Chapter 27
Haunted
"Sino hinahanap mo?" Kerlee asked when she saw me behind the door.
I pouted. "Wala naman"
"Weh? Sabi ni Ma'am hindi daw bibisita si Atty. Cortez ngayon" I raised my brow at her.
"So? Wala naman akong pake at hindi naman siya ang hinahanap ko" Sambit ko habang tumatakbo palayo. I heard her distant laugh.
"Kunwari ka pa!" Pahabol niyang sigaw.
"I'm not waiting for him..." sambit ko sa sarili.
Obviously, It's a lie. I was waiting for him. Aalis na ako. Baka ito na ang huling pagkikita namin ulit, I want to bid goodbyes. Maybe this time we won't meet again.
It's been weeks. Ang huling punta niya dito ay wala ako dahil nag apply ako ng trabaho, At hindi na rin siya bumalik. I guess he's back in the big city.
Bumalik ako sa kwarto upang tapusin ang pag iimpake, susunduin na ako ni Joseph mamaya, siya kasi ang naatasan ni Nanay Nelma na ihatid ako sa bagong apartment. Nanay Nelma doesn't like my new space, but I promised her I would get a better one once I saved enough money.
The next time Aello came here, I wouldn't be here.
I'll be starting a new life now. Ngayon ako na ang magpapakain sa sarili ko, The electricity and the water are not free anymore, I'll need to earn and pay for it. Alam ko namang matanda na ako, but I don't think I am ready for this.
"Bye!" Sambit ko sa mga batang ngayo'y umiiyak.
They all rushed to hug me.
“Wag ka pong umalis” Kitty cried, burying her face in my legs.
“Ate, Don't leave us po”
“Ate Aruna! Ate Aruna!”
“Bibisitahin ko naman kayo! Hindi naman kalayuan ang bahay ko eh” I cried with them.
“Kailangan niyo po ba umalis?” Tumango ako.
“Nanay Nelma, Ayaw niyo na po ba kay Ate Aruna?”
“Ayaw ko ngang umalis ‘eh” Nanay Nelma replied, crying. Tumawa ako sa kalagitnaan ng iyak. “Anak, mag-iingat ka, ha? Tumawag ka kapag kailangan mo ng tulong…”
“Opo,”
“Naku naman! Umuwi ka dito pag nahihirapan ka,” She sobbed.
“Opo,”
They have a special place in my heart. They are my family. Hindi ko gustong umalis, pero ito ang makakabuti sa akin. I can't always depend on Nanay Nelma. I'm an adult now, I need to be my responsibility.
My heart broke at the sight of kids crying while waving goodbye to me.
My daily routine will change. I will no longer wake up early to give the kids their breakfast, no more tell the kids to wash up, and no more kids waking me in the middle of a nap to play. For nine years, nasanay ako sa mga yakap nila. My kind of comfort is their embrace.
Sa mga gabing malungkot ako naalala ko ang kanilang mga yakap. And it makes me feel better. Nothing will change kahit aalis na ako dito. I will still come back for their embrace.
Marami na din namang umalis. Found their family to love them. We cry when we miss them pero we are happy for them. Alam kong ganito rin sila sa akin ngayon.
I will miss my siblings.
Binuhat ko ang dalawang bag at nilagay sa backseat ng sasakyan ni Nanay. Pumasok na ako sa sasakyan at ganun rin si Joseph. Hindi ako umiimik. Kahit si Kerlee na nasa likod ay hindi rin nagsasalita.
BINABASA MO ANG
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