Heartful Whisper

Kabanata 38

Mariin kong pinalis ang mga luha ko. Nagmamadali akong bumalik sa kwarto ni Leonel. I wiped my tears almost forcefully that my eyes hurt.

Nilibot ko ang kanyang kwarto upang sapilitang malibang ang sarili. He shouldn't see me in my earlier state. Malalalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko para makalma ang sarili.

I looked at the walls, the furnitures, and frames around his room. My eyes were glued at one small picture frame of him wearing jumper shorts. I went closer to take a better look at it. He seems to be six years old in the picture.

A blurred flashes of memories came to me. I had a quiet and ordinary childhood life. Nakalalabas lang ako ng bahay kapag sinasama ni Mama sa kanyang trabaho. So I can remember some unique and unexpected experiences I had back then.

"Mama.. isasama mo pa rin po ako?"

I can remember Mama braiding my hair before going to the mansion she was working in. The nephew of her amo kissed me on the cheek yesterday. I cried because of it so I thought Mama will not bring me there anymore.

"Walang magbabantay sa iyo dito.. nasa eskwelahan pa ang Ate Cora mo."

I pouted and nodded. Wala naman na siguro iyong bata na iyon doon?

Gaya palagi, sa garden ako naglalaro kapag may ginagawa si Mama. Takot akong pitasin ang mga flowers kaya iniisa isa ko na lang silang tinitignan at binibilang.

"Hey,"

Napaatras ako nang makita ulit ang batang lalaki! Nakasuot siya ng jumper shorts at patulis ang buhok.

"Don't worry, I won't kiss you anymore."

Umatras pa rin ako.

"Promise!" He raised his right hand.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at tumalikod na.

Nakasimangot ako nang sumabay siya sa akin sa paglalakad.

"I'm Dizandro. You are?"

Napangiti ako nang makita ang ibon na lumilipad at dumapo sa maliit na puno. Tumakbo ako patungo roon.

"You want to pet the bird?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"I can get it for you."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Kukunin mo ang ibon?"

"Yup. I'll climb that tree and get the bird's nest. You want it, right?"

"Kaya mong akyatin iyan?"

He smirked. "Well.. I'm not sure, but for you I'll try."

Huh?

Nagulat na lang ako nang magtanggal siya ng rubber shoes at umakyat ng puno. Ngunit hindi pa siya nangangalahati ay nahulog na siya!

Lumapit ako agad at lumuhod para tignan ang lagay niya. Hindi naman mataas ang puno pero masakit pa rin iyon dahil sa lupa siya bumagsak!

"Naku po! Ang alaga ko!"

His nanny was almost crying when she went to us. Hindi umiiyak ang bata, hawak hawak niya lang ang pwet niya. Nang tumingala siya ay ngumiti siya sa akin.

"Sorry, I couldn't get it. I'll ask my kuya to get it instead."

"What happened Nana Vilma?" A taller boy holding a camera appeared behind us.

"Nahulog ang kapatid mo sa puno!"

The boy older boy just looked at him. "He doesn't seem hurt."

"My butt hurts kuya, but it's fine. I was trying to get the bird for her."