Basta't Kasama Kita

25

"Sorry sis kung ngayon lang kita nabisita ha? I hope you're feeling better now." Ingrid said then kissed Sandra on the cheek. "Nakakatayo ka na ba from your bed?"

"Oo. When I feel like it, tumatayo ako."

"But how are you feeling?"

"I'm good."

"Kinamusta kita kay Greg. Sabi n'ya mahina ka pa daw kumain. Sabi nga n'ya kausapin daw kita eh. I know he's really worried about you. Magpagaling ka sis. Hihintayin namin ang muling paglabas mo at gigimik tayo like there's no tomorrow," she said with a smile.

Ngumiti lang din si Sandra.

"Speaking of Greg, where is he now?"

Biglang nalungkot si Sandra nang maalala si Greg. Naalala din n'ya ang mga salitang binitiwan n'ya sa kasintahan. She suddenly felt empty. Ngayong wala si Greg para mag-alaga sa kanya ay pakiramdam n'ya na parang may kulang sa kanya. Naisip n'yang masyado na s'ya talagang naging dependent kay Greg and his presence alone makes her feel complete.

"Hindi ko alam," she softly replied.

"Iniwan ka n'yang mag-isa dito?"

"I asked him to leave."

"What? Bakit? Anong nangyari? Nag-away ba kayo?"

Sandra bowed her head before giving an answer, "Ing, di ko kayang makita s'ya. I need time to be away from him and heal."

Ingrid sat beside Sandra on the bed. "Sands, alam kong masakit ito para sa 'yo. I can't imagine how much this is tearing you apart. Pero tandaan mo, hindi lang ikaw ang nawalan ng anak. Si Greg din. At kung nasasaktan ka ay nasasaktan din s'ya. And I'm sure he's hurting even more kasi nakikita ka n'yang gan'yan at wala s'yang magawa. Sis, you can both heal together."

"I don't know Ing. Hindi ko pa lang s'ya kayang harapin ngayon. Mas lalo akong madedepress 'pag nakikita ko s'ya.

"Sands, you cannot turn away from him just like that. Mag-usap kayo. Kausapin mo s'ya. He's broken, too. Kailangan ka rin n'ya. More than ever, ngayon n'yo mas kailangan ang isa't isa. Please Sandra, don't be stubborn."

********

Sandra woke up the following day to a very quiet surrounding. She checked the clock on her night stand. It says seven thirty. Medyo nagtaka s'ya kung bakit tahimik pa rin sa labas. By this time Greg should be preparing their breakfast. Kung di man ay may nakahanda nang breakfast tray sa loob ng kwarto n'ya. And then she suddenly remembered their fight. "Oo nga pala, pinagtabuyan ko nga pala s'ya," she said.

She slowly got up to make her own food. She made the resolve that starting this day she will be doing things on her own... no more being too dependent on Greg. Ito ang simula ng mahabang proseso ng paghilom.