Sullies of Haunted Yesterday (Casa Fuego Series #4)

Chapter 40

Tomorrows

"Your mother..." she managed to croak after a long while of silence. 

Natutop ko ang labi ko. I still flinch when she mentions my mother. Matagal bago siya nagsalita, kaya halos hindi ako huminga kakahintay sa sasabihin niya... tungkol kay Mama. 

"Must be very... proud of you," she said, her voice almost a whisper. 

Hindi agad ako nakareact. Umawang ang labi ko nang napagtanto ang sinabi niya. I didn't realize I wasn't breahing, trying to brace myself for whatever she has to say about my mother, but now my heart is warmed. 

I still don't think I needed to talk to her again in order to heal... but I'm glad I made the decision to meet her. It made me feel better, and never have I imagined I would say this... but I hope she feel better after this, too. 

"Thank you, Attorney," I said sincerely, because despite her personal agenda, I saw years ago that she really wanted to attain justice for my mother. 

She let out a long, raspy exhale. Nanghina ang pagkakahawak niya sa aking kamay, kaya unti-unti ko iyong binaba sa kaniyang hita. Tumayo ako nang maayos at huminga ng malalim. 

Ilang sandali lang ang nakalipas, pumasok na ang personal nurse ni Attorney Felicia. Ngumiti siya sa akin. 

"Tapos na ho ba kayong mag-usap?" 

Tipid akong ngumiti at tumango. Nanatiling nakatingin sa akin si Attorney Felicia nang tawagin ng kaniyang nurse si Samuela. 

Nagkatinginan kami ni Samuela nang pumasok siya ulit sa drawing room. Lumapit siya kay Attorney Felicia at lumuhod para maglebel ang tingin nila. 

"Mom, I'll be right behind you in a second," I heard Samuela assure her mother. 

Tumayo si Samuela at sinenyasan ang nurse. Tinulak na ng nurse ang wheelchair ni Attorney Felicia palabas ng drawing room. Hindi matanggal ang tingi niya sa akin, hanggang sa tuluyan na silang nakalabas. Sobrang daming kwarto ng mansyon kaya paniguradong sa isa sa mga 'yon sila maghihintay.

Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Samuela. Tahimik ang paligid, at hindi nagtagal ay nilingon ako ni Samuela. 

"Thank you for meeting with us, Emy. I was just really trying my luck... and it's totally reasonable if you didn't want to go... but thank you for seeing us." 

Ngumiti ako kay Samuela. Unti-unti siyang lumapit sa akin. Nasa may bintana pa rin ako kaya nang lumapit siya, napansin kong nagningning ang suot niyang singsing dahil sa sinag ng araw. Napansin niyang napatingin ako roon kaya napatingin din siya sa daliri niya. 

She smiled while looking at her ring. "I'm married. I met him at the university. We have two happy kids." 

Ngumiti ako habang nakatingin sa kaniya. She looks vibrant... calm... although I can sense this moment between us is important to her. 

"And I've never been this happy," dagdag niya. 

Tumango ako. "I'm glad to hear that, Samuela. Really." 

Bahagya siyang lumapit sa akin ngunit kalaunan ay tumigil. I can sense her restraint. O baka pinapakiramdaman niya rin ako. 

"I've heard about you and... Eros."

Napaayos ako ng tayo. She smiled reassuringly at me. 

"I'm happy for the two of you," tumango-tango siya. "I always knew you were meant for each other. I tried to deny it for so long, but watching Eros stand up on that dinner... and decline our engagement... and telling everyone he loves you without even mentioning your name... it awakened me, too."