Through the Lens (Through Series #1)

Chapter 10

"Dito ka lang 'nak. Kukunin ko lang yung chicken wings na binili mo." Ate Rona said after she covered my body with a comforter.

Pagkatapos kong umiyak kanina ay pinakalma ako ni ate Rona. Nang kumalma ako ay saka niya ako dinala sa kwarto.

I didn't tell her the reason I cried. I could only tell this to Kuya and to my father.

Malaki ang atraso sa'min ni Tita Harry, lalo't siya ang punong dahilan kung bakit nawala si Mom.

2 years ago, my mom died in a car "accident" which we would not believe because it was an intention to kill my Mom. Pinangalan nila itong accident dahil madaming koneksyon si Tita Harry para madaming hindi maniwala na siya ang pumatay kay Mom. She paid her driver to keep silent and to crash my Mom's car, and that driver won't talk, reason why he is in jail now.

We knew... We always knew because Tita Harry always wanted a revenge to my mother. Kaya nga siya ang una naming suspect noong nawala si mom.

Tita showed signs that she had an intention to harm my mother. She even said that my mom deserved to die because my mom "stole everything" that belongs to her.

Nakipag laban na kami presinto together with Mr. Manuel and luckily Tita Harry and the driver was pleaded guilty. After the accident, our family decided to move here in Mom's resthouse; Batangas.

Everything was doing okay. Not until she found us here. Didn't she get what she want? Ang makita kaming hindi kumpleto? Ang makitang malungkot si Dad? Ang... makitang wala na kaming ina? Nakuha na niya ang gusto niya kaya bakit pa siya nag pakita ulit?

"Alina," napalingon ako kay Ate Rona. She went closer to me and placed the tray on the side table. Sinandal ko ang ulo sa headboard at pinanood ang paghahati niya ng chicken wings at kanin.

"Kain ka muna." umupo siya sa tabi ko. "Pasensya na kung wala ako ha... Bumili kasi ako ng groceries, hindi na ako nakapag paalam. Maaga kang umalis eh... Pasensya ineng." She said sitting on the bed and blowing the food.

"Okay lang po. Thank you, Ate." I smiled as she gave me a bite of the food I was struggling to take out of the plastic earlier.

When I finished the food I planned to tell my brother what happened. I dialed his number and in three rings he answered immediately.

"What's up bebe ko! Sakto, kaka break ko lang. Napatawag ka?" Panimula niya kaya bahagya akong natawa.

"Kuya, someone came here earlier."

"What's with your voice? Did you cry? Sinong pumunta sa bahay?" Sunod-sunod na tanong niya.

"Si Tita... Si Tita Harry."

"Ha?!" Ang malambing niyang boses ay napaltan ng gulat at galit na boses. "Are you okay?! Sinaktan ka ba niya?!"

"Hindi. Hindi Kuya pero hinahanap niya si Dad."

"Then I have to tell this to Dad." Rinig ko ang pag upo niya sa upuan at ang pag hinga niya ng malalim. "Ano nanaman kaya ang kailangan ng hayop na 'yon?"

"I don't know... She said she'll be back."

"For sure, she needs something from us."

"Ano pa kuya? Nakuha na niya lahat. Hindi pa ba sapat para sa kaniya yon?" I sat properly and looked at the camera in my desk. The camera my Mom gave me.

"Hindi ko alam, Alina. Hintayin mo ako umuwi mamaya, 5pm pa ang off ko. D'yan na'ko dederetso. Sabay na nating sabihin kay Dad."

Tumango ako kahit hindi niya nakikita 'yon. Ilang segundo ng katahimikan ay nag salita ulit si Kuya.