GETTING TO KNOW MS. ANGER | MaColet

20.5 OLD HOUSE

Lumapit kami sa tapat ng pinto, and she hesitated for a moment before knocking.

After 3 knocks, the door creaked open.

Lumiwanag naman ang mukha ko ng makilala ang nakatira dito.

"Nanang!" I quickly stepped forward and took her hand to bless, showing respect.

"Masaya akong makita kayo, mga apo. Anong dahilan at naparito kayo?" she asked, her voice warm and gentle, as she led us inside.

"Binisita po namin si Mama, Nanang. Uuwi na rin po kami ng Manila" Nico explained while we settled in the living room. "Nagbakasyon lang po talaga kami dito"

Mabilis na napalingon naman ako sa kanya dahil sa huling sinabi niya. Naramdaman niya rin siguro yun kaya pasimpleng tumango sa akin.

Alam namin parehas na hindi kami nagbabakasyon dito at tinakas niya lang ako.

"Hala, ang saya naman at nakadalaw pa kayo bago kayo umuwi. Pero sana makapunta ulit kayo dito ha." nakangiting sabi ni Nanang habang tumingin samin.

We continued to talk, with Nanang sharing stories of Nico’s childhood, filling the air with laughter and warmth.

I could see how much these memories meant to Nico as she quietly listened, her hand unconsciously reaching for mine. I squeezed her hand, offering silent support.

As the conversation continued, Nanang began asking about our life in Manila. "Kamusta naman kayo doon?"

Nico nodded, a soft smile on her lips. "Maayos naman po."

"Iba ang hangin dito, apo. Mas sariwa, mas tahimik. Kaya sana, kahit sa susunod na taon, magbakasyon ulit kayo dito." Nanang replied, her voice filled with hope.

Napangiti ako sa sinabi ni Nanang 'kayo' meaning gusto niya ulit akong makitang kasama ni uyab.

Assumera.

Napagpasyahan namin na magpaalam na, at niyakap ni Uyab si Nanang ng mahigpit. "Babalik po kami, promise."

Ganun din ang ginawa ko.

As we left, there was a lingering warmth from the visit. Uyab looked back one last time at the house, then at me. "Thanks for coming with me."  she whispered.

"Anytime" I replied, squeezing her hand as we walked back to the car, leaving behind a piece of her past but carrying the warmth of those memories with us.

Napagpasyahan muna naming umuwi ng rest house.

"Sino ang caretaker ng resthouse kung ang layo ng bahayan doon?" kanina ko pa gustong itanong yun sa kanya.

"Si Kuya Jon ang nag-aalaga. Minsan sinasama si Nanang, 3 times a week siya na punta o nakikitulog para matiyak na walang titirang multo" sagot niya, diko alam kung nagpapatawa ba siya or seryoso sa huling sinabi.

Tumango lang ako. Pagkarating namin sa resthouse, agad niyang sinigurado na malinis at sarado ang mga pinto.

Babalik na kami sa Manila.

"I texted Shawn before my phone died" sabi niya, breaking the silence as we re-entered the car.

Tumango lang ako at tumingin na sa labas ng bintana. 

Shawn nanaman.

"He has a private plane" she added casually, her voice breaking the comfortable silence between us.

I could feel her gaze on me, pero hindi ko magawang tumingin pabalik. I just hummed in response.

"Are you okay? Nananahimik ka, that's odd" her voice softened with concern, her eyes briefly flickering to me.

I hesitated, feeling the weight of the thoughts swirling in my mind. "I don't know how to feel, sa idea pa lang na uuwi na tayo ng Manila" I admitted, my voice soft but heavy with uncertainty.

Naramdaman kong hinawakan niya ang kamay ko kaya napalingon ako sa kanya pero nasa daan lang ang mga mata niya.

"You can sleep. I'll wake you up na lang pag malapit na tayo." she offered, her voice soothing, almost like a lullaby.

I nodded and closed my eyes, pero kahit anong pilit kong magpahinga, my mind wouldn’t stop spinning. Ang daming scenario ang pumapasok sa isip ko.

What if tinakwil na ako?

What if wala na akong pamilyang babalikan?

What if wala pala talaga silang pake sakin?

What if bumagsak na ang company ni dad dahil tumakas ako at ngayon ay naghihirap na kami.

Shouldn't I feel relieved? Shouldn't I be happy na hindi ko na kailangang magpakasal sa taong hindi ko naman mahal? But the relief I expected was nowhere to be found. Instead, a different kind of sadness weighed on me.

But why did a part of me want to stay? Bakit parang ang resthouse na kaunting araw ko lang natirhan, felt more like home kaysa sa bahay na kinalakihan ko?

Or maybe… was it because of Nicolette?

After that confrontation, something shifted between us. I could feel it, and I’m sure she does too. Her walls have started to come down, letting me see pieces of her past, of her pain. And with every story she shared, with every glimpse of her vulnerability.

I found myself falling for her even more.

But can this last? Or will everything change when we go back to the Manila—back to reality?

Wag naman sana.

My thoughts were interrupted by her gentle voice, pulling me back from the reality.

"Sleepyhead, we're here"