Pursuing My Nemesis

Forty

Chapter 40

IPINAKILALA NI Mrs. Bonneville ang anak niya. She was smiling at us, greeting us a happy new year. She doesn't seem surprised when her eyes landed on me. Hindi ba niya nakikita kung gaano kami magkamukha? The figure of our eyes, our smiles (except that she was more of a sunshine than I am), and the shape of our heads. Mas lumawak lalo ang ngiti niya nang batiin niya ako.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Nemmie," she said, her voice was soft just like her Mom's.

"Nice to meet you, too, Saelor," sagot ko na lang kahit nawi-wirduhan pa rin ako.

She excused herself from us and went inside the staff room with Mr. Bonneville who just joined us a few moments ago. Hanggang sa mawala ang dalaga sa harapan namin ay hindi pa rin nagsasalita si Triton, maging si Aniel na nahuhuli kong tumitingin-tingin pa rin sa likuran ko.

"Uh, excuse me for a moment, Mrs. Bonneville. May pupuntahan lang po ako saglit," sabi ko saka tumayo.

"Oh, have you seen your parents, Nemmie? They're here," she said to me.

Napakurap ako. Nagkausap na ba sila ni Mama? Alam kaya ng mga magulang ko na nandito ako?

"I'm actually going to see them po," sabi ko at bumaling kay Aniel. He was still wary about something. "I'll be right back."

Tahimik lang siyang tumango at saka uminom sa kanyang whiskey. Tinapik ko ang kanyang balikat at nagtungo na sa pwesto nila Mama.

"Ma," tawag ko sa kanya. Natigilan naman sila ni papa sa pag-uusap at bumaling sa akin.

"Nemmie," she said sternly. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to celebrate new year. I'm with my friends," sagot ko at bumaling sa pwesto namin. "Ano pong ginagawa niyo rito? I thought you were back in Ilocos."

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Mama. "May kinailangan lang akong gawin at kausapin dito. Hindi ko alam na aabutin pala kami ng bagong taon ng Papa mo."

"Are you staying with Kuya Dom?" My mom nodded. "Where is he?"

"He's somewhere else. I don't know, hija." She sighed and looked at the ceiling. "This place... Are you regular here?"

"I just discovered this place for a while," sabi ko. "Do you know Mrs. Bonneville? She said you two know each other."

Nagkatinginan sila ni Papa. Kumunot ang noo ko nang akbayan ni Papa si Mama na para bang inaalo siya nito. I also noticed na hindi ako tinatarayan ni Mama ngayong gabi.

"We do know each other. Nag-usap na kami kanina," sabi niya sabay inom ng alak.

I remained standing beside them. Mukhang wala naman na silang sasabihin at hindi rin ako balak batiin. Sabagay, kailan pa ba nila ako binati? Kahit nga tuwing birthday ko, wala akong naririnig mula sa kanila.

"Uh, babalik na po ako sa mga kasama ko," paalam ko. "Happy new year po."

Tumalikod na ako at humakbang nang tawagin ni Mama ang pangalan ko.

"Why?" I asked her.

She looked so miserable. Para siyang naiiyak habang nakatitig siya sa akin. I swallowed a lump in my throat. Medyo nakakapanibago na makita ang nanay ko na nagmumukhang mahina. I never saw her this weak. Laging nakataas ang kanyang noo at walang pinapakitang emosyon sa mukha kapag nakikita ko siya. She was like the older version of Aniel. She doesn't know how to express her emotions, at tanging si Papa lang ang nakakaintindi sa kanya.

"I got fired from the firm I was working in," she said, her voice was breaking. Hagod-hagod ni Papa ang likuran niya.

Nataranta ako at lumapit sa kanya. Umupo ako sa katabing stool at sinubukang hawakan ang likod niya pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.