Above the Sea of Fog (Provincia de Marina Series #3)

Kabanata 29

Kabanata 29

Above the Sea of Fog

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nakaharap ko si Wyatt. The hairs on my nape stood up like I shivered at the thought of his matured face. I've always known that Wyatt would be more handsome when he's aged. I believe he was in his thirties now, considering that I was five years younger than him. Sa edad pa nga lang namin noon, alam mo na ang kaibahan.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at halos hindi maipirmi ang atensyon sa iisang bagay. My thoughts were always filled with Wyatt's serious face and the way he acted in front of me. Ano pa bang aasahan ko? Hindi naman ako yayakaping bigla ni Wyatt. He won't say that he missed me during those five years that I wasn't with him. Alam kong hindi na kami pareho ng nararamdaman because while he moves on, I was still stuck on many what ifs. Iyong nangyari sa amin ay gusto kong ibaling ang galit sa nagpasimuno.

But there was no point in getting angry at my own father, right? Hindi ko man kinilala pero dugo niya ang nananalaytay sa akin. I am a Balsameda by blood but I wasn't one of them. At hindi ko pa rin matanggap ang katotohanang iyon.

"Are you okay Syrean?" tanong sa akin ni Linda habang inilalapag ang chamomile tea sa aking harapan. Agad na niyakap ng aking palad ang init ng tasa ng tsaa.

"I'm okay, Linda. Thank you."

"I'm sorry about yesterday, Syrean. I'm really, really—"

"Linda, it's alright. We found her and that's the only thing that matters." I cut her off.

Ngumiti si Linda sa akin ngunit nababakas ko pa rin naman ang kaniyang pagsisisi. Hindi ko na siya pinagalitan kagabi nang umuwi kami sa bahay. Lahat kami ay pare-parehong pagod kaya hindi na ako nagbalak pang mag-aksaya ng kaunting lakas. I just wanted fo sleep and rest beside Saab as soon as possible. Buti naman at nakatulog diin agad si Saab. If anything, I think she might not stop talking about the nice man. Mas lalo lamang sisikip ang dibdib ko kapag nagkataon.

The soothing effect of the chamomile tea brushed through my throat. Napapikit ako at hinayaang makonsumo ng pampakalma.

Gusto kong tawagan si Muriel at itanong kung alam ba nila na nandito si Wyatt. They were friends after all. Kung sakaling alam ng isa't isa na bibisita rito, malamang ay magkikita iyon. However, Wyatt stayed here while the Felisartas already travelled to Spain. Kung gan'on hindi siya nagbabakasyon dito at baka business ang ipinunta.

"Mama?" tawag sa akin ni Saab habang nasa kama na kami at handa ng matulog.

"I want to go to Hyde again. I want to feed the ducks po!" She looked so cute while using the 'po'. Mas ginagamit niya iyon kapag gustong-gustong makuha ang gusto. And how could I ever resist such cute and innocent face?

"Do you want to see them on a weekend? I'm still busy tomorrow."

"Okay po! Thank you Mama!" She was jumping on the bed, telling me how happy she is that she's going to Hyde Park again.

Halos hilahin ko nga ang mga araw para lang mag-Sabado na. Day by day, I can feel Saab's excitement. She was really looking forward to it. Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit ngayon lang siya naging ganito ka-excited magpakain ng bibe eh linggo-linggo naman silang nandoon ni Linda.

I dressed her up in a pair of cute pants and pink blouse. Pinatungan ko nang makapal na jacket ang kaniyang katawan at pinasuot ng kaniyang paboritong boots. I even put a beanie on her head. Kahit hindi pa nags-snow, lumalamig na ang paligid kaya doble rin ang patong ko ng jacket sa kaniya. Kung ayaw ni Saab, agad niyang inaalis iyon at hinahayaan ko na lang sa gusto.

We went to Hyde Park using my car. Si Linda ay iniwan ko sa bahay at sinabihan kong magpahinga muna. Tuwang-tuwa naman siya. Pakiramdam ko ay ilang araw din siya stress dahil sa alaga.