Lead Me To You

Kabanata X

Adjustments

Monica

I see so many familiar faces. Even after all those years, they're still here. Mas lalo lamang namumuhay sa aking puso ang mga alaala ng nakaraan.

"Good morning, Signora." Bati sa akin ng mga pamilyar na mukhang nasa harapan ko ngayon.

'Signorina' ang titulo ko noon. Ibig sabihin ay 'young lady' sa English. Nakakataba ng puso na tawagin nila ako ngayong 'Signora' na ang ibig sabihin ay 'madam or lady'.

Hindi ako makapagsalita at parang umurong na ang aking dila dahil hindi ko maisatinig ang aking sasabihin.

"Monica," my cousin snapped at me. "They are greeting you." He said.

Agad ko naman silang hinarap at ginawaran ng aking tipid na ngiti. Hindi ko pa rin talaga alam kung ano ba ang mararamdaman ko ngayong nakatungtong na akong muli sa mansyon na ito.

Francis somehow snatched the attention of all the people in this lobby as he walked in my direction. All eyes were turned to him as he started to speak.

"Pardon me for being late. May pinaghahandaan kasi ang buong mansyon na pagsasalo bukas." Francis proclaimed.

He has so much authority in him.

"That's okay. Kararating lang din naman namin. Pero mukhang pagod sa byahe si Monica kaya kung maaari ay ihatid ko na muna siya sa kanyang magiging kwarto." Sabi naman ng aking pinsan na si Matteo.

Tumango na lamang si Francis at hindi na nagdalawang isip pa ang aking pinsan at giniya na ako pataas ng magarbong hagdanan.

We stopped at the familiar door. It is indeed familiar because this was my room before, and in irony, this is where I will be staying from now on until I am here. My chest was pounding hard and I feel like I'm going to faint. I don't know how long I can keep this up but I'm not gonna last if I will keep this to myself. I held Matteo's arm as we entered the room. He sat me down on the bed and looked at me worriedly. He put his hand on top of my hand that was holding his arm and touched my forehead suddenly. He still looked worried.

"Do you want to be checked? You are burning up." He whispered.

"I can't- can't stay here. I- I'm going to die." I cried.

I don't know why.

"You're safe here. No one's going to hurt you unless Francis and I are here. We're going to protect you, alright?" He assured.

"No, no, no! I can't stay in this room. I can't be alone here. I'm going insane!" Hindi na ako mapakali.

Sa loob ng kwartong ito nakaukit ang nakaraan. Tila nakadikit ang mga iyon sa dingding at sa apat na sulok nito. Saan man ako tumingin ay parang gumagalaw ang mga larawang tila ako lamang ang nakakakita.

"Francis!" Matteo's voice was receding as I examined the room with my eyes.

"Francis!" He called again.

My anxiety is killing me. And I am letting myself suffer for staying in this room. I am still not letting go of Matteo's hands, holding it tightly as if it's gonna fade.

"Can she transfer a room?"

"The other rooms are not yet thoroughly cleaned, I'm afraid. But she can stay in my room in the meantime. Ipapautos kong linisan ang katabi kong kwarto para sa kanya."

"It's gonna take one more day?"

"Probably, they still need to move some furniture."

"And she can't be alone, at least for now. Until she adjusted."