A Safe Haven

04

"Leila, si Nanay Bella ito." I hurriedly got up from the bed even though I was busy with my laptop.

"Nanay Bella, angtagal nyong bumalik dito sa mansion." I said sullenly to Nanay Bella so she squeezed my cheek. Galing sya ng province nila because of emergency kaya kaming dalawa lang ni Kuya John minsan ang naiiwan sa mansion kapag hindi umuuwi ang parents ko.

"Ay nagtatampo naman ang Leila ko na yan! Halika't may pasalubong ako sayo."

"Really?!"

"Oo, tara sa kusina." nauna pa akong tumakbo sa kusina dahil sabik na sabik ako sa pasalubong sa'kin ni Nanay Bella. "Leila, baka madapa ka, magkakaroon ka pa ng sugat nyan." paalala nya sa'kin nang tuluyan na nga akong napatid sa tali ni Nala— my dog. "Yan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko e."

Nasubsob ako sa floor at nagmadali namang lumapit sa'kin si Nanay Bella para itayo ako.

Nala barked while staring at the wound on my elbow.

Binalewala ko ang sugat ko sa siko at dumiretso na sa kusina nang mapansin ang may laman na plastic sa counter.

I want to taste the food in the province.

"Nanay Bella, what is this?" I asked holding the food.

Lumapit sya sa'kin at kinuha lahat ang laman ng plastic. "Ito ay suman, bibingka, sapin-sapin, palitaw, at puto." kinuha nya isa-isa at sinabi ang mga pangalan non. "Mamaya mo na kainin yan dahil lilinisin ko muna yang sugat mo. Malalagot tayo sa mommy mo kapag nakita nya ito."

"Later na po, Nanay Bella, I want to taste it all first." nagmamakaawang sabi ko.

"Pero—."

"No buts," tinikman ko na ang sinabi nyang sapin-sapin kanina and it tastes so good. "Nanay, angsarap! It's my favorite na." sabik kong sabi sa kanya na patuloy pa din sa pag-aalala sa'kin.

"Halika na muna, Leila, linisin muna natin yang sugat mo—."

"LEILA!" I dropped what I was eating sapin-sapin on the floor when I was surprised by the voice of Mom who had just arrived with Dad.

"Mom..." I hid my hand behind my back when she approached me. When she got closer, she pulled my hand and looked at my bleeding elbow wound.

"Manang Bella, what happened here?! I reminded you that she can't have a wound or scar, right?" Mom shouted one after the other to Manang Bella who just bowed down.

"Maam, pasensya na po—."

"Mom, it's not Nanay Bella's fault. It's my fault. Don't blame her." tumingin din ako kay Dad na nasa likod ni Mom. "Dad..." he just shook his head.

"Let's talk later." Mom's voice was mixed with threats to Nanay Bella and she pulled me into the living room. "Leonel, call Dr. Meredith, please." utos ni mom kay dad. She worries about me.

Tumingin ako kay Nanay Bella and nag-aalala din ang mga mata nyang nakatingin sa direction namin ni mom. I opened my mouth and said 'I'm sorry' to Nanay Bella and she just nodded at me.

"Please, take care of Leila, I'll just talk to her." paalam ni Mom para kausapin si Nanay Bella. Hindi naman malala ang sugat ko para pag-usapan pa nila.

"Mom, I'm fine... you don't have to worry."

I don't want Nanay Bella to get hurt just because of what I did, Mom is so strict that when an assistant fails, she scolds them and makes them resign.

"Just wait for Dr. Meredith, sweetie." Mom said last before entering her office and, Dad and I were left in the living room.

"My love, what happened?" lumapit sa'kin si Dad and ni-rub ang hair ko using his hand.