Pag-uwi namin kahapon galing sa park ay naging mas tahimik ang bahay. She's still here, and she's currently at the kitchen cooking our lunch. I am here sa sala, at tanghaling tapat ay umiinom ako ng gatas. Naka ubos na ako ng tatlong plastic.
"That's too much." Bubuksan ko pa sana ang pang-apat when a hand took it away from me.
"I miss Gia." I said kaya napatingin ito sa akin. Bonding namin ni Gia uminom ng gatas eh.
"When will you leave?" Dagdag ko.
"Later." Napatango naman ako.
"Okay, I'll drop you off at the airport." Sagot ko naman. She sat beside me. I looked at her only to see she was doing the same.
"W-what?"Nauutal kong tanong. Umiling lang ito at lumapit sa akin.
"Let's eat?" Aya nito at hinila ako patayo.
I am watching her fixing her clothes. She doesn't bring that much so madali lang niya naayos ang gamit niya. While she was busy, I walked to where my clothes were. I kneel down and pull the box placed underneath the cabinet. When I opened it, I automatically smiled. It's still good. Nilingon ko siya only to see she's looking at me. I stood and went closer to her.
"Here, my present for your past birthdays." Saad ko at inilahad ang laman ng box. It's a wooden nameplate. Atty. Amaiah Zenaida Hidalgo, CPA was neatly carved. The inside part of it has her third name. The plate has her own box too.
"It's narra wood." I said while smiling. She slowly reached for it.
"That's the first thing I made when I finally learned how to carve." I added.
"Did you do it while still..."
"Yes, that's part of our activities. I also made you some, it was on the box." Putol ko sa itatanong nito.
"Thank you." Mahinang saad nito.
"You're welcome." Sagot ko and I patted her head. Nauna akong lumabas ng kwarto dahil baka maiyak ako while watching her wiping her tears.
Naupo ako sa couch sa sala while waiting for her to finish. Napabuntong hininga ako ng malalim. I am sweating, kinakabahan ako. I don't know why. Sinampal ko ang pisnge ko dahil kung ano-ano na ang naiisip ko.
"Let's go?" Agad kong tanong at tumayo when I saw her got out. Hindi ito nagsalita at tumango lang.
Our ride is quiet. She's not talking so am I. Her face is directly looking outside, I was about to talk when I heard her sobbing. Napalingon ako sa kanya, both of her hands are in her mouth maybe to prevent from making a loud noise. I stopped the car at the side. I removed her seat belt and pulled her closer to me.
"Why are you crying?" I softly asked but she just cried hard. I hugged her tight.
"I'm really sorry." Bulong nito. I rubbed her back.
"Shh, stop crying. We can't undo it, kaya please tahan na." Sagot ko naman and kissed her forehead.
Instead of stopping she cried even more. Goodness, hindi ko naman siya inaaway ah.
"Why are you like this? Please be mad at me. I really hate you!" She shouted annoyed while hitting me. I chuckled at her actions.
"I hate myself too." Natatawa kong sagot habang sinasalag ang kamay nito.
Napatigil naman ito, gusto kung tumawa because she looks so adorable right now. I reached for a tissue and wiped her face. Ang ganda pa rin kahit umiiyak. Kahit yata basahan ang isuot nito babagay pa rin eh.
"I'm serious! Stop being annoying, will you?!" Galit niyang bigkas at bumalik sa upuan niya. Napabuntong hininga ako bago nagsalita.
"What do you want me to do then? Be mad at you? For what, huh? For making me face the sentence of the case you have won against me? For making me imprisoned? For making your lover suffer for a crime she didn't commit? For ruining what I have? For taking away the five years of my freedom? Or for simply taking away my life? That you destroyed me?" Hingal akong tumigil sa pagsasalita when I looked at her she's biting her lower lip hard.
"Is that what you want to hear?" I added softly.
"Tell me, is that it?!" Mariin kong saad.
"See this?" Dagdag ko at hinubad ang damit revealing the reason why I don't wear short sleeve clothes.
"Look at all of it. Look at those reminders, Amaiah. I've been stabbed and subject to death. I've been tortured while being in there. No one helps me whenever I am in an unwanted situation but myself." Mahinang saad ko.
"I didn't know". Nahihirapang sagot nito.
"How would you know when you left me hanging? You never showed yourself to me. You never visited me, all of you have turned your backs on me. Now, tell me. How would you know?!" I am already tearing up.
"Look into my eyes. The other one can't see you while the other is fighting for our sight. My right eye can't see the world, Yshmael...b-because I'm blind, the eyes you admired had lost their glow." I could see how shocked she was.
"Wanna know why I can't be mad at you?" I asked. She's crying.
"Because I love you, I love you so much! To the point that I forgot how to love myself and lost it because of loving you!" Sigaw ko, she was startled.
"Kaya don't ask me to be mad at you because it's like you're telling me to unlove you." Mahinang dagdag ko habang nakatingin sa kanya.
Napabuntong hininga ako bago sinuot ulit ang damit ko. I gave her my handkerchief and opened the water for her. She's crying hard. I held her left hand and kissed the back of it.
"Fix yourself." Marahang saad ko bago bumaba ng sasakyan because I need fresh air. God! I am panting, goodness. I forgot to take my meds. Napahawak ako sa pinto ng sasakyan while still catching my breath.
Nakita kong mabilis na bumaba ng sasakyan ang isa at dali-dali lumapit sa akin.
"W-what's happening?" Nag-aalalang tanong nito but I couldn't speak. I felt like I was choked.
"Hey, hey. Breath in...breath out...yes, yes. You're doing great, keep doing it." Sinasabayan ko ang bawat salita nito, she's rubbing my back gently.
"Goodness, Amen Lord." Mahinang saad ko when I stabilize my breathing. A pair of hands immediately hugged me.
"Let's go?" I asked her as I escorted her back to her seat.
While my hand is holding the transmission lever her left hand rested on top of it. Her thumb brushed the back of my palm. I looked at her and smiled. What do we do now? She's looking at me the whole time until we reached the airport. I sighed before going out to open the door for her.
"Take care." I said as I let go of her when we are nearing the entrance.
"If ever you'll see Gia, please hug her for me." I said while smiling. Lumapit ako dito at niyakap siya. I am hugging her tight, her face resting on my neck.
"I am happy I got a chance to get to be near you again." I whispered, I could feel her tears streaming down.
"Amyeille." Bulong nito.
"Be happy and free." Nakangiti kong bigkas at hinalikan ang ulo niya. Unti-unti akong tumalikod mula sa kanya at humakbang paalis.
Hindi pa man ako nakakalayo when a pair of hands back hugged me. Stunned at that.
"Let me do the thing this time. I am happy to see you again. I just want to say, you are the treasure that is meant to be kept but not hidden. We'll see you soon, Baba." Bulong nito at unti-unting bumitaw. Lumingon ako dito seeing her wiping her tears, she turned her back on me after showing her most expensive smile.
BINABASA MO ANG
Convicted Innocence (1)
FanfictionFreedom seeks for crime and law. The truth among the lies and denials. Regrets and consequences. Questions and statements. Roaring in agony and despair. Truth or lie? Between the two, who are you? Justice towards betrayal. Will it be yours? Love a...
