The Bridge

Chapter 15

Mabilis na lumipas ang mga araw.Lagi ko nang nakakasama ang elite squad dahil na din kay Lilania. Halos ako na ang kasama nya everyday, inaalam ko na nga din ang mga medicine schedule niya at mga treatments though hindi ko alam kung ano talaga status ng health niya o kung ano ang complications niya, all I know is I enjoy taking care of her and she enjoys my company. Hindi ko din sya tinatanong sa mga bagay-bagay kase nga ayokong making chismosa and I think magsasabi naman sya sakin ang mga bagay-bagay pag ready na sya. I'll just wait that moment. 

"What do you want to eat?" she asked as we checked the menu by the counter. Dalawa lang kaming magkasama ngayon. 

"Hmm... anything. Something healthy for both of us." I smiled at her. I call her Lili, cause she let me call her by that name. Nang maka-order na kami ay pumunta kami sa usual table ng squad. No one occupies that area kahit wala sila, pansin ko lang. It was something that has become their posession.

"You know what, we should hang out together. Like... parks or what." 

"You're not allowed, remember?" Grae told me that she's not allowed to go outside that much, and sure akong hindi nya ma-e-enjoy yun kung sobrang limited yung time na ibibigay sa kanya. Her health condition is worse as I can tell, she won't have those restrictions if it's just a minimal thing, it's like a lifetime problem, that's what I think. 

"Uhm... then let's go to our house." 

"Eh?" 

"Oh, wait... it's kinda complicated but... we're like in one compound." She started to describe something that I couldn't imagine but I was able to understand it, at least. "Well... it was actually the Fremenger's residence, technically. Hmm... Fremenger coumpound... it's tough to tell but I'll show you this weekend." she smiled at me to the point that I didn't have the chance to disagree so I nodded to her and went to their place this weekend.

Dumating ang weekend and I was getting ready this after lunch, I booked a cab para makarating sa lugar nila, medyo malayo yung place niya from our residence pero di ko sya masisisi dahil nga engrandeng buhay ang meron sila. The place was almost isolated from the city, more like on the back of the city. Malayo pala talaga, when I looked from behind, I can see some trees and behind them are the skyscraper. Huminto si manong driver sa isang tall gate and wall. Hindi ko din masabi kung gaano kataas ang wall pero mas mataas pa sya sa mga punong nasa paligid. There was a small door and a doorbell beside the gate, mini-gate. Pumindot ako doon at sinabing bisita ako ni Lilania. Pinag-hintay ako saglit tapos maya-maya pinagbuksan na ako. There was a guard house then after passing the wall behind it makikita ang isang malawak na lupain at may kabahayan pero yung nasa gitna ang pinaka-malaki, napapalibutan din ng mga punong-kahoy ang mga kabahayan dito. Hindi ako magaling sa pagsukat ng bahay pero kung tatantyahin, doble ang laki nito sa bahay ng tita ko. Hindi ko alam kung alin dito ang dapat na puntahan. 

"Cerii!" Napatingin ako sa tumawag sakin. Dahil nakatingin ako sa malayo hindi ko napansin na malapit lang pala si Lili sakin at napakaganda ng mga bulaklak na nakatanim sa bawat gilid ng sementong daanan, ang mga lugar na walang semeto ay bermuda grass ang nakatubo. Mayaman sa paningin ang lugar na'to. 

"Lili." Maganda nga para kay Liliana ang lugar na'to, malayo sa polusyon at sariwa ang hangin. Lumapit sya sakin at may hawak pa syang payong panlaban sa araw. 

"Nakarating ka. Gusto mo ba ng tour? Kaso kase baka pag mag tour tayo di ka makauwi tsaka mauubos oras natin sa ganon." she smiled sweetly imagining the thought of walking around the place. 

"Mapapagod ka din." 

"May point. Anyway... hindi pa naman ganon ka-late pero we can grab a snack -" hindi niya natuloy ang sinasabi niya nang mag-ring ang phone nya. "Oww... I'm here sa gate, sinundo ko si Cerii." then she mouthed the word 'Grae' to me. I just nodded. "Oh yeah, we're on the way. No need na, she's with me. Bye." She hang up the call then tell me that we should go.