Turn the Page 2: My Destiny

Chapter 12

"Page," the nun was overwhelmed with emotions seeing one of her "alumni" by the door of her office.

"Sister Berlin," Page greeted her with a hug.

Keeper asked for the nun's hand and placed the back of her palm on his forehead as a sign of respect. "Magandang araw ho, sister Berlin," he greeted as well.

"Magandang araw din sayo, Keeper," the nun replied with a smile. Then she turned her attention back to Page. She took her hand and held it. "Sinabi sakin ni Maam Vicky ang nangyari sa mama mo. Halikayo, umupo kayo dito," she motioned for them to take a seat.

Page looked at Keeper. He immediately knew what she was asking from him. "Ah—sister, pwede ho ba akong manggulo sa mga bata?" He looked the nun in the eyes trying to communicate through his stare.

"Go, ahead, Keeper. Just wear your mask and sanitize," sister Berlin nodded.

Keeper touched Page's shoulder as he excused himself and left the room.

When it was just the two of them, Page swallowed. "Kamusta, sister? Nangangayayat ho kayo ah." She didn't want to be rude and start the conversation without asking the nun how she was doing.

"Ikaw ang nangangayayat," the nun begged to differ. "Should I even ask how you're doing?" She watched as the familiar gestures of a lonely orphaned girl appeared right before her eyes.

"Nakita nyo na po ba sya, sister?" Page was afraid to ask. She badly wanted to know how her mother was doing but was also nervous to find out.

"Yes."

The nun's answer echoed inside Page's ears all the way to her head. It made her heart skip a beat.

"And she's doing okay," the nun informed her.

"Okay lang, sister Berlin? Just—'okay'?" Page was hoping for more.

"I'd be lying kung sasabihin ko na your mom is doing great. How can anyone confined in a hospital like that be doing great? I said she was doing okay given the circumstances. That means she's being taken care of and her needs are being addressed. She's starting a slow and steady process to recovery, and I can assure you na ginagawa ng tita Vicky mo ang lahat para mabigay sa mama mo ang kelangan nya ngayon," the nun explained.

Page nodded. "Naiintindihan ko, sister. Naisip ko lang kung nakakakain ba sya ng maayos? Kung natutulog ba sya sa gabi? Ano mga pinagkakaabalahan nya habang nandun sya? Ngumingiti pa rin ba sya? Tumatawa? O umiiyak? Kamusta sya pag kinakausap mo sya? Masigla ba sya o matamlay? Galit ba sya o malumanay? Gusto ko lang makakuha ng mga detalye, sister. Naiintindihan mo naman siguro ako."

The nun took a deep breath before she talked again. "She's eating. May mga times na wala syang gana just like the rest of us, but not to the point na it's too concerning dahil she's not eating enough. Your mom eats when she's hungry, and the staff there are doing their best to respect and follow kung kelan nya gusto kumain. Na-mention naman siguro sayo ng tita Vicky mo na may nurses and doctors na come every day to check on each patient kaya wag ka mag-alala sa health ng mama mo. Binabantayan sya ng maigi and they're tending to her needs. From what I was told, on good days, she knows why she's there. She knows she's being treated. As expected, she cooperates more pag she's more like herself. Pag she's not herself, she thinks the place is a hospital-themed hotel maybe because the rooms look more like a hotel than a hospital. She says it's a brilliant idea by your tita Vicky. Siguro naman you're aware that there are good days, but there are also bad days. On good days, like I've mentioned, alam nya kung bakit sya nandun, so she makes good use of her time. She keeps her mind preoccupied by keeping herself busy. Nagjo-join sya sa mga activities na they offer at the facility. She reads, she paints, she does pottery, she excercises. The good news is that she remains active and participates sa mga ganap doon."