Mended Broken Souls (✔️)

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

"Wala po ba rito sa Baranggay ang bahay n'yo? You didn't live there?" I asked her curiously when she drove her car to Baranggay Plaridel.

I wasn't that interested in her back then, but now... there's a part of me that wants to know her more.

Her parents. Her story in the past... everything.

She cast a glance at me with a smile on her lips.

"I am living there with my parents... may bahay rin ako sa Plaridel. Iyon ang madalas kong inuuwian noon pa man dahil gusto kong palaging mapag-isa." I felt sadness that lingering in her voice when she uttered those words as a reply, and I saw how it passed across her eyes.

I just nodded. 

Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero dahil sa presensiya niya ay natahimik ang magulo kong isip. We only had a few interactions before but I feel relieve when I'm with her, until now...

"Magtanong ka pa, sasagutin ko..." She smiled while her eyes were on the road. Napangiti na lang din ako.

She was acting casually like she's refraining herself from asking me questions about my situation. That gave warmth in my heart because I don't really also want to talk about it right now that would cause my sudden change of mood to shift again from my original mood since I woke up.

I cleared my throat before asking, "Ilang taon na po kayo?"

"42, but tomorrow's my birthday so upcoming 43 na."

Tumango ako. "Advance happy birthday po..." I smiled.

Nakita kong natigilan siya bago lumingon sa 'kin at ngumiti ulit. "Bukas pa naman pero... salamat."

"Would you mind if I ask... Do you have a husband?" I asked. I didn't see her even once with a man or children that are probably her family if ever.

Nakita ko kung paano siya mas lalong natigilan. Sadness passed across her face, especially when her eyes fixed on me again. Hindi siya sumagot agad, dahilan para sisihin ko ang sarili ko kung bakit ko pa 'yon tinanong.

Perhaps it was a sensitive question for her.

"I'm sorry for a-asking... 'Wag n'yo na lang pong sagutin." I landed my eyes outside of the window of her car.

I noticed the huge field with neatly trimmed bushes around. There were still a lot of spaces on the huge field that more houses can still be built. Hindi ko 'yon namalayan kanina dahil tutok ako sa pagtitig at pagtatanong sa kaniya.

Napatingin ako sa tinatahak na daan. It was a long road in between of the huge field. Maraming puno rin ang nakapalibot sa buong lugar. I didn't know that this Baranggay has this. Hindi naman kasi sa Baranggay na ito ako nakatira.

My lips parted at the vision of the medium elegant nipa house from afar. It was just solely built there. Walang kahit anong katabing bahay. Napangiti ako nang maisip na ganito ang gusto kong buhay at pagawaan ng bahay ng magiging pamilya ko pagdating ng panahon.

Living here is like a denote of choosing my peace of mind away from the reality. This place being far from the road is like denoting that I am far away from the reality.

This is perfect for my want and need for myself.

"Wala akong asawa at naging asawa... I chose to be alone. Wala rin namang silbi iyon kung ang mapapangasawa ko ay ang lalaking hindi ko mahal," she finally spoke. My hurt clenched in pain because of her answer.

She stopped the car right exactly in front of the only nipa house built in this place in between of the simple garden that full of roses. The left side was full of red roses, and the right side was full of white roses.