LORREINE'S POV
Pagkapasok ko ng bahay agad akong sinalubong ni Nanay Sonya.
"Sa kwarto anak. Nasa kwarto sya." Hinihingal niyang sabi.
Hindi naman na ako nagtanong at dumiretso na lang sa kwarto. Nakita ko si Tita na nahihirapang huminga. Nakaupo siya sa sahig at nakasandal sa gilid ng bed.
"Tita!" Lumapit na ako sa kanya agad and as soon as nahawakan ko yung balikat niya, she passed out.
Agad naman akong tinulungan ni Nanay para maihiga sya sa bed. Inayos ko na rin yung breathalizer and monitoring devices na need para ma-stablize yung breathing at heartbeat niya hanggang sa mag-normal na ito.
Ako talaga agad ang tinatawagan ni Nanay Sonya pagdating sa ganito dahil nung unang magpass out si Tita, dinala ko sya sa hospital and sa akin ibinilin ng Doctor kung anong dapat gawin everytime na magpa-pass out sya. Halos twice a week ito nangyayari sa kanya kaya sanay na rin ako.
"Nasan po ba si Tito, akala ko po uuwi sya?" I asked Nanay Sonya pagkaligpit ko ng mga gamit.
"Yun na nga. Tumawag si Alec dahil sya ang magsusundo sana sa Tito mo kaso wala naman daw Sir Greggy na dumating. He waited a few more hours pero wala talaga and sabi daw sa information desk, naka-land na lahat ng eroplano galing UK." Manang explained.
"Pagpunta ko sa kusina, sasabihin ko sana sa kanya na tumawag si Alec kaso pagdating ko wala na sya dun and wala na rin yung wine doon sa mesa kaya dali-dali akong umakyat dito. Naka-lock yung pinto kaya bumaba pa ko ulit para kumuha ng susi at pagkabukas ko nitong pinto, yan na ang naabutan ko kaya tumawag na ko sa'yo" She continued
I nodded and returned my gaze at Tita Irene who is now sleeping peacefully. My phone vibrated again.
Mom calling...
"Hello." I unconsciously answered.
"Anak where are you? Umuwi ka na dito sa bahay. Ngayon lang ako uuwi tapos wala ka pa dito. Go home now!" She ordered.
"Sorry Mom, I have an emergency to attend pa. I'll go home when I can." I ended the call and put my phone on airplane mode.
"Tin! Celestine anak! Don't leave please. Wag na mag London, dito ka na lang kay Mommy please. Anak!" I was woken up by Tita Irene's shout. Nandito ako nakatulog sa sofa.
"Tita, wake up, you're dreaming po. Tita!" I tried to wake her up and I succeeded.
"Celestine! Anak ko wag mo iwan si mommy please." She hugged me so tight. I couldn't even breathe.
"Tita it's Lorreine, si Lorreine po ito. Calm down na." Ganito talaga sya after niyang magpass out. Celestine agad ang hinahanap niya pagkagising niya.
She let go of the hug and took the pillow na shirt ni Celestine and pillowcase at yun ang niyakap niya. She's crying uncontrollably right now and hindi ito maganda dahil pwede nanaman siyang magpass out anytime.
"Tita calm down first okay? Baka magpass out ka nanaman eh." I said calmly as I reach for her shoulder.
"Call Celestine, I want to hear her voice. Please" She pleaded.
"Tita I can't, wala akong contact niya." I made her understand. She blocked all of my social media accounts. Si Tita naman, walang social media.
"I said call Celestine now!" She shouted. Hinabol niya naman agad ang hininga niya.
Kanina pa kami nagtatalo because she wants me to call Celestine and hinihingal na sya ulit kakasigaw. Wala na akong magagawa dahil mukhang hindi talaga siya titigil so I decided to make a dummy account. I sent a message first para magpakilala before calling Celestine's IG.
"Celestine answer the call please." I whispered in desperation.
Nakaupo ako ngayon dito sa sofa at tinitingnan si Tita sa bed. Ayaw niya akong palapitin hanggat hindi ko daw natatawagan si Celestine. I think she's a bit drunk too.
"Hello" Celestine finally answered! Naka-off cam sya.
"Oh my goodness finally!" I almost shouted pero mahina lang.
"Why are you calling? I'm at class." She whispered.
"Your mom wants to talk to you." I whispered too.
"Ate you know I can't. I'm at class. Busy ako, next time na lang." She's about to end the call but I stopped her.
"Please Celestine, she won't calm down. Just talk to her. Parang awa mo na, ako naman pagbigyan mo ngayon. And please talk to her nicely like how you used to talk." I begged. She sighed.
"Okay but this time lang ha. Don't call me na ulit, I won't answer anymore." She warned me.
Hindi ko naiiintidihan 'tong bata na to. She don't want to talk to her mom na since she flew to London. Eh dati lang di to nakakatagal na walang Mommy.
"Tita, Celestine is on the phone po." I tapped the screen record before I handed her the phone.
Nag-usap naman silang mag-ina until Tita finally calmed down. Rinig ko naman na maganda ang pag-uusap nila and Celestine sounds so sweet. Then they decided na to end the call.
I helped Tita Irene go back to bed na then I proceeded to her desk and opened her computer to edit yung screen record. I trimmed the file to capture yung mga boses lang ni Celestine then I converted it to mp3 before I saved. I turned off na the computer and napansin ko yung polaroid paper na nakatalikod and may UV light ito sa harap. I read what's written on it.
"You will always have me, because I will always choose you. Pangako." -Moon
I flipped the paper and saw na picture nila yun sa Zambales. Parang that was the last time na rin yata nila nag bonding.
Pangako.
I scoffed at my thoughts and placed the polaroid back to its place.
YOU ARE READING
Losing Her
Short StoryShe was her everything, all her dream come true. But how will she lose someone that was never really hers?
