Masked Glamour

Chapter Twenty-Six

Ferula

"Mrs. Laurette, would you mind if I'll do that for you?"

She smiled at me and shook her head. "Kaya ko na ito, Ferula."

Tipid akong napangiti rin sa kanya saka lumapit at naupo sa sahig na may saping makapal at kulay tsokolateng tela. I took the small bottle of massage oil on the sofa beside where she sat.

"Okay lang po. Madalas ko rin naman pong minamasahe si mama noon," sambit ko habang nakangiti sa kanya.

She smiled softly then patted my shoulder. "Thank you. You're so sweet."

I poured the oil on my palm whilst she straighten her feet in front of me. "I used to do this before when my mother would complain about her numbing feet."

"She must be so lucky to have such a caring and thoughtful daughter."

Napangiti ako habang minamasahe ang kanyang kaliwang binti. "I am more than lucky to have her as my mother. She was strong and a courageous woman. Ginawa niya ang lahat para maibigay sa akin ang maayos na buhay." Hindi nawala ang ngiti sa aking mga labi habang nagkukwento.

"There are times when I could hear her crying in the middle of the night while silently calling my father's name, mourning for her hushand's loss. But when morning came she would act like nothing happened. Still all smile to me."

Mrs. Laurette softly looked at me. "Ngayon hindi na ako magtataka kung saan mo nakuha ang lakas ng loob."

A short laugh eacaped my mouth. I just simply nodded in agreement to what she'd said.

"Have you seen Azarious?"

Mula sa aking ginagawang pagmasahe sa mga binti ni Mrs. Laurette ay nag-angat ako ng tingin ng marinig ang tanong ni Mr. Krion. Mula sa kusina ay naglakad siya palapit sa amin.

"Hindi. Bakit?" Mrs. Laurette asked.

"Hindi ko siya madalas makita nitong mga nakaraang araw. Saan ba nagpupunta ang isang iyon?"

"Nandyan lang iyon." Tila balewalang sambit ni Mrs. Laurette. "Para namang hindi mo kilala iyon. Nawawala at sumusulpot na lang bigla."

Nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga si Mr. Krion. "I just find him acting odd." Naupo siya sa katapat naming sofa.

"Odd? What do you mean? Is he sick?" Natatakang tanong ni Mrs. Laurette.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa aking gingawa ngunit nanatili na ang aking atensyon at pandinig sa kanilang usapan.

What does he mean by odd? I actually haven't seen Azarious for almost a week now. Madalas ay inaabangan ko siyang bumalik o kahit hintayin ko syang magpunta sa talon ngunit hindi kami nagkikita.

Hindi ko maitatangi sa sarili na may kaunting lungkot ang sumibol sa aking damdamin ngunit naiintindihan ko naman siya. Sasabihin naman niya ang kanyang pinagkakaabalahan kung gusto niya iyong pag-usapan.

Sa mga nakalipas din kasing mga araw ay pansin ko na paunti-unti ay nagagawa na niyang magkwento o magsabi ng mga tungkol sa ginagawa niya sa buong araw.

"No. That's not it. He was asking me about the nearby town like it interest him more than anything."

Nearby town? He must be pertaining to Neville. But for what reason.

"Sa Neville?" takang tanong din ni Mrs. Laurette. Tumango ang kanyang kabiyak bilang pagsang-ayon.

"The last time we had a talk, he was asking some things about the town of Neville. I just find it odd since it was the first time I've seen him looking so interested in something." Nakakunot ang noo ni Mr. Krion saka nagpatuloy.