La Carlota 2: Behind the Raindrops

1 ~ ATTENTION

CHAPTER ONE

MY parents late night arguments continued. Minsan, nagpapanggap nalang akong hindi sila naririnig. Dahil sa madalas na pag-aaway nilang dalawa, madalas din na wala si daddy sa mansion. Mas pinipili niyang mag trabaho nalang kaysa manatili sa amin.

"Akala mo hindi ko alam? I am not stupid, Henrich! I know where you are whenever you are not here!" I heard my mom's angry voice.

"Hindi ko alam 'yang sinasabi mo, Rafa." My dad is more calm compared to my mom.

They are inside our library room. Kahit sa labas ng pinto, rinig na rinig ang bangayan nilang dalawa.

"Reva, halika na. Magpahinga ka na," aya sa akin ni Soledad at hinawakan ako sa braso.

"Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano talaga ang pinag-aawayan nila, Soledad. Bakit hindi nila ma-solusyunan ang problema?"

Narinig ko na sumigaw si mommy at biglang may nabasag sa loob. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at tinakbo ulit ang library room. They always fought but I never heard that kind of noise. It worried me that they might hurt each other because of a heated argument. I didn't want them to end up like that. I didn't want my parents to deal with physical pain.

"Reva!" Soledad called me but I ignored her and pushed the door of the library.

"Mommy! Daddy!" My heart is beating loud and at the same time I feel the needs to breath.

"Nangako ka! Nangako ka!" My mother is kneeling in front of my father, while crying.

"Mommy..." I walked towards them but my father raised his hand so that I wouldn't continue my steps.

He slowly kneel down too and held my mother's shaky hands. Ngunit ayaw pahawak ni mommy. Patuloy ang pag iyak niya kahit na nanghihina na siya.

To witnessed my mother in that kind of pain is breaking my heart.

I didn't have idea what's really going on with my parents. Or what are the reasons why they were always fighting? They never told me. Soledad seemed knew about it but she kept it from me!

"You need to rest-"

"Damn you! Damn you!"

My father sighed. "Palagi mo akong inaaway kaya hindi nalang ako umuuwi-"

"Liar! You have other reason why you don't stay here!"

"Mommy..." tuluyan na akong lumapit para aluin din siya. "Magpahinga ka na po, please."

My beautiful mother already losing her weight. Her color is pale.

It's painful to see her in that condition while she's also hurting because of what's going on with her relationship to her beloved husband.

"Bakit hindi mo nalang hintayin na mamatay ako bago ka-"

"Rafa!"

"Mommy!"

We cut her off right away. I didn't want to hear any more of this!

I will do everything that I can do for her to continue living with us. Hindi ko hahayaan na mawawala si mommy sa amin. Hindi ko 'yon kakayanin. Sigurado ako! My lips trembled and my tears pooled my eyes. Nilakasan ko nalang ang loob ko para hindi lalo panghinaan ng loob ang aking ina.

I held her warm hands and squeezed them gently. Maybe, my mother is just so frustrated because she's sick. Pero patuloy naman ang gamutan niya kaya bakit ba siya nalulungkot pa ng husto? Kung gagaling naman sa gamot ang sakit niya?

"Umalis ka na! Umalis ka na!" Taboy ni mommy kay daddy.

My father shook his head. He also looked frustrated but he's still willing to deal with my mother's behavior.