Along The Way

Something Strange

THEZZA

"I'm sorry, Tita. Ako talaga ang may pakana no'n."

Dinig na dinig ko ang usapan nina Tita Rosie at Symon sa labas mismo ng kwarto ko.

It's been two days after the dinner party. Now I'm lying in my bed, feeling totally sick.

"Eh bakit naman kasi kayo nagpaulan? Goodness!"

Tita Rosie knew what happened that night. She caught us playing in the rain! Siraulo lang talaga kami dahil hindi namin inisip ang susunod na mangyayari. Ito tuloy ako ngayon.

Medyo galit si Tita ngayon dahil sa nangyari sa akin. I'm burning hot now. Hindi ko alam kung sinadya ba talaga akong puntahan ni Symon dito ngayon o dahil tinawagan siya ni Tita.

"Sorry, Tita." Sy apologized.

"You know your punishment, my dear. Now go, make some porridge."

Bukas ang pinto kaya pumasok agad si Tita Rosie. She looks so worried for me. I also apologized to her that night.

She sat on my bed, combing my hairs with her fingers. "Dear, how are you feeling?" She asked.

"Cold." Sagot ko naman.

Kahit pa nga ilang kumot ang ilagay sa akin, tatalab at tatalab pa rin ang lamig. Goodness gracious.

"Tita..."

I don't know but I feel like I have to ask her about her life. I don't know everything about her yet.

"Hmm?"

I cleared my throat first before taking. "Why are you still a Hail?" I asked out of curiosity.

She was silenced for a moment, looking down the floor. Tumingin ulit siya sa akin at saka nagsalita. "Why'd you ask?"

"Just asking..." Simple kong sagot.

"I—I am... I don't think I'll marry anymore." She said, smiling sadly at me.

I changed the topic.

"Gaano po ba kayo ka close ni Mama? You were best friends, right?"

Tumango siya. "She's my best friend. Brenda was my closest friend. Since highschool, kami na talaga ang magkasama. They were enemies with your.. father. But as the years go by, they realized something. They realized that they love each other. So, I helped your mother, para makapasa sa standards ni mamá..."

I continued listening. Mamá is my grandma.

"But, mamá was so... She was so strict."

"Yeah, sabi ni Tita Sallie sa 'kin." Singit ko pa.

Tita Rosie continued talking. "She didn't like your..your mother, but Laurence was so madly in love with her, that's why he talked to mamá... He fought for Brenda, but because of that, mamá took all of his properties and money. Kasi gusto ni mamá na siya ang magmana sa kompanya, gusto niyang ipag-aral muna siya sa states. But he refused. He ran away from us. He built a family with Brenda. Kaya ngayon ay wala kang mana mula sa papa mo. Laurence didn't think about his future, he was so blinded by his love for my best friend... I talked to him about it... But he didn't even listen. He did not listen, Thezza..."