Until Forever (Published!)

Chapter 45

Nasa hardin si Mia kasama ang ina nang lumapit ang katulong upang ibigay ang kanyang cellphone.

"Kanina pa po tumutunog iyan, Ma'am Mia." Iniabot nito sa kanya ang hawak na tumutunog na aparatu.

"Thank you," wika niya at tinanggap ang cellphone. Naiwan niya ang phone kanina sa coffee table sa sala. Nakita niya sa screen na si Josh ang tumatawag. That was the first time in weeks that he crossed her mind. Actually, in her stay in Makilala, she had forgotten about Iloilo. Maging ang mga pinaplano niya noon ay sandali rin niyang nakalimutan.

"Hi, Josh!" masayang bungad niya. "Kamusta?"

"I'm alright, Mia. Ikaw kamusta?"

"I'm fine. Thank you..."

"I can see that. In fact, pagkatapos mong ikasal ay ni hindi ka na nakakatawag kahit minsan," may himig ng paninibugho sa boses ng lalaki.

"I'm busy taking good care of my mother, Josh. And for making up with the lost time," she explained, and adjusted the cellphone on her ear.

"Si Tita Jasmin lang ba ang dahilan kung bakit nakalimutan mo na ang Iloilo?"

She felt heat rush to her cheeks. Kung nasa harapan niya si Josh, hindi makakaligtas dito ang pamumula niya. "Of course, paano ko naman makakalimutan ang Iloilo?" she answered with a slight embarassment in her voice. But she really had momentarily forgotten about Iloilo for the past weeks. Jasmin and Micheal totally occupied her attention. It made her forget about other things. A shadow of a smile crossed on her face as her husband's image popped on her mind. Nasa resort ito at nagtatrabaho pero palagi itong nasa kanyang isipan. Nasa bahay lang siya at inaalagaan ang ina, at tahimik lamang na naghihintay sa pag-uwi ng kanyang asawa.

"Siyanga pala, Mia," si Josh na pumutol sa daloy ng kanyang pag-iisip. "Kinukumusta ka ni Dra. Alva."

Her heart faltered a beat when she heard Dra. Alva's name. She swallowed painfully. She had forgotten about her, too. Mas tamang sabihin na ayaw niyang isipin ang tungkol sa doktor. A chilling fear enveloped through her as she stared into nothingness. Her eyes became cloudy.

"She's worried about you. Dalawang doctor's appointment mo na raw ang hindi mo napupuntahan. She wants to see you. Soonest, she said."

Muli siyang napalunok. Napuno ng pag-aalala ang kanyang dibdib. She didn't want to see Dra. Alva, but sooner or later, she had to. Kailangan nilang mag-usap.

"Tinanong ko nga kung ano ang importanteng sadya niya sa iyo so I can relay the message to you, but she did not elaborate further. It's a confidential matter daw. Alam mo na raw kung ano ang sadya niya sa iyo," pagpapatuloy ni Josh.

Josh's voice was soft, but it was deafening her. Nightmares started to play on her mind, and she shut her eyes hard. Sa nakalipas na mga araw ay nakalimutan niya ang matinding alalahaning dala-dala niya bago pumunta ng Makilala. But Josh's phone call hit her like lightning, and pulled her out of dreamland into reality.

"Mia, are you still there?"

"Yes, Josh," bahaw na pahayag niya. "Anyways, how's the transfer of title to my name?" pag-iiba niya sa usapan nila. Ang tinutukoy niya ay ang pagpapasalin ng titulo ng manggahan sa kanyang pangalan.

"That's the reason why I called you, Mia. I already took care of it. Naipasalin na sa pangalan mo ang titulo ng manggahan."

"That's a good news, Josh," nasisiyahang wika niya. She took a deep breath. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome, Mia..."

"Nakahanap ka na rin ba ng buyer?" her heart was beating in anticipation when she asked that.

"I have already talked to some prospect buyers, Mia. Hindi pa napa-finalize ang deal, but someone is interested to buy the property."

"Please, Josh..." She took a deep breath again. "Pakiasikaso naman, oh."

"Of course, Mia. You can count on me on that. I'm brokering a good deal for the plantation."

Nakahinga siya nang maluwag sa narinig.

"Hindi na siguro magtatagal at mabibili na ang manggahan," pagpapatuloy nito. "We're just finalizing some details. The buyer also wanted to see the property and do some ocular inspection. Most probably after that eh we can close the deal na. I'll inform you right away as soon as everything has been taken care of."

"Thanks a lot, Josh!" madamdaming pahayag niya. "I really appreciate all your help. May porsiyento ka sa presyo ng manggahan kapag naibenta na."

Josh chuckled on the other line. "No need, Mia," anito. "May professional fee naman ang ginagawa kong ito. Besides, hindi ka na iba sa akin. You know that."

She couldn't help but smile. She really could count on Josh anytime. "Salamat talaga..." muling usal niya.

"That's all, Mia. I'll call you again. Ipapaalam ko kaagad sa iyo kapag tuluyan nang naibenta ang manggahan, okay?"

"Okay, Josh..."

"And how about Dra. Alva?" singit nito.

She barely heard her own voice when she spoke. "Please tell Dra. Alva that I'll see her as soon as I can. I'll be back in Iloilo one of these days. Most probably, kapag naibenta na ang manggahan. I'm pretty occupied here as of the moment. Mama Jasmin is showing a good sign of recovery since I came here. Hindi ko pa siya maiiwanan."

"That's good news. I wish Tita Jasmin a fast recovery, Mia."

"That's my fervent hope. Sana ay gumaling na ang Mama sa lalong madaling panahon."

"Let's hope for the best. You sound happy there, and I'm happy for you, Mia. Tita Jasmin must be really happy now that you two are together."

She choked a sob. She was not able to suppress her tears. Naluha siya sa sinabi ni Josh. Sana nga ay tama ito. Sana nga ay masaya ang kanyang ina na magkasama na sila ngayon. How she wished that Jasmin could tell her that.

She wiped her tears dry with her fingers. Nilingon niya ang ina na ilang metro ang layo mula sa kanya. At muli na namang bumulwak ang mga luha niya.

Kaagad na pinahiran niya ang luha nang makita si Karina na papalapit. Humugot siya nang sunod-sunod na malalalim na hininga.

"Anyways, thanks for calling, Josh." Hinamig niya ang sarili.

"No problem, Mia. Sige, tatawagan na lang kitang muli sa susunod na mga araw."

"Thanks again. Bye, Josh!"

"Bye, Mia..."

Nasa malapit na si Karina at kaagad na isinilid niya sa bulsa ang kanyang phone. Isang ngiti ang iginawad niya sa nurse nang batiin siya nito. "Ikaw na muna ang bahala sa Mama, Karina. Magpapahinga muna ako," wika niya rito.

"Okay lang ba kayo, Ma'am Mia? Namumutla po kayo," wika nito na matamang nakatingin sa kanyang mukha.

"Masakit lang ang ulo ko, Karina. Iinom lang ako ng gamot at magpapahinga sandali. But I'm okay." Iyon lang at tinalikuran na niya ang babae.