YOU ARE MY HOME

Chapter 28

After I drove Maggie and Kio to school, I stayed whole morning at the shop completing the orders we received a week ago. I told Maggie to leave Kio at home because I will be busy for the whole day and I can't look after him.

Nang kumain ako ng tanghalian, medyo nararamdaman ko na ang panghihina ng katawan. Ilang beses din akong bumahing.

"Ang init mo, Ate," sabi ni Mylene pagkatapos dumapo ang likod ng palad niya sa leeg ko.

"Oo nga, eh. Ang bigat ng pakiramdam ko," I told her.

Pumalatak si Mylene. "Ipahinga mo muna, Ate. Ako na muna dito sa shop," she said and ate her food.

"Okay lang ba?" I asked her.

"Oo naman, te. Tapos naman nating gawin lahat ng inorder ni Mrs. Frias. For pick up nalang naman iyon."

"Kunsabagay. Parang wala naman akong matatapos na trabaho ngayong hapon kung ganitong masama ang pakiramdam ko," sang-ayon ko at nagsimula nang ligpitin ang pinagkainan.

Nakailang subo lang ako ng kanin pero sapat na siguro iyon para makainom ako ng gamot.

I did as I was told. I went home feeling sick but despite that, I still managed to drive safely and went straight to my room to lie down. I didn't know if Kio and Papa have seen me entered the house. Hinihila ako ng antok at gusto kong humilata dahil nanghihina ang buong katawan ko.

I woke up at 3 pm feeling lightheaded and weak. I immediately went to the kitchen to get some water. I gulped the water once, sat on the chair and ducked down my head on the table. I stayed here for 10 minutes and when I heard a sound coming from the back door, I turned my head and saw Papa carrying a pail. When I got see what it was, I realized it was food for the chickens consumed half-full. He put it at the corner of the kitchen. Mayamaya ay magpapakain ulit ito ng mga paboritong alaga niya.

"Narito ka pala. Hindi ko narinig ang pagdating mo," bungad nito at naghugas ng kamay. 

"Kanina pa ako Pa. Siguro mga 2 hours na din. Natulog lang ako saglit sa kwarto. Ang sama kasi ng pakiramdam ko," I told him and cupped my own face with both hands.

Huminga akong malalim at binalik ang mga kamay sa mesa.

Kinuha niya ang pitsel sa harap ko at nagsalin ng tubig sa baso at inisang lagok.

"Nakainom kana ba ng gamot?" Papa asked. He looked at me with concern in his eyes.

"Opo, pagkatapos magtanghalian. Mamaya ulit ako iinom ng gamot."

"Sige, balik kana ulit sa kwarto mo. Magpahinga ka nalang at ako na ang bahala dito," he said and brought the glasses to the sink.

"Thank you, Pa."

I roamed my eyes. I haven't seen Kio since I came here. Where must he be? "Nasaan pala si Kio?"

Papa was silently washing the dishes. He looked back and said, "Nariyan lang sa labas at naglalaro."

"Sige po. Check ko muna siya sa labas," I stood up and walked heading the main door. I quickly stepped outside but Kio was not here.

Bumalik ako sa kusina at nagbalita kay Papa. "Wala doon si Kio sa labas, Pa."

Papa turned his head to me and stopped what he was doing for a moment.

"Paanong wala? Nariyan lang yan kanina sa labas. Tingnan mo nga doon sa playground. Nagpupunta 'yan doon kapag makalugar." Then, he focused on the dishes.

I went outside the house again and checked the playground. It was just near our house, so the walk didn't take long. Maraming batang naglalaro ganitong oras, 'yong iba may kasamang mga magulang, 'yong iba wala. Pinupuntahan nga talaga ito ni Kio kapag natipuhan niyang maglaro doon sa tuwing naiinip na sa mga laruan sa bahay. I went around looking for him, but he wasn't here.