Kabanata 28
"Karita, hija!" A man with a smile called from the shores.
Lumapit ito sa may bamboo fence. May kasama siyang lalaki na mas bata sa kaniya.
"Naa miy bago kuha nga isda. Tulingan. Basin ganahan ka." He was beaming, oblivious of the prior chaos between me and Zhigor who was now busying himself with the bamboo bench.
Hindi ko alam kung anong ginagawa ni Zhigor diyan sa puwesto niya. Sinulyapan ko siya. Nakayuko sa may gilid at medyo may kinakalikot.
"Pila mana nong?" I shifted my attention and asked the man.
He named the price and was even happier when Zhigor handed him a blue bill. Yes, kanina lang umiiyak siya pero agaran ang pag bigay niya ng pera kay manong. Iyon yata ang kinaabalahan niya kanina riyan sa gilid.
"Ikaw ang bana ni Karita, ser?" Manong asked him.
I was about to answer his query to Zhigor when the brute nodded while eyeing the young man behind the fisherman. Gusto kong mag protesta sa sinabi ni Zhigor kaso hindi ko nagawa dahil tinudyo na ni manong si Zhigor.
Zhigor's smile was as wide as the sea. Even with the setting sun, it reflected his pupils.
"Mao diay nga di gasugot nis Karita ug naay mangtrato. Naa naman diay bana!" he exclaimed like it's a matter of fact.
Zhigor's smile became wider. It reached his ears. Kanina ay iyak-iyak at paawa effect pa iyan. Ngayon naman ay halos ipanglandakan na asawa ko siya.
Ang kapal talaga!
"Wala nakay pag-asa ni Karita, Elson." Siniko ni manong iyong kasamang lalaki. Mahina lang itong tumawa bago nag nakaw ng sulyap sa'kin.
I honestly don't have time for that though. I'm pregnant. My priority this time is to save enough money for my child's future, take care of my child and give him or her a home even if I cannot give him or her a complete family.
Oo nga't may milyones ako sa banko ngunit ilang taon lang ba iyon tatagal kung hindi ako mag tatrabaho? I need to earn more for future purposes. Na kahit anong pangarap ng anak ko ay makakaya kong tustosan iyon.
I don't need to live a lavish life even with the fat bank account. Inaamin ko naman na marami nga akong naipon. But it's just a matter of time 'till my savings run empty if I live like a queen.
Nang makaalis na sila ay pinasok naman ni Zhigor ang supot na may lamang isda. Nanatili lang ako sa labas habang tinatanaw ang papalubog na araw.
When he came back, he sat beside me. I felt his presence so near. The same effect and feeling rushed into my veins but I chose to ignore them.
Tama na.
Binilog niya ako. Niloko at trinaydor.
He used me. He used my overflowing emotions for him to gain money and power through my father's investment.
Tama nga siguro ang sinasabi nila nao? Kapag mahal mo raw ang isang tao, hindi natin napapansin na maari nila tayong lokohin o di kaya'y traydorin. We put our trust in the palm of their hands that sometimes we do not notice they are slowly crumpling it.
"Karita, baby." Banayad ang boses niya.
I remembered he wanted to explain. He wanted me to hear him out. Oh sige. Pagbibigyan ko siyang mag explain.
I'll hear him out. Once and for all. Para matahimik na siya't lubayan na kami ng anak ko.
"Simulan mo na nang makaalis ka na." Walang buhay kong sagot habang ang mga mata'y nakadiretso lamang sa malawak na karagatan.
BINABASA MO ANG
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