Stay around or else -

Chapter XXXVIII

ⓚⓔⓛⓛⓘⓝ's
♚ Point of view ♔

Nagulat ako ng umiiyak na sumugod si Madam Amity kung saan kame naroon ni Ninong. Natigil tuloy ang kwentuhan namin.

"Oh! Dear! Give her time. Understand her." Alo ni Ninong sa naiyak na babae.

"I don't think she'll forgive me. She's really really mad at me unlike her sister Asylum. She wanted to come with me." Anito.

Nag-aalalang dumaan sa hinagap ko si Adytum. Asan kaya siya? Pumayag na siguro siyang si Ate Asylum na lang ang sumama. Pero paano siya?

"Ninong, can I excuse myself? I need to find Adytum." Paalam ko na agad niyang tinanguan.

Pagpasok ko sa bahay. Una kong pinuntahan ang kwarto nila ni Ate. Baka nag-uusap pa rin ang dalawa hanggang ngayon.

I knock on the door then eventually open it when I heard someone inside saying that I can come in.

I saw Ate Asylum there packing her things while crying.

"Thank you so much for letting me live here but I need to be with my mother. I only have one favor to ask Kellin if you don't mind." Anito. She wiped her tears continously as it rolling down to her cheeks.

"Yeah. I don't mind ate." I seriously answer.

"Can you please take good care of my baby sister for now?" Anito.

"I'll have toㅡㅡ undergo operation. You know." Dugtong niya.

Ngumiti ako. "I'll do it even if you didn't say that. I love your sister so much. It's impossible that I'll give up on her."

Ginagap niya ang kamay ko saka masuyo iyong pinisil.

"I trust you. Don't worry. I'll be back after my operation. I'll get her." Biro niya sa pagitan ng pag-iyak. She let go of my hands and I wipe her tears.

"You can get her. Just be back. Okay? She'll be very happy to see you once you get better."

She nodded.

"Get well Ate." Bilin ko pa sa kanya. Saka nagpaalam na. I ask for help para makita si Adytum. I'm not that crazy to find her alone in 50 rooms inside our house.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng sabihin ni Manang Fe na naroon sa kwarto ko si Adytum.

Once again, I knock on the door.

"Stop wasting your time convincing me to go with you." Malakas niyang sigaw.

"This is Kellin." Pahayag ko.

Narinig kong umikot ang knob tanda na binubuksan iyon.

Mugto ang mata. Magulo ang buhok at waring pagod.

How will I convince her to forgive her mom? If only I can help her deal with this easily, she wouldn't be in that situation right now.

Sabay kaming pumasok. She lock the door again and sat on the floor. She hug her knees and sank her face on it.

Tumabi ako sa kanya. Without saying anything. I tap her shoulder and gently caressed her back.

May ilang minuto kaming ganoon. Hanggang sa sumandal siya sa balikat ko. Inakbayan ko siya.

"Mali ba ko?" Tanong niya na nagpalingon sa'ken.

Nag-kibit balikat ako.

"I can't say you are or not." Pahayag ko.

"Ang hirap lang. Half of me wanted to be with her but the other half doesn't want to." Aniya.

"Don't force yourself. Hayaan mong maging buo yung desisyon mo. Time will come." Aniya.