Turn the Page 2: My Destiny

Chapter 16

"Say what now?" April put her hands on her hips. "You didn't just tell me na nag-pretend ka maging madre just to see ate Juney when, I should mention, pinagbabawalan pa syang bisitahin."

Page bowed her head in shame.

"Jusko naman, Page," April exhaled heavily and turned her back against her niece with her other hand on her forehead. "Syempre hindi toh alam ng mga tita mong nandito kasi there's no way they would have let you do what you did," she added.

"Wala silang alam," Page answered quietly.

"Of course. I thought so," April nodded her head continuously.

Page looked up and stared at her. "Can you please calm down, tita April? Kapapanganak mo pa lang, baka ano mangyari sayo nyan eh," she said worriedly.

"Ako? At ako pa talaga yung mas winoworry mo? In-ire ko na yung anak ko and everything else na kelangan kong ma-ire. That's over and done with. Eh ikaw? Hindi ka man lang ba nagwoworry sayo? Hindi ko na itatanong kung nag-woworry ka sa mama mo kasi obvious naman na you do, kaya nga you went as far as to pretend to be a nun para lang makita mo yung nanay mo eh. Pero Page, this is not a game," she reminded her. She couldn't help but feel disappointed with her niece specially now that she's an adult. "Hindi na toh yung katulad ng dati nung teenager ka na kung may maisipan kang gawin, bahala na lahat. You're going to do it kahit ano pa maging consequence. Alam mo ba na pwede kang hulihin dyan sa ginagawa mo? You're trespassing. Alam ko kilala natin yung may ari ng facility pero, Page naman. Utang na loob. Respeto man lang sana kay ate Vicky at sa lahat ng ginagawa nya para sa mama mo. Alam mo bang she can get in trouble sa ginawa mo? Hindi lang sya. Yung buong facility. She can lose her job and her business. Come on, Page. Stop doing impulsive things like that. Mag-isip ka naman," April couldn't stop herself from giving her niece a much needed lecture.

"That's all I do, tita April. Isipin si mama. Isipin ka. Isipin kayong lahat. Kaya nga ako nagkakaganito eh—because I worry too damn much about all of you. Hindi ko naman ginusto na mangyari lahat ng toh, neither did any of you. Sa tingin mo hindi ako nag-effort to ward off at labanan yung pagiging impulsive ko? Ang hirap-hirap kaya. You know damn well it's not easy to just sit here habang yung utak mo san-san na nagpupunta. Sa tingin mo hindi ko nirerespeto si tita V? I do. I appreciate everything that she does para satin lalo na para kay mama. Hindi ko alam kung ano yung dynamics ng relationship nyo ni lola kasi alam ko you're not close ever since noon, and I'm not using that as an excuse, pero anak lang ako na nag-aalala para sa nanay ko. If you don't know how that feels, I'm sorry. Now na nanay ka na, maybe one day you'll understand kapag si Bleu naman yung may gawing hindi dapat just because she worries a lot about you," Page tightened her jaw before she got up to leave.

"Where are you going?" April called out to her.

"I don't want to stress you more, tita April. At alam kong ayaw mo ding ma-stress din ako. I'm sorry I disappointed you again," Page looked back towards her before she opened the door and left.

Keeper stepped to the side to follow his girlfriend. "Tita, I'm sorry. I know it seems like sinasakyan ko and hinahayaan ko lang sya na gawin yung gusto nya, but you also have to keep in mind na her health's also at risk the more that she worries. I just did what I thought was right. I think Sister Berlin did, too."

April frowned. "What does sister Berlin have to do with this?"

Keeper looked at her. "Sister Berlin knows that Page has been having a few seizures daily kaka-worry nya kay tita June. She called us one day and asked if we can meet with her sa orphanage. It was her idea, tita April. I mean kung madre na mismo ang nagbi-bend ng rules, it's usually for a good cause, right?"

April stared back at Keeper. Then she looked away. "Update me. Let me know pag naka-uwi na kayo."

Keeper nodded. "We're staying at a hotel for now."