Chapter 23
Change
I never thought that I would see him again. Nasa hindi kilalang lugar ako sa maynila. Akala ko hindi ko na sila makikita.
The eighteen me would freak out if she saw Aello right now. He grew taller, his body changed, and his eyes were still as cold as ever. But he still looks good in his white shirt. And his eyes still feel the same. He's now wearing glasses... Made him look more intimidating.
Simula ng nakauwi kami kanina. Tulala pa rin ako. Kitty got lost, and I saw him again. My first love. And he thought kitty was my child.
"I'm sure I won't see him again" Bulong ko sa sarili.
May koneksyon pa kaya siya sa kanila Tita Judie? If meron, did he tell them that he saw me? Ayaw ko. I should've run to him earlier and told him to not tell anyone where I was.
This bad! I don't wanna be seen again by them. Hindi ko kayayaning makita sila ulit.
"Iha, kanina ka pa nakatulala ri'yan, Ano ba ang iniisip mo?" Nanay Nelma sat in front of me.
"May iniisip lang po" I answered.
"Iniisip mo pa rin ba ang nangyari kanina? Huwag kang mag-alala, napagalitan ko na si Kitty-"
"Ako naman po may kasalanan. Hindi ko po nabantayan ng maayos" bulong ko.
She smiled at me. Sweetly. "Alam mo, Iha. You're now so different from the first time I saw you. Back then, You used to have nightmares every time you slept alone. Kaya 'di ba, lagi tayong mag-ka tabi? Slowly, you were able to sleep alone again. Tapos, kahit sa pag ligo mo, naririnig ko na lang na sumisigaw ka, na ayaw mo na sa sarili mo, na ang dumi-dumi mo... I'm so happy that you overcome all of it" Lumapit siya sa akin at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. "I'm so glad I arrived earlier, I'm so happy I saw you"
"I'm so thankful that you saved me, Nanay Nelma. I will surely take care of this body you gave me another chance"
"Inalagan mo ang mga anak ko. You are the best sister they have... at masaya ako na aalis ka na" She paused. "Na hahanapin mo na ang sarili mo. Wala akong alam kung ano ang nangyari sayo dati, pero alam ko'ng masakit iyon. Kaya, you are one of the strongest women I know"
"Salamat po, Pinalaki niyo nga rin po lahat ng mga bata di, eh, so you're also one of the strongest women in the world!"
"Deserve mo ng mga lawyer, Iha"
"Po?" Gulat akong umalis sa yakap niya. Her cheeks flushed and she giggled a little. Umayos siya sa page upo, at ako, rin.
"May mga pupuntang mga Lawyer dito bukas, Actually, hindi lang lawyer, judges, politicians, and many more. You know, one of those days kung saan maraming pumupunta dito para mag donate ng mga kailangan ng mga bata" Masayang sambit niya. Tumango ako. So, It's gonna be a busy day tomorrow.
"Kaya po pala maraming mga manok at baboy doon sa kusina" Sagot ko.
"Pasensya ka na, Alam ko'ng aalis ka pero pwede tulungan mo muna ako bukas? Ang daming kailangan gawin, medyo matanda na rin ang mga tauhan dito"
"Tutulong po ako! Kahit naman po sa pag alis ko, tutulong pa rin ako dito"
The kids had a special place in my heart. I know all of their stories, I know that they all felt the feeling of being alone. Kaya naman noong mga araw na lagi kong nararamdaman na mag isa ako, I seek comfort in their embrace.
And it feels like we were alone together.
Maaga akong nagising kasi nga madaming kailangan gawin. I first help in the kitchen to cook the kids breakfast. At habang naghihintay na rin sa paggising ng nga bata, na simula na akong mag pa-lobo ng mga balloon. When the kids woke up, I gave them their food and reminded them of what they were going to do today— like school, learning to read and write, and so on.
BINABASA MO ANG
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