I Am You [COMPLETED]

Chapter 17

Months had passed and nothing had changed. Bukod sa may caregiver nang kinuha si Simon, wala nang iba pang pagbabago. Selene was still shouting at me. However, the way she talks bad about me, the way she shouted at me and the way she inclement on me, it lessened... and it was enough for me. Atleast, hindi na siya gaanong nagsusungit pagdating sa 'kin.

I am here at the kitchen, cooking for our breakfast. The caregiver Simon had hired was on her leave. Tomorrow's her birthday and her son wanted her to go home for them to celebrate the birthday party there.

I looked at the living room and saw Selene was busy studying. She was sitting at the floor. Her eyebrows met upon seriously looking at the book who's at the coffee table.

When I saw the twins came in the scene and play around the living room, I saw how Selene's eyebrows met in irritation. She stopped reading the book and looked at the twins. When she was about to yell at her younger sister and brother, I interrupted and come to the living room.

"Hey, kiddos," pagtawag ko sa dalawa. Kaagad naman silang napalingon sa akin. Tiningnan ko lang saglit si Selene bago nginitian ang dalawang bata. "I wanted to water the plants. Can you two help me?"

Napatawa ako nang masigla silang sumagot sa sinabi ko. Dinala ko sila sa garden at nang maayos na makapag-aral si Selene.

'Yon lang ang ginawa namin. Just like the normal days, I went to my office, as well as Simon. Selene and the twins were on the school.

I was currently working on some papers, signing it, when my phone rang. I picked it up and answered the call.

"Yes?"

[Mrs. Rawlins, is this you?]

Napakunot-noo ako nang marinig ang boses sa kabilang linya.

"Yes. May I know who's this?"

[This is Teacher Josefina.] I heard her heaving a deep sigh on the other line. [Coleen's having a stomache. She's in the clinic right now. Hinahanap-hanap ka kaya tinawagan kita.]

Nang marinig ko ang masamang balita ay kaagad akong nagpunta sa school. I rushed to the clinic. There, I saw Coleen lying at the clinic bed. When I looked at her face, my heart sank upon seeing her teary eyes and gloomy face.

"Hey, you okay sweetie?" malambing na saad ko pagkalapit ko sa higaan niya.

Kaagad naman siyang bumangon at yumakap sa akin, naroon ang lukot sa mga labi, papaiyak na.

"'Ma..."

Hinagod ko ang likod niya nang marinig ko ang hikbi niya.

"Hey, it's okay." Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Masakit pa ang tiyan mo?"

Nang umiling siya ay kaagad akong nakahinga nang maluwag. Hinanap ng mga mata ko si Codie. Ganoon nalang kagulat ang mga mata ko nang makita siya roon sa gilid, nakaupo sa sahig at bahagyang nakatungo.

Iniwan ko muna saglit si Coleen at pinuntahan si Codie. Sa ilang buwan kong pananatili sa bahay nila, kahit papa'no ay kilala ko na sila. I knew that everytime Coleen would be in danger, he would repent himself for the mistake he didn't even create. Ni wala siyang kasalanan pero pilit niyang sinisisi ang sarili niya sa nangyari sa kapatid niya. That's how loving brother Codie is.

"Sinisisi mo na naman ang sarili mo?" mahina kong tanong sa kanya.

Nang tumango siya sa akin ay napabuntong-hininga ako. Nakaupo parin siya sa sahig, nakayuko at nakanguso, papaiyak na.

"Hindi naman lahat ng mangyayari kay Coleen ay kasalanan mo," mahina kong sabi, naroon ang pag-iingat sa bawat salitang binibigkas ko sa bata. "Minsan, kasalanan din ng iba... Minsan ay kasalanan din ni Coleen iyon."