“Ako na lang ng magwawalis.” He said as he looked for the broom and dustpan. Mukhang statwa na ako rito. I’m still thinking about the meaning part. May meaning kaya?
“Dun ka na lang muna sa sala. Baka mabubog ka pa rito.” He pushed me through the living room. “Ingat ka sa pagwawalis. Baka masugatan ka.”
“Hindi yan.” At bumalik sya uli sa kusina. Napansin kong may lunch box sa mesa. “Rex, para saan ‘yang… lunch box?”
“Ah, dadalhan ko si Candy ng pagkain.”
I admit, medyo nasaktan ako. But, it’s Candy. Alam ko naman na malaki ang malasakit nya dito. Hindi na rin ako magtataka. At tsaka remember, may sakit yung tao. Wag mo nang patulan.
Natapos na nyang linisin yung nabasag na baso kaya sya lumabas hawak-hawak yung lunch box. “Pano, alis muna ako. Dalawin ko lang si Candy.”
He was about to walk out when I called him. “Rex… pwede ba ‘kong… sumama?”
“Sure.”
***
“Oi, Marriane,” Rex called when he entered the door. “Hmm?” I asked as I was hiding behind the door. “Bakit ka nagtatago? Hindi ka ba papasok?”
“Ah, eh, kasi… tama lang ba talaga na sumama ako rito?” I wandered.
He sighed. “Wala kang dapat ikatakot. At tsaka, sumama ka rito diba? Kaya pumasok ka na.” He pulled me gently as we entered the room. We saw Candy sitting on the bed. As her head lifted to us, the atmosphere suddenly went tense. I wish I didn’t exist. I wish I didn’t exist.
I wish I was invisible by now!
“Gising ka pala. Dinalhan ka nga pala namin ng pagkain.”
“Eto oh ---”
“Get out.” Was the word that I was expecting her to say. “Dee ---”
“Get out. I need to talk to him PERSONALLY.” She said, referring to me.
Napayuko na lang ako ng ulo habang papalabas ng kwarto. I leaned at the wall beside the door. Tama nga na hindi dapat ako sumama sa kanya rito. Dahil alam kong mangyayari ‘to.
Napalakas yung boses nila kaya narinig ko ang pinag-uusapan nila. “Sino ba sya sa buhay mo ha?!”
“She’s my wife.”
Silence occurred.
“N-nagbibiro ka lang, diba?”
“I’m not kidding. Totoo.”
A long silence occurred. Pagkatapos, bigla ko na lang narinig yung sigaw ni Rex. “DEE!”
Napatakbo naman ako sa loob. “Tawagin mo yung doktor, BILIS!” He exclaimed as he was holding Candy. Pinindot ko yung button dun sa wall. That way, pupunta agad yung doktor rito.
Ayun nga, dumating na yung doktor kasama yung mga iba pang nurse. At dahil nga doktor at nurse sila, chineck nila yung pulse rate, at kung anu-ano pang mga importante na kailangan nilang icheck. Tapos, kinausap kami ng doktor na dun daw muna kami sa labas.
Hindi talaga mapakali si Rex. Kita naman sa palakad-lakad efek nya. “REX!” I shouted.
“ANO?!”
Nagulat naman ako sa tono ng pananalita nya ngayon kaya napasandal ako sa kinauupuan ko. “Pwede… umupo ka naman? Nakakahilo ka kaya.”
Ayun, sumunod naman sya. Pero di pa rin sya mapakali. I sighed and hugged his shoulders. “She’s going to be fine. Wag kang mag-alala.”
“PANO KO HINDI MAG-AALALA EH PWEDE NA SYANG KUNIN NGAYON?!”
I was shocked. Basta, I was just shocked.
“Sorry.” He muttered.
Pinuntahan kami nung doktor pagkalabas nya ng kwarto. “Kamusta na po sya?”
“She’s now in good condition. You can now go in. Maiwan ko muna kayo.” Pagkatapos, umalis na sya. Natutulog na sa Candy nung pumasok kami. Rex sat beside her and touched her forehead. I just shook my head.
Suddenly, the door opened. Then came an old fat man, about 40+. “Candy, anak!” He exclaimed as he ran through her. Maybe her dad. “Uncle.”
“Kamusta na sya?”
“Ayos na po sya ngayon.”
Just as what I am thinking now, our situation really is complicated. Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko. Basta, susundin ko na lang si Rex, no matter what.
“Rex, alis na ko.”
“Sabay na lang tayo --”
“Hindi na.” I smiled. “Kita na lang tayo sa bahay.” Then, I exited the hospital and locked myself in my room. Ayun, di ko nanaman mapigilan ang umiyak. And before I knew it, umuulan pala. Napadungaw ako sa bintana, still umiiyak pa rin ako.
Sana wala na lang na ulan. Kasi, look at the sky. So dark. Pag hindi na nakaya ng ulap, bigla na lang babagsak. Like me. Feeling ko, madilim ang ulap ko ngayon. Hindi ko na kaya pang ihandle kaya di ko na napigilan ang umiyak. Sa lahat ng ayoko, yung umiiyak ako. Nagmumukha akong iyakin nito. Sana lagi na lang may araw.
Sa tingin nyo kaya, may rainbow pang lalabas pagkatapos ng ulan? Eh sa akin kaya?
“Marriane.” I heard knocks on the door and then it opened. It was him. “Umiiyak ka ba?”
“Hi-hindi! Na-napuwing lang ako.” I quickly wiped my tears. “Wag mo kong lokohin.” He sat beside me. There was silence between us. Neither one of us couldn’t speak, until I broke it. “Kamusta na si Candy --”
“Marriane.”
“Hmm?”
“Magdivorce na tayo.”
