Love-struck

Chapter 42: Autumn's Misery

Autumn's PoV:

"Where are you going, baby?"

"I need to see my wife, Mama." Nahihirapan kong turan. Hanggang ngayon ay naninikip pa rin ang aking dibdib. Hindi na ako magkandaugaga sa gagawin ko. I don't know what I should do first.

"Fuck. Where the hell are my keys?" Natataranta na ako sa totoo lang. As much as possible, gusto ko nang makarating sa lugar na pinangyarihan, batay na rin sa balita.

Nanlalabo ang aking paningin. Patuloy kong pinupunasan ang mga luhang umaagos sa aking mata. But my tears are like river, parang wala itong katapusan sa pagdaloy.

Ang sakit-sakit na. I guess, ganito talaga kapag nagmamahal ng isang tao.

Bakit kailangan pang mangyari 'to? Hindi ba pwedeng maging tahimik lang ang buhay namin? Why do people keep on tearing us apart? 'Yung tipong pati si tadhana ay humahadlang sa amin.

"Damn it!" I slammed my hands on the nearby table to release my frustrations. Hindi ko mahanap ang susi ng sasakyan ko.

"Autumn, anak, I want you to stay calm first. Relax." I felt that Mama placed her hands on top of my shoulder. Marahang pinisil nya ang aking balikat.

I nodded my head as an answer. I sternly closed my eyes. Pilit kong pinapakalma ang aking sarili. Unti-unting bumagal ang mabigat kong paghinga.

The pain that I'm experiencing is too much. There's no words that I can use to express the misery that I'm feeling right now.

"What happened, anak?" Napakahinahon ng pagkakasalita ni Mama. But the time that I lost it was when she wiped my tears using her thumb.

I quickly hugged her. "I.... I saw her car on the TV, Mama."

"And what does it say?"

I swallowed a lump. Parang umurong bigla ang dila ko at hindi makapagsalita. I looked at her teary-eyed.

"Ssh... You don't need to say it if you're not ready, anak. I won't force you." Mama gave me a cozy smile. Tumango ako bilang sagot.

Ilang saglit muna ang tinagal bago maiproseso ng isipan ko ang lahat-lahat.

I composed myself. I heaved a deep sigh.

"Based from the news, nasunog ang sasakyan ng asawa ko. Additionally, the car accidentally bumped into a tree. Lahat ay sunog at hindi nila makita ang taong sakay non."

Tumungo ako. Masakit 'tong sabihin pero kailangan. "And the authorities were assuming that Paris was already dead. Nasama sya sa sunog at naging abo na lang."

I bit my lips to prevent myself from crying. No, hindi ako dapat umiyak. Hindi pa naman sure kung patay na nga ang asawa ko.

Who knows, baka mamaya ay naligtas si Paris at may nagmalasakit na tulungan sya.

"That's why gustong-gusto ko nang puntahan ang lugar na 'yun, Mama."

"I'll accompany you." I won't take down her offer. Baka mawala ako sa tamang wisyo kapag nandoon na ako. Mas mabuting kasama ko si Mama Avril.

"Wait. I'll call your Mommy to inform her kung saan tayo pupunta." At inilabas ang kanyang cellphone.

"Wala ba rito si Mommy?"

Mama nodded her head. "Yeah. She went out for a while dahil may kinita syang kakilala. Ally's planning to hire a private investigator para mas mabilis na malaman natin kung anong totong nangyari."

"Thank you, Mama. I'm so grateful to have you two as my parents." I plastered a smile. I hope na maramdaman nya na sincere ako.

"No, baby. You don't need to thank us." At umiling-iling pa. "In fact, it's you that we're grateful for. We're so lucky to have you as our child, that's why we're doing everything for you. Mahal na mahal ka namin ng Mommy mo."