Deeply Rooted

Kabanata 2

The Doctor is In

After what happened in that foundation celebration at the orphanage I can't help but to feel mad with Floyd, including his girl. Pinagsanib ba naman nila ang kanilang pwers para madiin ako sa pagnakaw daw ng mga loot bags para sa mga bata? Excuse me, I am never a thift.

I saw the fear in the two kids na nakita ko sa storage area ng mga stuff. They were looking at me very scared, for what? Maybe because I'm in trouble, dahil dinala ba naman ako ni Floyd sa opisina ng madre.

"Hindi nga ako nagnanakaw ng mga treat bags. How many times do I have to tell you?" paulit ulit kong sabi kay Floyd. But he won't believe me.

Isang matandang madre, si Floyd, Dea, at ako ang doon. Nakikita ko ang kuryosidad sa mata ng madre. And I also feel the judgement she has for me. I can see that he favors the Hozorio guy.

"Bakit ka nga ba andito, hija?" matamang tanong ni Sister Maria. Basa ko sa pangalan nito na nakasulat sa nameplate na nasa kaliwang dibdib ng damit nito. Ang aliwalas ng mukha nito. I know she's old but that's not showing in her face. She looks so beautiful despite the little marks showing her real age.

Napatitig ako sa kanya. Alam ko na hindi naman talaga ako imbitado sa event nila. Bumaling ako kay Floyd at kita ko sa mukha nito ang kaaliwanan sa tanong ni sister. Napansin kasi nito ang matagal kong pagsagot. This shit is happy with my visible torment. Inismidan ko sya at bumaling uli kay madre.

I sighed. "Kasama ko po si Lorenzo," amin kong sagot. "Ang anak po ni Kapitan Gonzales. Sinamahan lang..."

"Thaikalene Mariel," biglang bukas ng pintuan at niluwa nito si Tita Elyza.

Oh no, I'm in trouble I can see it in Tita's angry face. Bigla akong napatayo sa kinauupuan at tinignan siya. Nahagip rin ng paningin ko ang tingin ni Floyd kay Tita. I won't question him. Kilala si Tita sa buong Claridad dahil noong kabataan nito ay aktibo ito sa mga pageant. Ito nga ay naging representante ng Binibining Pilipinas noong 90's. Years had passed but her beauty remained the same, none aging.

"Tita sino po ang tumawag sa inyo?" natataranta kong tanong. Who could possible call her in the middle of this fiasco.

Tita glared at me and turned around apologitically to face the nun. "Sister Maria," she started. "Pasensya na po kayo sa ginawa ng pamangkin ko. She can do community service in your orphanage bilang parusa sa ginawa niya."

"You won't even asked me what happened?" I asked softly. "I did noting wrong."

I don't recognized my voice anymore. Kani-kanina lang eh ang lakas ng loob ko at manindigan sa kung ano ang totoo. I'm so ready to fight my case but with Tita, hindi ko kayang lumaban at ipakita sa harap niya ang tunay kong nararamdaman. She meant everything to me and I promise Mom that I will always follow and respect her for all the things she did for me, for us.

Tita looked at me. She looked so tired and disappointed, this is the first time that she looked at me this way. I always prove myself to her that I will never fail pero ngayon, I failed and crushed all the things just for nothing.