Love Persist

Kabanata 10 - Two silhouettes are covered in the shadows of darkness.

"Si Cerise po pala, ba't hindi niyo siya kasama ngayon?"

I'd been itching to ask her about it for a while now. Naisip ko kasi na baka mag-isa lang siya rito judging sa nakikita kong mga kagamitan sa loob ng unit. Cerise was still a 4 year old kid kaya normal na makakita ng mga laruan sa paligid, pero ang odd kasi wala akong mahagilap kahit isang laruan man lamang. I couldn't help but wonder if she was living alone here. At saka, wala rin akong makitang mga litrato or picture frame kahit saang wall ng unit.

Sinubo muna ni Professor Gil 'yong pagkain sa spoon bago sumagot. "She went to her grandparents, and she will stay there for a while. It's currently their break."

I nodded in understanding. "Kaya po pala. Dalawa lang kayo dito?" I asked instead of, "How about your husband?"

That was so close. I almost asked about Cerise's father, mabuti na lang iba ang lumabas sa bibig ko. Hindi ko pa kasi nakikita ang father ni Cerise. Hindi ako sigurado kung ama ba ni Cerise 'yong nakita kong litrato sa lockscreen wallpaper ng cell phone niya.

Hindi ko sinasabi na may karapatan akong tanungin si Professor Gil about sa pamilya niya ngunit hindi ko lang maiwasan na macurious. Hindi ko rin naman pipilitin si professor na magbahagi kung ayaw niya dahil baka personal para malaman ko. It was just a curiosity that got me.

"Most of the time I'm alone here. Although Cerise visits here from time to time, she leaves and stays at home most of the time."

It got me even more curious.

"May sariling bahay pala kayo, why do you stay here alone?"

"This is closer to the university than to our house. Even though I have my own car to use for driving, I guarantee it doesn't decrease traffic in any measurable way. It just gives another reason why there is constant traffic on every road."

Fair point. Ang lalim ng sagot niya, may kasama pang suliranin.

Nagpatuloy kami sa pag-uusap habang patuloy ring kumakain. I learned that she's been teaching for almost 8 years. It would have been 10 years if she hadn't had a 2-year hiatus. She didn't tell me the reason though, and I respected her boundaries by refraining from prying further into the matter.

"Do you not feel like you need to take a rest? Your temperature hasn't come down yet you're roaming around like a bee. You should sit, or better yet, sleep."

Huminto ako sa paglalagay ng mga pinggan sa sink and turned around because she suddenly appeared from the kitchen counter. Ang bilis niyang magpalit ng damit.

"Wala akong maisip na ibang gawin, e." Nagpatuloy ako sa pagliligpit ng mga kinainan namin. I felt her presence behind me that made me stop completely to look over her. "Tabi muna kayo, professor, huhugasan ko lang ang mga 'to."

I had to ask her to move aside because she was blocking my way. Imbis na umalis sa harapan ko, bagkus ay tumabi siya sa akin at inagaw sa akin ang plato.

"You shouldn't tire yourself. Leave it to me."

"Let me help you, at least..." I mumbled and pouted.

She walked past me with the dirty dishes in hand and replaced my place in the sink. Hindi na ako nakipag-argue kasi hindi rin naman magbabago ang desisyon niya. Masama ang loob ko nagtungo sa living room para buksan ang TV. Hindi ako nahirapan sa paghahanap ng channel related sa weather forecast kasi halos lahat ng news ay tungkol sa bagyo.

"Nadagdagan pa ang mga lugar na isinailalim sa cyclone wind signal dahil sa bagyong..."

The newscaster's voice faded into the background as I heard Professor Gil speak from the kitchen.