Kabanata 6
Dipping Toes in the Water
"So nakapag-decide ka na ba?" tanong sa akin ni Carla patungkol sa mga nag-a-apply bilang caregiver ni Lola.
"Hindi pa, but I already have a person in mind. What brings you here today, by the way?"
"Naku, walang tao sa bahay. Sina Mama ay nagpa-check-up at isinama na rin ang anak ko. Ikaw? Wala ka bang plano ngayong araw? Pansin ko na hindi ka na masyadong nag-aayos ng mga kagamitan."
"Yes, it has been an exhausting week." I roamed my eyes around. Mas lumiwanag ang bahay dahil sa bagong pinta. I also changed the curtains so the sunlight could pass through and make the house homey.
"Nga pala, Dagian. Pansin ko kasi na hindi ka masyadong umaalis ng bahay dahil busy ka sa pag-aayos. Hindi ko rin alam kung may ideya ka kung saan inilibing si Lolo Dario. Baka kako gusto mo siyang bisitahin."
"Oh..."
"Baka kasi wala kang balita pati sa ganoon."
"The truth is I didn't receive any letter anymore after Lolo died. He didn't have any last letter except for the house's postcard and some bank money. Gusto ko sanang i-contact ang attorney ni Lolo pero nawala na sa isip ko."
Thankfully, Carla didn't seem to mind that I forgot about visiting Dario. I tried to look confused and shameful as I explained. Now that she's talked about it, I have to insert it in my plans. Through Carla, people will not be suspicious about me if I visit Dario. These days, some of our neighbors would shamelessly look at the house as if it was a majestic view that had dropped from above. Wala naman talagang masyadong nabago sa bahay, maliban na lang sa malinis ito at maaliwalas ng tingnan dahil sa bagong pintura. Maybe some of them wanted to see me outside and visiting Dario.
"Sa Memorial Park inilibing si Lolo Dario. Pwede kitang samahan kung gusto mo dahil baka maligaw ka," Carla kindly offered.
"Thank you, Carla."
I feel guilty about using Carla. Ever since we began talking, all I could sense from her is sincerity. Isa pang napansin ko kay Carla ay hindi rin siya madalas na lumabas ng kanilang bahay. She wasn't even close to some of people in our neighborhood. Maybe it was her first time having someone to talk to. Hindi rin naman ako mailap kay Carla. In fact, she's helped me a lot ever since I came here.
"Why don't I visit on Sunday? Hindi pa kami nakakapagsimba ni Lola kaya it's a perfect opportunity for us to visit Lolo."
"Sige. Sabay na lang din tayong mag-simba dahil kami lang naman ng asawa ko ang umaalis."
"What about your in-laws?"
"Ah, minsan lang sumabay sina Mama sa amin. Minsan pang-hapon na misa ang pinipili nila dahil kakaunti lang ang nagsisimba."
Carla and I chatted for a while. Nang magising si Lola ay sila naman ang nag-usap. Malambing si Carla at hindi na rin naman siya bago sa paningin ni Lola. She thinks Carla is a dear friend of mine so she doesn't think of her as a threat.
I wanted to ask Carla about Dagian's parents but I don't think she knows anything about them. I remember her saying something about Lolo Dario's funeral where none of his family were present. Tanging mga kaibigan at mga kapitbahay lang ang naroon. I'm sure there's a connection here. When did Dario started living here? The house looked like it was built years ago and I am sure someone saw his family visiting. Hindi pwedeng wala dahil napaka-imposible.
But if there was someone who knew, I just had one person in mind. One of the oldest person living in this neighborhood was Ango. The old man was hostile about my arrival that he could only keep watch from a distance. Hindi nga sila bati ni Lolo Dario but it doesn't mean that he's never acquainted with him. They were friends before but I think something happened.
