Destination: You

Veinticinco

Veinticinco

Breathing in and out was my way of calming myself but sometimes that's the reason why I'm always out of breath and constantly feeling that I'll faint.

More than two decades, I've been separated from them – no news, no greetings, no communication, nothing. Naputol na lang bigla ang ugnayan namin. But here I am now, staying under the same roof as my sister and mother. Yasmin has her own family now with the cutest little girl and a Filipino husband, and I'm just so happy for her.

My smile hasn't faded a bit since I have got here. I didn't think that they'd welcome me, recognize me, and I didn't expect that their reactions would be like this. They didn't doubt me, Yasmin knew that I'm her sister, with no other questions nakilala niya ako. It warms my heart with everything that is happening, it's like a dream that I don't want to wake up from.

"We thought you were dead."

I heard an imaginary ringing in my ear when my mother said that. Nakahiga lang siya sa kanyang kama, resting, Yasmin doesn't want her to get up since she's sick. Buti na lang hindi ganoon nagulat si Mom dahil may possibility raw na atakihin siya.

"It was five years after we left your Dad. Parati ako noon tumatawag sa kanya, kinukumusta ka, kung saan ka niya pinapa-aral. One day, nong tumawag ako, bigla na lang niya sinabi na nagkasakit ka, dengue raw, at hindi raw nakayanan ng katawan mo. . ." she stopped. Tears are slowly forming in her eyes, parehas sila ni Yasmin.

I was confused and heartbroken. She was calling him. She cared about me and wanted to know about me, but he shut her down. 'Yon ba ang dahilan kung bakit hindi na nila ako binalikan? It's Dad's fault, again. Lahat na lang ba ng kamalasan ko sa buhay ay may kinalaman si Dad?

I heaved a sigh and reached for my mother's hand. I gave her a reassuring smile before I could say something.

"I'm here now. I'm alive. I took care of myself, you have nothing to be worried about. Nahanap ko kayo and I'll spend time with you as much as I can." I smiled. Lumapit ako sa kanya at niyakap siya nang mahigpit, sumabay na rin sa'min si Yasmin. We hugged each other tightly, it was comforting and homely.

We talked and tried to catch up with each other. I found out that they flew here to Madrid because Mom is an Esapañola, and that she has friends and relatives here that could help her start a new life.

They were thrown out of their old house and forced to live here in this apartment. I also learned that Yasmin had Cristina, her daughter, even before they were married. They got married last year while Cristina is already 4 years old.

Nang oras na para matulog si Mom ay hinayaan na namin. When Yasmin and I got to the living room, may bote na ng alcohol doon and Daniel is still here. I guess we'll be having a drink.