Breathless (Book 1&2)

Breathless #35

Chapter 35
Noreen

I was on my way home, yes home. Bumaba ako agad ng kotse at agad pumasok ng bahay matapos kong mabalitaan na hindi pa gumagaling si Daddy at lately nagsusuka siya at nanghihina. Dumiretso ako sa kwarto nila at doon ko nakita si Mommy na inaalagaan siya and what troubled me more is that hindi siya nakabihis ngayon, she's like a normal wife caring for his sick husband.

"N-Noreen..." tawag niya sa akin matapos akong makita, she looked at the white towel na nakasabit sa upuan, kinuha ko iyon saka inabot sa kanya "What brought you here?" she asked matapos punasan si Daddy at alalayang makahiga.

"Unfortunately, I am your one and only daughter so you have no choice, I am the only one who will care for you!" sagot ko habang nakatingin sa nakapikit na si Daddy "Why don't you bring him sa hospital? Ano bang sakit niya?" tanong ko.

"He is fine." Sagot ni Mommy sa akin saka tumayo "Let's talk?" napakunot ang noo ko pero sumunod na rin ako sa kanya.

We arrived at the veranda at nag pa serve ng tea si Mommy. She smiled at our maid saka inutusan na ring umalis. She obviously looked tired and those wrinkles she hid behind her makeup were now visible too. She's getting old, they're getting old faster than I think.

"What's wrong?" I asked her matapos mapansin ang expression ng mukha niya. Mas lalo akong nagtaka when she looked at our properties, sa malawak na lupa, sa maluwang na garden, sa mga maid na nag tra-trabaho sa tabi ng pool area. "Tell me, you're creeping me out!" dagdag ko.

"Look at that," she murmured habang nakatulala sa mga iyon. "Lahat ng pinagpaguran namin ng Daddy mo, it's worth it, isn't it?" tanong niya habang nakangiti. I suddenly felt uneasy dahil sa sinabi niya. I stared at her. I observed her. Obviously something is not right.

"Of course." Sagot ko na lang "Ikaw na rin ang may sabi, lahat ng meron ako, lahat ng nararanasan ko dahil yun sa mga pinagpaguran niyo." I looked away "Why don't you bring Dad sa hospital? It's been days since he got sick."

"He w-will be fine." Sagot sa akin ni Mommy habang nakatulala parin "He needs to be..."

"What's wrong?" hindi ko na mapigilang tanong sa kanya. "Why don't you just tell me?"

"Nothing that concerns you," sagot naman niya, ngumiti siya saka hinawakan ang kamay ko "Don't worry, I'll do my best in order for you to keep your life running as normal as possible." Mom stood up.

Naiinis ako sa kinikilos niya. One of the things that makes me irritable ay ang mga bagay na di ko alam at hindi ko maintindihan.

"And by the way Noreen." Lumingon siya sa akin "I hope that I can hold on to what you've said."

"Said? Ano yun Mom?" tanong ko.

"That you're our one and only daughter and there's no one out there who will care for us, no one but you."

"Mom..."

"Don't visit frequently, you know your Dad, he doesn't want to get disturb..." yun lang at iniwan na niya ako.

I don't really understand adults most of the time.

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Ron was cooking lunch habang inaayos ko yung magazines sa may sala. I watered the plant that Brick gave me. Bigla akong napatigil at napaupo sa sofa matapos siyang maalala.

He hasn't been contacting me since the last incident, Cloud never mentioned him too at ang alam ko hindi pa din umuuwi si Cloud sa family house nila kaya sinadya na siya ni Ate Chloe the last time.

I took my phone and sent a message to Brick, wala akong natanggap na reply within five minutes kaya binulsa ko na rin iyon agad. Napatingin ako sa pinto ng tumunog ang doorbell nun. I opened the door at nabigla ako sa nakita.