GABRIELLE
SATURDAY MORNING arrived, and I had to prepare early since Vice Governor Alcaraz texted me to be there exactly at 6 AM. She said she had some things to do at the Office of the Governor, and there was no one she could trust to look for her husband. Though she had plenty of trustworthy maids, she still wanted me to look after her husband for hours.
Wala naman iyon problema sa 'kin. Even though Anthonio Alcaraz could barely speak, it was comforting to be with his company. I read stories to him— most of them were short stories I just found on Google. He liked listening to the stories, smiling and nodding if he agreed to the message of the stories, and frowning when he was not. In the short period I'd been with Antonio Alcaraz, I felt like having a father again.
I was so young when my father died from that accident. My memories with him were blurry, undecipherable. Every time I thought about him, a soft touch of sadness and longing cradled my heart with small prickles scrapping around it. Kaya minsan, iniiwasan ko nalang na alalahanin ang mga kakapirasong ala-ala ko kasama ng aking ama.
When I arrived at the Alcaraz mansion, the security who was assigned to guard the gate greeted me. The manor of the house was filled with some maids— already doing their morning chores. The gardener, whose name I— unintentionally— forgot, waved at me. Honestly, the helpers at the Alcaraz mansion were all welcoming and kind.
Noong nakapasok na ako sa loob ng mansion, lumapit agad ang isang maid na hindi ko alam ang pangalan. Bago lang ata ito rito at bata pa. She seemed like a year or two older than me.
"Ikaw po ba si Gabby?" Tanong niya.
I nodded and smiled, "Opo,"
"Pinapasabi pala ni Vice Governor na dumiretso na po kayo sa kwarto ni Senior Anthonio. Dadalhin ko nalang po ang kaniyang pagkain at pati ang mga kakailanganin niyang gamot,"
As usual, Vice Governor Angelica already prepared food for her husband. I always admired her for being such a good wife to her husband. Kahit gaano siya kabusy, nagagawa niya pa ring ipagluto ang asawa. Sir Anthonio liked the food his wife cooked for him. 'Pag pinapakain ko siya ay palagi siyang nakangiti at halatang tuwang tuwa sa pagkaing niluto ng kaniyang asawa.
When I entered his room, the familiar smell of medicine and warmth reentered my senses. My eyes drifted to Sir Anthonio who was lying on the bed with his attention fixated on the window— it was like he was thinking deep in his thoughts. I thought he heard the clanks of my feet against the wooden floor, that was why his head slowly craned to look at me. An instant smile slowly stretched across his face.
"Good morning, Sir Anthonio!" I said merrily.
"Uhm-hmm," he mumbled.
Lumapit ako sa kaniyang kama at umupo sa gilid na upuan. There was a book placed on the bedside table, ngayon ko lang nakita ito. Siguro ay binasahan siya ni Vice Governor kanina ng aklat bago siya umalis.
Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na ang pagkain at iilang gamot na kailangan ni Sir Anthonio ngayon araw. The maid slightly trembled as she placed the food on the bedside table as if she was intimidated by the mere presence of the man lying in bed. Hindi ko siya masisisi kung ganiyang ang reaction niya. Sir Anthonio might be sick right now, but he still looked intimidating and brooding. His weathered face bore the deep lines of a life lived fully, each wrinkle was a testament to the past filled with mystery and intrigue.
Noong umalis na ang bagong maid nila ay agad kong tinulungan si Sir Anthonio para makabangon. I started feeding him with the food prepared by his wife. Habang ginagawa ko iyon ay kinuk'wentuhan ko na rin siya patungkol sa k'wentong nabasa ko kahapon. He listened attentively as if he was so intrigued by the words spilling out of my mouth.
