Kabanata 5
Loss
"No, stop lying," malamig kong iling habang mainit na tasa ang tanging kinakapitan.
"S-Senyorita, magbihis na raw po... k-kayo..." A maid emerged from the door of the kitchen.
"Crescent, huwag nang matigas ang ulo mo," Kuya Ram scolded more.
Marahas ko siyang binalingan. "You're just lying. All of you are lying."
Mula sa nakatukod na kamay sa island ay tinanggal niya ang suporta roon. He combed his hair harshly. His eyes were dark and already frustrated. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. My legs cannot calm down. They're moving without abandon.
They kept telling me Daddy is dead. Hindi ako naniniwala sa kanila. Paano mamamatay ang Daddy ko? Last night he was talking to me. He lent his ears to hear my side. He assured me. Kaya paano siya mawawala sa akin?
"Si Euly? Dumating na?" salubong ni Kuya sa nakababatang kasambahay.
"Wala pa po, Senyorito. Pero tinatawagan po ng Mommy n'yo..."
"Damn it, I sent a text! Sina Etheo muna dahil nadala na si Daddy sa chapel. Hindi ko na kayang kontrolin si Crescent!"
Hindi ko inintindi ang kaniyang sinabi. I won't believe them. Hindi naman totoo ang sinasabi nila. Lagi silang ganoon. They always lie to me. Always removing me in the picture.
Kuya Ram kept telling the maids what to do. I drank my coffee silently. It's very unusual for me but I made my own coffee. I want to make sure I'm awake and activated. This isn't funny anymore.
Nang kinakausap na ng mayordoma ang kapatid ko, napalingon ulit siya sa akin. Iniwan niya roon ang kasambahay. His brows almost met each other.
"Ano? Hindi ka pa rin aayos?" His patience was already thinning.
Tinaliman ko ang tingin sa kaniya. Hindi ko siya pinansin. I sipped on my cup. I heard him muttered a curse.
"Mom? She's prepared?"
Nabunutan ako ng tinik nang sumuko rin siya sa akin. He came back with all the instructions I didn't know how many times I've heard. Everything was fast-paced. I can't go along. Wala na akong pakialam kahit lahat sila, magalit sa akin.
I stayed in the kitchen until only two of the maids were left to watch over me. I'm used to their guarding me so I let them. As long as they won't bother me, we're good.
Napatayo lang ako nang maaninag si Kuya Eulyses na papalapit na sa kusina. Iniwan ko roon ang kape na hindi ko pa nauubos. Malamig na rin dahil sa ilang oras ko doon kaya hindi ko na tinangka pa. I met my brother halfway.
He looked exhausted and gloomy. May gumapang na kaba sa akin ngunit tinaboy ko iyon. I smiled at my brother.
"I've been waiting for you. Saan ka galing?" kaswal kong panimula.
Mas lumaglag ang kaniyang mga balikat nang makita ako. His bloodshot eyes were painful. Humugot siya ng hininga.
"Change now, Crescent. Ako ang kasabay mo. Nauna na sina Mom doon."
Natahimik ako pero nakabawi naman. "Bakit? Saan ba tayo pupunta? Saka nauna rin ba si Dad---"
"Crescent!" iritado niyang bulyaw.
Bahagya akong napaatras dahil sa bigla niyang pagsabog. Again, he took a breath. Napupuno ng iritasyon ang kaniyang mata. He calmed himself.
"Tama na, please. Stop acting like that. This is not you. Stop..."
