THE LAST MISSION

CHAPTER 26

Binigyan ako ng isang matamis na ngiti ni Nanay Werna at hinaplos ang buhok ko. Umiwas ng tingin ang mga anak nya. Umupo sila sa sofa habang ang anak na babae ni Nay Werna ay nilagay sa lalagayan ng prutas.

I felt something was not right. Parang hindi ako dapat nandito. I don't even know my name, my age, and where I am from. Everything. I don't know everything. I don't know why I felt sad and lonely even though someone is here for me.

"Magpagaling ka muna, Iha. Sasagutin ko lahat ng tanong mo pagmagaling kana lang. Sabi ng Doctor ay bawal kang mastress. Alam kong marami kang tanong pero sa ngayon ay kailangan mo munang magpagaling." Malumanay na sagot ni Nanay Werna.

I nodded. Hindi na muli akong nagtangkang tanongin si Nay Werna. Inalagaan nila ako. I was so thankful until the day I finally recovered. I was in the hospital for two weeks when the doctor finally said I can go home. I don't even know where home is. I felt so helpless.

Nanay Werna has three children. Josh, the oldest. He is 23 years old, he works in a bank as a teller. The middle child is Justin as a 20 years old college student. Lastly was Jolly, she's 17 years old. Wala na ang asawa ni Nanay Werna dahil sa sakit. She's been a widow for 10 years. She didn't said anything about me. So my assumption is that I wasn't part of the family.

Umuwi kami sa bahay at hindi man ganon kalaki ang bahay pero hindi rin ito sobrang liit. Pinaupo nila ako sa upuan na gawa sa kahoy. Nilagayan ni Jolly ng unan ang likod ko. Umupo sila sa harap ko dahil ngayon ay sasabihin na sila sakin ang mga katanongan ko. I admit I wanted so hard to remember everything but I can't and the doctor said I shouldn't force myself to remember what my past is.

Hawak ni Nay Werna ang kamay ko na parang sa oras na sagutin nya ang tanong ko ay may masamang mangyayari sakin. Josh was standing and the three were sitting in front of me.

"Ang totoo nya'n, Iha. Hindi ka talaga namin kilala."

I frowned. I look at them confusedly. Hindi ko alam kong anong sasabihin. I was right. I was not part of their family. It's so obvious. But I'm still thankful and grateful they took care of me.

"Pumunta kami noon ni Justin at Jolly sa dalampasigan para manggulekta ng shell para sa project ni Jolly. Tapos nakita ka namin walang malay at duguan. Kaya dinala ka namin sa hospital. Nagtanong-tanong si Josh sa mga kapitbahay at sa pamilyang malapit sa dalampasigan kong kilala kaba nila pero ni isa walang nakakakilala sayo."

"I–" I mumbled.

I wasn't ready for that. My eyes watered and now I don't really know what to do, what to say, and how to react. I bit my lower lip and looked down.

"H'wag ka magalala, ate. Aalagaan ka namin hanggang gumaling ka ng tuloyan at maalala mo ang nakaraan mo." Jolly said warmly. I sobbed and nodded.

"Thank you. I don't know how to repay you. I'm ready thankful and sorry." Nangiiyak kong saab.

"Ano kaba. Masaya kaming okay kana."

"H'wag ka magalala. Sa ngayon isipin mo muna ang kalusugan mo. Hindi pa magaling ang mga sugat mo kaya paglagaling ka muna." Sabi ni Josh. I nodded and wiped my cheeks.

The days passed and I did my best to recover. I don't want to be a burden to them. Mukhang nahihirapan narin si Josh dahil hindi naman ganon kalaki ang sahod ni Nanay Werna sa panahian. May dalawa silang pinapaaral at sumapaw pa ako.

Matapos ang dalawang buwan na recovery ay tumulong ako sa gawaing bahay. Magaling narin ang sugat ko sa ulo at dibdib. Every time I look at the scar in my chest it reminds me of someone I don't know. I always dreamed of a man who is calling me Maylsh. I don't know what 'maylsh' means, so I asked Jolly what it means and she searched for it for me.