Two Strangers

Chapter 17

RHOME LAZILY FACED his older brother after Rhyme keep asking where the hell he was on the past few days. Rhome sighed heavily, his older brother is out of this. He go straight home after Juliette ask him to leave that he obligated to do.

He doesn’t want himself to be such a headache in front of his precious Juliette.

“Ano ba, Rhome? Hindi ka ba sasagot?” Naiinis na tanong muli ni Rhyme sa nakakabatang kapatid.

“Kuya…huwag muna ngayon, pagod ako.”

Rhyme sighed heavily then looked at Rhome, pissed. “Nag-aalala lang si Kuya, hindi mo naman ito gawain noon eh. Ngayon lang, simula nang dumating rito si Juliette.”

Rhome didn’t answer, instead he instantly lay himself on his bed and try to sleep. Rhyme shook his head, seeing his little brother like this make him uncomfortable. He knew very well Rhome, he’s stubborn even though he  keep scolding him.

Rhyme took a deep breath then get near on Rhome and messed his hair that he usually do ever since.

“Kung may problema ka, nandito lang si Kuya. Makikinig sayo, bunso. Huwag mong kalimutan iyon.” Rhyme said seriously then he stood up and left the room quietly.

While Rhome who kept silent, felt pity. His older brother had no knowledge of what was happening but he did not have in mind to tell him what was really going on. He doesn’t want to add to his older brother’s thoughts, he’s already doing a lot and he doesn’t want to be a burden anymore.

He took a deep breath before closing his eyes completely, he was tired of thinking and too worried.

Juliette…

RHOME WOKE UP suddenly because someone was caressing his cheek. The hand was too gentle and soft that makes him to fell asleep again but his eyes widened when he saw who it was.

He couldn’t speak, he was speechless. The first thing that comes to his mind that it was dream, but, it felt so real. He blinked enumerable times and scratched his both eyes but the woman did not disappear.

Rhome get out of the bed quietly and leave the room. He saw no one downstairs but he saw a luggage and travelling bags on the living room, he gulped but he remain his face serious.

He walked towards in the kitchen to get a glass of water, he was about to drink it when he felt the person behind him. He sighed heavily and put the glass down at the table, and slowly looked at the newcomer.

He cleared his throat and smiled…bitterly,
“K-Kamusta, M-Mama?”

Her Mother come home suddenly after  so many years had passed, they left them in a very young age for work but Rhome already lose hope when he turned 18 few months ago, her mother looked well compare before, she was wearing a dress that he knew it was expensive. Expensive accessories in her wrist and her hair that was perfectly wave curly in the end.

Rhome saw her mother’s eyes, it was sad and full of guilt. He chuckled without a humor, her mother changed…a lot. He wonder while staring at her mother’s eyes, Ano pa kaya pinagbago mo Ma? Nasaan si Papa? Bakit…ibang-iba ka na?

He couldn’t ask those questions because he was afraid, all these years that he waited the pain and hatred was there but when Juliette came he slowly forgot that feelings towards his parents but then things could not change easily.

“A-Anak…” Naluluhang sabi ng Ina.

Rhome smiled even though his heart was tearing into pieces. This is the woman he was longing for.
Her mother quickly ran into him and hugged him tightly, he wanted to hug back but his hand wouldn’t move so he just chuckled to ease the awkwardness he felt.

Her mother faced him and cupped his face, tears falling down on her cheeks while smiling.

“K-Kamusta ka na? A-Ang laki-laki mo na ah, n-nasaan ang kuya mo? Kumain ka na ba? Miss na miss na kita Anak, pati ang kuya mo! R-Rho–.”

“Nasaan si Papa?” Rhome cut off her mother saying, naramdaman nyang natigilan ang mama nya pagkatapos ay nag-iwas ito ng tingin na pinagtaka nya.

“Ma…nasaan si Papa? Bakit mag-isa ka lang umuwi pabalik? At bakit ganyan ang suot mo? Parang…ibang-iba ka na?” Pagtatanong nya muli pero nanatiling nanahimik ang Ina nya, huminga sya ng malalim para kalmahin ang sarili, hindi nya ito inaasahan pero masama ang kutob nya sa magiging sagot ng Ina.

Rhyme suddenly entered the kitchen and was froze when he saw their mother but his face were serious, he looked at Rhome who was staring at their mother like he was waiting for something then brought back his gaze to the person, he hated.

He cleared his throat for them to know his arrival, the two immediately looked on his way, as expected his mother ran into him and hugged him too. He looked at Rhome that was already looking at him, Rhome shrugged then shook his head.

Rhyme sighed, “Bakit ngayon ka lang ma?” Seryoso nitong tanong. His mother looked at him and smiled, “Patawarin nyo ako…mga anak.”

Rhyme remain serious including Rhome, they knew that there’s something wrong.

“Patawarin saan?” Rhome asked.

Their mother, Efania bit her lower lip then looked both of her son. “Dahil…ngayon lang ako nakauwi. Maraming nangyari sa maynila mga anak, sa mga nagdaang-taon na lumipas hindi kayo nawala sa isip ko dahil kayo ang dahilan kung bakit naroon kami ng…papa nyo pero wala palagi sa amin ang swerte…” Efania took a deep breath, “Ang papa nyo…may bago ng pamilya, Iniwan nya ako at hindi na binalikan. Nalaman ko na lang noong nahuli ko sya kasama ang babae nya.” Then she looked tearful in front of her sons and sob, “P-Patawarin ninyo ako anak, patawarin nyo ako…”

The siblings looked at each other both serious, then sighed. Gladly, nilapitan ni Rhome ang Ina at yinakap ito, hindi nya matanggap ang narinig mula sa Ina. Nagloko ang ama nya at Iniwan ang Ina na nagiisa, hindi nya mawari kung paano natiis ng kanyang Ina na mag-isa sa mahabang panahon.

Bakit mo nagawang Iwan na lamang kami basta, papa?

He let go of the hug and stared at her mother, “Huwag kang mag-alala ma, nandito pa po kami. Hindi ka namin iiwan ni Kuya…” Then smiled, “Kumain na ba kayo? Halika, ipagluluto kita.”

Rhome hold her mother’s hand and dragged along with him and walked towards the table and told her mother to sit that Efania immediately did.

Efania smiled watching her youngest, then she brought her gaze to Rhyme who was shooking his head and then suddenly left the kitchen. Her eyebrows furrowed, My son’s completely changed.

“Ma? Galit ka ba kay papa?” Rhome suddenly asked.

Efania shook her head, “H-Hindi, mahal na mahal ko ang papa nyo.”

Rhome pouted while his hand were moved to chop garlic and onions, he wants to prepare his mother favorite dish although he knew it would be messed up.

“Galit ba sa akin ang kuya mo?” Efania asked. Rhome shrugged, “Tamporurot lang yan ma, subukan nyong kausapin.”

Efania stared at his son and nodded, “Oh sige, sundan ko lang ang kuya mo ha? Babalik din ako…”

Rhome nod and smiled.

Efania left the dining area, while her eyes are roaming around the house. Walang nagbago, naroon parin ang mga bagay kung nasaan ang mga ito, mukhang hindi binago ang kaayusan ng mga gamit sa pamamahay na ikinatuwa nya. Napahinto si Efania sa paglalakad nang makita ang family photo nila, awtomatikong napangiti sya habang pinagmamasdan ang larawan.

Dumapo ang tingin nya sa kanyang asawa, sa sandaling iyon ay ang pagpasok na mga alaala sa kanyang isipan.

Nag-iwas sya ng tingin dahil sa nararamdaman at napagpasyahan na hanapin na lang ang kanyang panganay.

Gladly, Efania get near the main door and saw her eldest outside, sitting with a girl. Their back was facing her, she took a smile and opened the door.
The two immediately looked where she is, Rhyme lips parted while the girl blinked enumerable times.

Efania froze. J-Juliette?!

Rhyme sighed heavily that caught her attention quickly, “Ma…si Juliette.” Pagpapakilala ni Rhyme ng kaibigan sa Ina.

Juliette although confused, handed her hand for a respect. “Hello Ma’am, ako po si Juliette.”
Efania swallowed hard and slowly accept Juliette’s hand.

“Alam nyo pamilyar kayo sa akin…nagkakilala na ba tayo noon, ma’am?” Juliette asked afterwards after the handshake.

“S-Sa tingin ko, ngayon palang. Ang ganda-ganda mo naman hija…” Efania said.

Juliette chuckled, “T-Thank you po. U-uh…Rhyme? Mauna na ako, may nakalimutan pala ako sa cabin.”

“Samahan na kita...at hindi ka ba magpapakita sa kapatid ko?” Segundo ni Rhyme.

“A-Ah hindi na Rhyme, tsaka nandito ang mama nyo oh. Sa tingin ko miss na miss mo na sya, hindi ka lang nagsasalita. Bakit hindi kayo mag-usap? Like catching up some things and have some get together as a mother and son? Hindi po ba ma’am, masaya iyon?” Juliette chuckled.

“A-Ah, Oo hija…”

Rhyme sighed because of disappointment, “Sige, mag-ingat ka pabalik.

Juliette playfully winked at Rhyme, “Opo, Sir!” Then bow politely as a sign of leaving on Rhyme’s mother then leave.

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa, si Rhyme ang unang nag-iwas ng tingin. “Bakit kailangan nyo pang mag-sinungaling sa harap ni Rhome?”

Efania blinked enumerable times, “A-Ano bang sinasabi mo anak?”

Rhyme bit his lower lip and brought his serious gaze on his mother, “Binaliktad nyo ang totoong nangyari, hindi ko…akalain magagawa mo iyon kay papa at sa amin. Anong…klase kang ina ha? Ha?!”

Efania who was stunned couldn’t speak, she doesn’t know how Rhyme knew all about it. How? When? She looked shocked in front of her eldest who was seriously mad.

“Kuya? Ma? Kain na po tayo!” Suddenly they heard Rhome’s voice inside. 

Efania try to get near him but Rhyme stepped back. “A-Anak…”

“Pumasok na ho tayo, lalamig ang pagkain na inihanda ng anak nyo.” Seryosong pagkakasabi ni Rhyme bago lampasan ang nagugulantang Ina.