Long Lost Daughter

Chapter 30

𝗜𝗺𝗲𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘀

Its already 6:00 in the evening and I just get home from senate. When I entered the house a silent atmosphere meet me. This isn't the usual feeling that I felt whenever I go home because everytime I go home I have this very special happiness in my heart but today seems so different.

Nasaan kaya si Irene?

"Manang..." I called, pumunta ako sa kusina para tanungin yung mga kasambahay kung asan yung mga tao dito at bakit tahimik.

"Ma'am?" Manang Esther replied.

"Asan yung mga tao dito? Bakit ang tahimik? Si Irene?" I asked as I roamed my eyes around.

"Ah si Ma'am Irene po, umalis, ihahatid daw po ata niya si Isabelle yun po yung narinig ko." Manang Esther replied, I was shocked, tinutoo talaga ni Isabelle yung sinabi niya kagabi. Nakakatampo hindi manlang niya ako hinintay. I was about to reply to manang Esther when I heard the door opened. I gaze to the direction. It was Irene and Matthew.

Nung nagtama ang mata ko at ni Irene, para siyang pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa na parang pasan-pasan niya ang lahat ng problema sa buong mundo.

Alam kong nasaktan siya sa pag-alis ni Isabelle dahil kitang-kita ko na parang anak na niya kung ituring si Isabelle. I didn't speak yet instead I went near to her and hugged her tightly letting her feel my sympathy and comfort, I know she needs someone to cry on right now and I want her to feel that she has an ate. I gesture Matt to get a water for Irene as I guided the way to the living room so we could sit.

"Ading, breath." I said, napapaluha narin ako dahil sa pag-iyak niya.

"Umuwi na siya?" I asked softly, she nodded and bowed her head.

"She already left me, Manang." She replied, I can hear the hurt from her voice but yet she managed to smile lightly so I respond a smile and signaled her to lean on my shoulder.

"Ading, hindi siya mawawala sayo, dahil jan sa puso mo palagi mo siyang kasama at palagi mo siyang maaalala at ganyan din yung mararamdaman ni Isabelle." I tried to console her, I gently rub her back for comfort.

"Don't ever think that way again, ading. I know you were hurt dahil sa ginawa niya but you need to be strong for yourself, for us and for our Celestine."

"Ading, I think its time to investigate Isabelle's identity? What if she's Celestine?" I uttered, hoping that she'll agree.

"Manang, she told me na hinding-hindi magiging siya si Celestine." She replied bitterly, I immediately shook my head for disagreement.

"Pero okay lang naman kung subukan natin diba? Let's take the risk ading." I consulted her, she didn't respond to me so I told her to just rest muna.

𝘐𝘧 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘈𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.

"I know you're tired, Ading. Take a rest muna."

Tumango siya at inihatid ko siya sa kwarto niya.

"I'll call you when the dinner is ready, okay?" I told her, she smiled lightly as she nodded at me.

"Okay manang, thank you.." She replied softly, this woman, this sister of mine is the very soft-hearted one.