Vagabond

Chapter 7: Visit

Forty days daw ang aabutin bago basahin ang last will ni Mamila. Wala raw hahabulin doon sina Daddy kung pera o properties lang ang ibibigay sa kanila. Tito Clark informed us na kung property man iyon o perang mamanahin, ipapalipat na agad nila sa amin kasi pa-retire na sila at hindi na rin naman nila 'yon kakailanganin. Ang hinihintay nila, ang mga naiwang trabaho ni Mamila na wala pang siguradong hahawak.

Cali and Kit agreed about their new setup. Sa mansiyon muna sa Dasma si Kit habang under siya ng "exclusive training" kay Ninong Pat, and Cali will stay muna sa West kasama ng baby na ayaw ibalik ni Tito sa kanya.

Surprisingly, that idea was Kit's proposal. After all, baby lang daw pala ang habol ni Cali sa kanya. Still, married pa rin naman sila.

Cali asked his wife about Ninong Pat's training kasi baka raw mahirap, but Kit left us with, "Sa Sunday, pag-usapan natin 'yan. May sasabihin din ako."

Umalis tuloy kami ni Cali na puzzled sa sinabi ng asawa niya.

Cali returned to his fam's house sa West. Dumeretso naman ako sa hospital to visit Dree. Naging mahigpit na sina Auntie Chayo sa bisita nila. I didn't expect na kasama ako sa paghihigpitan.

Dree's room was on the fifth floor, Room 507. There were two doormen outside who asked for my identification before I went in. At sure akong naghihigpit talaga sila. Pinaiiwan ang phone ko at smartwatch sa kanila bago pa ako papasukin.

Gising si Dree pagdating ko. She gave me a smug smirk, even though she looked drowsy. She used to be thin, but now, parang namamaga na ang buong katawan niya because of her meds. Jensen said she looked like a Pillsburry Doughboy, and I thought that was a big joke until now.

"I'm still not allowed to be here every day unless I marry you," I informed her.

"I told you, Connor, I can die at any time. Sayang ang chemotherapy."

"Shut up. Huwag kang excited mamatay." I placed the paper bag I was holding above the side table and took out the food inside it. "I bought custards for you. Puwede ka naman daw nito. Sabi ng guard sa labas, nakapag-lunch ka na."

"News about your family?"

"Cali's wife is under the Lauchengco's wings."

"Yung guilty sa hacking ng school website? Safe ba siya sa kanila?"

"Based on her personality, she has the capability to slit their necks using cardboard once they do something nasty to her. Mga Lauchengco dapat ang tanungin natin if safe ba sila kasama si Kit. Softie pa naman si Ninong Pat."

"Sabi ni JS, mukha raw siyang safe."

"Former agent siya ng Afitek."

"Oh . . . right."

Kinuha ko ang maliit na kutsara para pakainin si Dree. I don't know if I'm just used to seeing people in their horrible states or if Dree's not gonna accept any pity from anyone, not even me.

I don't feel anything at all. I just fed her kahit sobrang bagal na niyang kumain ngayon compared last year.

"I don't know if nakarating ang condolences ko, but I'll say it personally tutal nandito ka naman na."

My hand holding the spoon stopped midair.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Connor. I know you love Lola Tessa more than anyone in your family."

"It's all right," I replied, and I continued feeding her. I'm still mourning. But I can mourn in the middle of this battle.

I wanted to take care of Dree. Bilang utang na loob na rin sa lahat ng pabor na ibinigay niya sa akin for the past few years. Pero ginigipit na rin ako ng pamilya niya.

"Sabi ni Auntie Chayo, baka puwede pa raw ihabol ang kasal nating dalawa," paalala ko kay Dree.

"Huwag ka ngang makinig kay Mama."

"Hindi ako makakabisita sa 'yo unless susunod ako sa kanila."

Dree's annoyance was visible on her swollen face. "I'd rather die than marry you, dumbass."

"Mabo-void naman ang kasal kapag patay ka na."

"I can now measure how heartless you are based on your word and life choices. Mas okay nang hindi mo 'ko bisitahin kaysa makinig ka nina Mama."

"I think mas okay nang ikasal tayo para kahit nasa ospital ka, hindi ako kukulitin nina Mrs. Hedren na i-date ang anak nila habang nagpapagaling ka."

"Inalok ka o inalok muna si Tito Ronnie?"

"Nag-direct na sila sa 'kin. Dad's annoyed with everyone right now, he rejected all families attempting to have dinner with us."

"Is he still rooting for you and Damaris?"

"I don't know with Dad. He's not saying anything about Damaris since I left the house."

"What will happen? Wala na ang lola mo."

"Waiting kami sa last will. May lumalabas na sa showbiz insiders na break na raw tayo kasi hindi kita dinadalaw rito sa ospital, but Tito Clark said, nagbigay na ng warning si Dad sa mga naglalabas ng article."

"Hindi naman 'yan mapipigilan ng daddy mo."

"But he has his ways. I should know. Gusto ko na lang makipag-negotiate kay Auntie Chayo tungkol sa kasal."

"Si Jensen na lang ang padalawin mo rito kaysa ituloy mo 'yan."

One hour lang ang visiting time na ibinigay sa akin. I really thought that that was unfair since everyone knew that Dree is my girlfriend, but the Siocos are asking me something more than a simple favor.

Pero kung pakakasalan ko si Dree just for the legal papers, wala naman sa akin. If Cali married a random girl na hindi pa nga nakakaligo at bagong gising lang, Dree would never be a surprise.

May TV sa room ni Dree, but she's not allowed to have a phone or a laptop, or any gadgets and devices na puwede ko siyang makausap kapag nakaalis na ako. Kahit din ako. Wala akong phone pagpasok dahil confiscated sa labas pa lang.

"I'll visit next . . . week? Or any time na sasabihin ni JS," I told Dree.

"Don't do anything stupid while I'm here, moron."

"Magpagaling ka para hindi mo 'ko kailangang pagbantaan. Una na 'ko."

"Layas."

Lumala ang cancer ni Dree. Expecting na raw sina Auntie Chayo, but I'm not really prepared lalo sa ganitong pagkakataon.

Naka-rely lang ako kay Dree for the past three years. Or maybe since college days pa namin, lagi akong naka-rely sa kanya habang pinagagalitan ako sa mga katangahan ko.

But I'm starting to lose all of my strongest foundations right now. Jensen is a reliable friend, but much more reckless and stupid than me. Si Dree na nga lang ang guidance namin, nagkasakit pa.

Ninong Leo said kausapin si Daddy about sa Afitek. I don't have a clear plan for what to say to my dad after saying rude things to him. But he said the worst things too, and I can defend my side using his own words.

Hihintayin ko na lang na basahin ang last will next month para malaman kung ano ang susunod naming gagawin.

♦ ♦ ♦