Ruining Her Shoes

13

To be a blessing for someone's life.

"Noong ipinanganak kita.. Naging masaya kaming lahat. But that also scared us. Your life was in danger.." Umiiyak na sabi ni Lilia.

I don't know what I should call her!

"Binalaan kami na ikaw.. Ikaw ang pupuntiryahin nilang lahat. Wala kaming choice! We made a choice and that is.. to make sure you're safe with Maria and Jose, my trusted employee."

Hindi pa rin nagsisink in sa'kin ang lahat. Alam ko ang ibang bagay tungkol sa'kin pero ito? Hindi.

I was just crying like her when a man came into the room. Dali dali niyang inihiwalay sa'kin ang asawa niya.

His eyes are just a normal brown eyes. Matangos din ang ilong niya at pula ang natural na kulay ng labi. Ang pilikmata niya naman ay hindi gano'n kahaba pero magandang tignan sa kaniya. Hindi rin gano'n kakapal ang kilay niya pero bagay naman ito sa kaniya. He looks like Lancer. A lot.

"Pasensya na, Liliana.. Ngayon lang namin nalaman ang tungkol sa iyo. Hinanap ka namin.. pero ang nalaman nalang namin ay ang pagkamatay ng mga nag alaga sa'yo.." paliwanag nito.

Tumango lang ako.

Because of crying, I lose consciousness again.

I woke up tired and unwell. Nilalagnat pa rin ako. Agad akong napaluha nang makitang nasa tabi ko pa rin ang mga tunay kong magulang.

To be with them is my greatest desire. And now that they're here.. I don't know what to feel. Masaya silang nakipagkwentuhan sa'kin at kinamusta ako. I was delighted that they asked. They never let me feel na I was never with them.

My mother owns a black necklace. When I saw how she rubs it, it shows a picture of mine; a baby picture of me when I was with them.

"You are a blessing to us. The blessing we can't afford to lose.."

With that words, I felt nothing but happiness. Masaya palang maging biyaya para sa iba. Akala ko kasi malaki akong problema para sa lahat.

When we were talking, they said that I should meet my grandfather. He was dying to meet me. Siya pa ang nagpapahanap sa'kin.

They know where I am but they are finding a chance to tell me.

"Pa, this is my daughter.." Naiiyak na anunsyo ni mama nang maghanda siya ng pa welcome party kay lolo.

They anticipated to have this grand party for me and for lolo. A celebration for which I exist and for which I am safe. Also a celebration, welcoming Lolo's comeback.

Kita ko ang gulo sa mata ni lolo. He smiled, showing his teeth, and then laugh when he realized.

Masungit tignan si Lolo pero mayro'n siyang soft spot sa mga apo niya- minsan nga lang.

Almost a month of being with them, wala akong ginawa kung hindi ang makasama sila. They didn't allow me to go outside since it's risky. Investigators also asked for the reference of the faces who almost rape me. They'll file a case for sexual harassment and kidnapping. Tinetrace na rin nila kung nasa'n ang mga ito.

The police gave me info's and it perfectly matched the faces of whom kidnapped me. Turns out wanted na sila, matagal na.

I also gave them a detail of where I was when Lancer found me. Nang puntahan nila ito, doon pa rin nagtatago 'yung mga 'yon.

I was also coping from the trauma I've got. My family gave me a therapist. Hindi rin nila hinayaan na mangyari na ulit 'yon. Lolo even hired an expert to be my bodyguard. Gano'n sila nangangamba na may mangyari ulit.

Gumaling na rin ang lagnat ko.

But..

I am always crying at night. Missing the family I grew up with. Missing the person who became my comfort zone. And also missing the normal life I have back then. I also missed the dog I raised. Na kay tita Mel siya ngayon pero nang tawagan ko si tita nung isang araw, sinabi niyang ibinigay niya muna kina Cai.

Only tita is the one who knew what happened. In contact din siya sa family ko at minsan ay dumadalaw pa. What happened to me was confidential.

"Ahh! Sunog! Ma, sunog!"

"Ha!? What happe–Oh my God! Sunog!" sigaw din ni mama.

Sinubukan ko kasing magluto sa kitchen dahil nga wala akong magawa. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari pero kita ko nalang na malakas na ang apoy! Nagcr lang naman ako saglit!

Tumatakbo ang mga kasambahay nila mama at tinulungan kaming pukawin ang apoy. Kita ko rin si Lance na tumatakbo at may dalang timba ng tubig, mukhang tutulong din.

Shocked. 'Yon ang tangina reaksyon ko nang sa'kin ibuhos ang tubig at hindi sa apoy! Adik ba 'to!?

"Ako ba 'yung apoy?! Siraulong 'to!" Inis kong sabi, hinampas pa siya sa braso.

Tinawanan lang ako ng loko! Kupal. 

Agad kaming napatayo nang tuwid nang biglang dumating si Lolo. Buti nalang at hindi na kumalat ang apoy. Taka niya kaming tinignan.

"What are you doi–what is that?" he calmly asked.

We just smiled and did not bother to answer him. Baka i-ban kami sa kusina! No, please!

Lolo looked disappointed but then laugh after. He handed us a paper bag and it shows foods from a luxurious restaurant! Okay, sabi ko nga, hindi na magluluto, e.

"'Lo, pangit pala ng kusina niyo. Biglang nagluluto mag-isa. 'Yan nakasunog pa.. Tsk tsk tsk,"

Lumapit sa'kin si Lolo at nagsalita. "Sa susunod, 'wag ka nang pupunta sa kusina. Baka malaman ko nalang na sinusunog mo na ang bahay natin.." He laughed after telling me those as if he did not offend me!

"Lolo naman!" reklamo ko sa kaniya.

Parang hindi kamag anak kung asarin ako, e!

Kanino kaya pinaglihi si Lolo? Ang random pero hindi ko na tinanong. Baka mag alburoto, e. Matanda pa naman siya.

Tumawa nalang din ako sa kaniya.  Lolo was easy to be with. Strikto siya pero napapakalma naman siya agad. Para siyang si tita Mel.

Tuloy ay bigla ko silang namiss.

"Li–why are you crying?" tanong ni mama nang madatnan na naman akong umiiyak sa kwarto ko.

She hugged me and comforted me. "Miss ko na 'yung buhay ko dati.. Miss ko na sila tita.. Miss ko na rin ang aso ko,"

"Don't worry. Saglit nalang. Malapit na,"

She assured me that makes me calm.

Saglit nalang..

Kailan 'yung saglit na 'yon?