to face her. “Let’s talk about this later.”
“Talk?” I ask, bitter laughs escaping my throat. “Ma, I can’t talk to you about anything!”
“Niks.” I hear my sister’s warning in the background, but I can’t stop.
“You keep saying that we should move on, why? So you can go off and get married tohim?” I say, pointing at Dr. Derrick. “Why did we even come to the cemetery today? Everyone can tell that you’ve forgotten that Pa ever existed.”
I don’t get to see Ma’s expression.
Achi already grabbed my hand and dragged me curbside before I could.
She lets me go when we’re out of earshot. “Grabe, Niks.” She shakes her head. “Who said you could talk to people like that? Ang bastos mo naman kay Ma.”
“She’s the one being rude!” I yell back. “She promised me that she would put you and me first.”
“Uncle Derrick asked her if he could come, and I personally thought it was nice he wanted to pay his respects.”
Her saying “uncle” ticks me off even more.
Frustration floods Achi’s whole face. “You need to apologize. Both to Ma and Uncle Derrick.”
“But what about Pa?” I snap back. “What do you think he’ll feel when he finds out?”
