Been Hunting Home | Suarez III

Chapter 39

There is something more frustrating than being late . . . Being almost. You're in between late and not being late but closer to the latter.

As if the tips of your fingers fall picometer short to scratch the part of your back that itches; you tried but you just couldn't reach it. It's when the claws of a toy machine picked up the doll and you thought you'd make it to the hole but didn't—like a golf ball that stops just beside the cup.

If I can put it into words other than these, Hunt was a prize I almost had. But before he could land on my palms, someone else took him . . . because he was never mine to hold.

I was almost there . . . Only if fate offered me a helping hand.

Now that I'm here. Who is to be blame more? Is it fate . . . or me?

"Adelina."

Lumapit sa akin si Mamá nang makita ang pagdilat ng mga mata ko.

"Salamat sa diyos at gising ka na."

Mainit ang pakiramdam ng gilid ng aking mga mata. Kagigising ko lamang ay tila gusto ko nang bumalik sa pagtulog. Hindi ko maramdaman ang aking katawan.

"Ako na po ang tatawag sa doktor, señora," anang isang boses.

Pinaligiran nila ako. Narito silang lahat, sina Mamá, ang tatlong criada, si Kuya Simoun at si Kuya Ra—ang aking Papá. Nasa gilid lamang siya at nanonood sa mga taong pagpiyestahan ako ng pag-aalala. It's obvious that he wants to check on me but he doesn't have the courage to.

"How are you feeling, mi amor?" Hinaplos ni Mamá ang noo ko.

Wala akong maramdaman na sakit ngunit pakiramdam ko'y mabigat ang lahat sa akin. Para akong namamanhid.

"Sabihin mo, Adelina. Mahal ko, anong masakit sa iyo?"

"M-Mamá . . ." Napaniginipan ko si Hunt. Siya lang ang laman ng nagugulumihanan kong isip ngayon. "I-I know everything now, Mamá . . . H-Hunt . . . Hunt is not my brother, isn't he?"

Natulala sa akin ang ina, hindi inasahan na iyon ang unang lalabas sa bibig ko. Kalaunan, kinagat niya ang labi. "Adelina, si Hunt—"

"Si Hunt ay anak ni señor Martino. Ako ay anak ni Solomon." Sinulyapan ko ang ama sa gilid. "Totoong tao si Solomon . . . at . . . at Ramon ang pangalan niya—Si Hunt, hindi ko siya kapatid, Mamá—nasaan siya?" I am using my remaining energy to talk about him. I have to. Why isn't he here? He should be here. "Hunt has to know the truth. He has to know that we're not siblings or at least that we're not related. M-Mamá, I-I should see him."

Lumunok ang babae bago sakupin ng magkabila niyang palad ang pisngi ko. "Adelina . . ." Malalim ang paghinga niya. "A-Alam na ni Hunt, anak."

"T-Then where is he?" I looked around. "If he already knows, then he must have something to say. W-Why is he not here?"

Nakipagpalitan siya ng tingin sa mga criada. "H-Hunt . . . He's with his wife." Hirap na pinakawalan ni Mamá ang mga salitang 'yon.

Hindi marehistro ng utak ko ang narinig kung kaya't mabilis nagsalubong ang mg kilay ko. "W-Wife?"

Mamá swallowed again. She held my hand as she started to explain everything. "Hunt married Blanche a year later after your accident. Adelina, the doctors couldn't assure us that you're going to wake up. This is . . . this is a miracle for everyone. Y-You're in a coma for the past two years and—