“Na-ospital ka?” hindi pa ako ready. This trip is for us. For our relationship. For our future. Ang kaso, naunahan ako ni Arrow. He opened the topic unintentionally, I know. But knowing Ris, she will not stop until she hears the truth. “Kailan 'yon? Bakit parang hindi ko alam?”
“Nanay Anita and I were hospitalized the same time.” it's now or never. Ilang segundo pang nanaig ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa bago niya akong inudyukan na magsalita ulit. “It was a week before Ollie died.”
“Habang kinukulit kitang samahan ako, wala akong kaalam-alam na nasa iisang ospital lang tayo at pasyente ka pa?”
“I heard from Mang Shoti that you are in a group chat with our helpers at home. Nabanggit daw doon nila Candy at Mac na nasa ospital ako.”
“I did not know. I was not aware. Ang nabasa ko lang doon 'yong tungkol sa pag-alis mo sa mansyon at pagkamatay ni Ollie. Kaya ka ba umalis? Dahil kay Ollie?”
I left because of you.
Hindi ko masabi sa kanya. Because telling her now means baring all the truth now. Masisira ang plano ko.
“Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin, Basti? I could have been there for you. I could've done things like take care of you while you were healing. Why didn't you tell me?”
“Can I focus on driving first? Please?” I glanced at her, bago itinutok muli ang tingin sa daan. “This trip is for all of that. You will know everything in a while. Be patient.”
“I'm impatient.” natawa ako. Dumeretso pa siya ng upo bago pinipilit tumalikod sa akin. Panay naman ang silip at irap sa pwesto ko. “I know. Do you want to eat first?”
“Ayaw. I want to know the truth, Basti. Talk to me.”
“Oo nga. Sasabihin ko nga mamaya.”
“Bakit mamaya pa? Ba't hindi na lang ngayon?” she looked around when I stopped the car. “Bakit tayo nandito? Ayaw ko nga kumain.”
“Ikaw? Tatanggi sa pagkain? I don't think so. Mag-order lang ako ng take out tapos ipapahatid ko na lang dito. Sabihin ko ayaw mo bumaba ng sasakyan.”
“Huwag na take out. Dito na lang tayo kumain. Doon sa bandang bintana. Ayusin mo parking ng sasakyan mo. Bilis.” hinabol niya ako ng makababa ako ng sasakyan.
Iba talaga ang babaeng 'to. Napaka-tsismosa!
“Will you tell me now what happened 3 years ago?” tanong niya habang sumusubo ng in-order niyang pasta.
This woman is overeating. May pasta na, may rice pa. Seriously? Saan niya nilalagay mga kinakain niya? She looks thin but when you watch her eat, the first word that will appear in your mind is glutton.
“Eat first. Maghanap na lang muna tayo ng inn o hotel na pwede pag-stay-an hanggang bukas ng madaling araw.”
“Bakit ka change topic? Pag-usapan natin pagkaka-ospital mo.” napakakulit talaga.
“Are you serious? Sayang 'yong foods na in-order mo kung hindi makakain.”
“Mauubos ko 'yan. Huwag mo pansinin pagkain ko. Walang masasayang dyan. Mag-kwento ka lang.”
“I have three to four types of Anxiety Disorder.” her hand stopped midair. She slowly looks at me. Straight to the eye, sinisiguro niya kung nagbibiro lang ako. When she realized that I am telling the truth, she instantly chew whatever is in her mouth before eating the one she's holding before I tell her about my sickness. Nagmamadali niyang nilunok agad lahat at inabot ang baso ng tubig. “Tanga! Seryoso ka?”
