State of Grace

Chapter 22: Cold, Hard Truth

SAGE

My sister, Amy, was sitting next to me. Her head resting on my shoulder, my one arm wrapped around her. Sa sahig kami nakaupo at nakasandal sa gilid ng kama ko. Pareho kaming umiiyak at hindi makapaniwala sa mga nangyari.

This is because our other sister, Sandara, suddenly moved out of this house.

Nag-alsa balutan siya dahil lang hindi niya nagustuhan ang ginawa ko kay Jaycee. I couldn't comprehend why she was so livid about it. I had to do it because Jaycee and Sky were messing up everything. I had to stop those guys from throwing punches at each other; thus the low blow. However, I never expected such a harsh reaction from my sister.

Hindi ko inakala na aabot kami sa puntong ito. Nasaktan talaga ako sa mga pinintas ni Dara sa akin, dahil alam kong wala akong ginawang masama sa kanya kahit kailan. For the life of me, I could never betray all of my siblings because I love them all equally. Ako pa nga ang palaging lumalapit sa kanya para kamustahin siya, pero lagi niyang sinasabi na okay lang siya. Akala ko naman totoo ang sinasagot niya, kaya nagulat na lang kami nung nag-break down siya kanina.

The confrontation also underlined the rift between Dara and Kuya Sancho. Among us four, silang dalawa talaga ang may issue sa isa't isa. Hindi ko alam kung kailan nagsimula at paano. Kaya yung asaran nilang dalawa ay madalas na nauuwi sa pikunan. At dahil napuno na talaga si Kuya Sancho kanina, nasampal na niya si Dara.

As a result, she impulsively packed her bags and left. Now, this happy home feels empty–again–with the absence of one.

Nalulungkot talaga ako. I was looking forward to catch up with my family after this long weekend, especially now that Sky and I are finally together. Pero bakit ganito? Pwede bang tantanan muna ako ng tadhana? Nahihirapan na akong i-absorb lahat ng mga naganap simula pa nung Friday.

"Sage? Amy?"

Napatingin kaming dalawa sa pinto at nandun si Mama na halatang nag-aalala rin. Nasa likod lang niya si Kuya Sancho.

"Mama!" Humagulhol kaming dalawa ni Amy habang yakap ni Mama. Naiiyak din siya.

"I'm sorry!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. "I'm so sorry talaga! Kasalanan ko 'to. Kung hindi ako nagpadalos-dalos kina Sky at Jaycee, hindi sana umalis si Dara!"

"No, Sage! Wala kang kasalanan!" Kuya Sancho assured me. "Pinigilan mo lang yung away sa labas. You did what you had to do. It was Dara who crossed the line with her overreaction!"

"Pero bakit galit siya sa akin?" I cried some more. "I never did her wrong! Wala talaga akong matandaan na sinaktan ko siya."

We heard Mama sigh in distress and uttered, "I think... alam ko ang sagot diyan, mga anak."

That prompted us three to look at her. Ano kaya ang sasabihin ni Mama?

First, she led us to the dining table and to have some tea first, para daw kumalma muna ang lahat. Ate Lili joined us after she put the twins to bed. Sumunod din si Papa. It occurred to me that I got my wish to catch up with my family after all, but not like this when one of us had left so suddenly because of their raging emotions.

"Saan po pala kayo nanggaling?" Tanong ko sa mga magulang ko. "Were you out of town?"

"Oo," Sagot ni Papa. "It was not planned though. Bigla na lang nagyaya kasi sila Josephus at Cora na pumunta ng Tagaytay. Tamang-tama dahil nandun din si Mamang sa bahay niya sa Tagaytay para magpagaling. Kaya dun kami nagstay ni mama mo kina Mamang."

"Kamusta na po si Lola?" Tanong naman ni Amy.

"She's doing better now." Sagot ni Mama. "Uuwi na rin siya sa Metro in a few days kapag cleared na ng doctor niya."