"Alexandria.....???" someone called my name outside my room.
Ehhhhh it's still early in the morning, hearing the knock outside, makes my blood boil in pure pleasure of anger.
Knock knock knock
Ahhhhh it irritates the hell out of me.. My room is still dark pero may nakatakas na sinag ng araw that's why I know it's already morning.
Inis na bumangon ako sa kama ko at nakasimangot na umupo with matching hugging the teddy bear I bought for myself.
"What do you want Nettie.......?"
I asked my nanny, she'd been serving the family for almost 23 years now and she's already 53 years old.
"Hija, pwede ba akong pumasok..?" She asked in a serious tone.
"Nettie, it's still early in the morning, could you just go and let me sleep then come back here after hours.."
I said emphasizing every word I uttered, so that she will understand.
Duhhhh, it's not everyday na nagsusungit ako sa kanya minsan lang kaya kapag lang umaga tapos binubulabog niya ako.
"Tsskkkk, tssskk, ikaw talagang bata ka oh... Alam mo Alexandria, umaga na kaya magtatanghali na nga eh, anak bumangon kana at may sasabihin ako sa'yong importanteng bagay..." Sabi ng matanda tsaka narinig ko nalang na bumukas ang pintuan ng kwarto ko.
I immediately get my blanket and succumb into my bed. Just want to sleep for a while. I deeply knew it's already 8:15am in the morning.
Even when she knew that I'm awake I pretended to be asleep.
Duuuhhh, I'm always like this kaya halos araw-araw nalang. Kung hindi ako tinatamad wala naman ako sa mood.
I remembered what my dad told me when he was alive...
Umuulan non and then I just discovered na binenta niya ang lupain na pag-aari namin sa Camiguin somewhere in Mambajao. Learning about what happened wasn't easy for me. Because I know how my dad treasured that property of his. It's his father's legacy na pinamana sa kanya, since he's an only son. While my mom that time is suffering from a stage 4 breast cancer. I was 18 that time, a grade 12 student. I'm studying at one of the international school here in the Philippines. After knowing that he sold the property to the Fortalejo's, I feel angry, I confronted my dad.
"Hey dad, what is this news that I heard...? You sold the land that we own in Camiguin...?"
He was sitting on a chair in the balcony of our house. With him tapping the keyboard of his laptop.
I asked him, hindi siya tumingin sa akin, he's busy with his laptop. Isinara ko ang laptop niya, dahilan para mapatingin siya sa akin. And for the first time, since noong time na-diagnosed si Mommy ng cancer. I saw my dad's eyes, to be exact I saw his fifth-floor eye-bags. And there's this dark circles on his face.
He stared at me for a few seconds before he heaved a deep sigh.
"You want to know the answer to your question..?"
He asked me staring straight into my brown eyes, which I inherited from him.
I nodded.
"Yes sweetheart, isinangla ko na ang lupa natin sa Mambajao. Kailangan kasi natin ng pera para sa pampagamot ng mommy mo."
Then I saw him wipe the water from his cheeks. Then I realized, my dad is crying.
Seeing my dad cries like a man without hope. I felt a pang of pain in my chest. Goshhh, I'm being a brat again, I immediately hug my dad. God, I'm so sorry for being so stubborn most of the time.
He's the epitome of a great, strong, and a happy man. But seeing him right now, breaks my heart. Before, we're very well-off lahat ng luho ko nakukuha ko. Pero simula noong magkasakit si Mommy lahat ng mga properties namin naibenta ni daddy. Lahat ng iyon, ang bumili ay ang mga Fortalejo na mga matalik na kaibigan ni daddy.
"I know you understand me Alex, I just love your Mom so much. And if losing her is a choice then I will wholeheartedly go with her."
Those are the sentence that made my heart melt. Kahit na nga maiiwan ako na mag-isa, kasi I'm an only child okay lang sa akin. As long as my parents are together and happy.
"I'm sorry anak. I really am, ang natitira nalang sa mga properties natin ay itong bahay at ang lupa na kintatayuan nitong bahay. May mga sasakyan pa naman tayo at mga alahas niyo ng mommy mo. But don't worry honey hindi ko iyon gagalawin, it's for you and your mom."
Nasa bahay kami ngayon since ang nagbabantay kay mommy sa hospital ay si Yaya Nettie muna. Kasabay na naibenta ng mga pag-aari namin ay ang kompanya ni daddy na pinaghirapan niya. Wala narin kasi siyang time na asikasuhin ang business namin. Since he want his full attention on my mom. He's such a loving, caring, and a strong husband and a father to me.
"Anak alam mo naman na hindi lahat ng panahon kasama mo kami ng mommy mo."
He said habang hinahaplos ng daliri niya ang buhok ko.
"Why dad? Are the both of you planning to leave me?"
I asked him sa garalgal na boses, it's a sign na kaunti nalang iiyak na ako.
"Hush. No baby, I just want to remind you. Syempre nasa hospital pa ang mommy mo. So I just want to say na kapag malungkot ka just utter our names and we will be by your side. We'll be your angels too... "
He said, hindi nalang ako nag-komento pa, I know naman kasi na pagod lang ang daddy ko. Wala pa kasi siyang tulog since kaka-uwi lang namin and he needs rest.
After 2 years gumaling si Mommy, she survived from stage 4 breast cancer. I was so happy that time naniwala nga ako sa kasabihang totoong mayroong himala. But fate is indeed a player, one day sobrang excited si Mommy dahil magho-honeymoon sila ni daddy sa Hawaii for their 21st Wedding Anniversary. On their way to the Airport their car met a ten wheeler truck and both of my parents died from a car accident.
Good thing I'm already at my legal age. I can do anything na hindi ko na kailangan ng guardian. It's hard at first since sabay pa talaga silang nawala sa akin. Pero nasanay narin ako sa kinatagal-tagal ng panahon.
May naiwan pa naman sa akin na property si daddy. Ang bahay at lupa namin na tinitirhan namin ngayon, tapos may limang sasakyan at mga alahas pa naman. We also have the vacation house in Paris, France.
I'm back in my reverie when a thumb caress my cheek.
"Hayyyy nako, ikaw talagang bata ka ohh. Umiiyak kana naman..."
Sabi ni Yaya Nettie, hindi ko namalayan na nakalapit na pala siya sa akin at nahawi niya ang kumot.
"Matagal na panahon na iyon, apat (4) na taon na ang nakalipas. Kaya naman bumangon kana riyan at mag-almusal dahil may bisita ka sa baba na naghihintay sa iyo."
Pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyon ay niyakap niya ako at hinalikan ang noo ko tapos lumabas na siya ng kwarto ko. Napatitig nalang ako sa pintong nilabasan ng dakilang Yaya ko.
Sino kaya iyon...?
I'm happy that I was left with my Yaya Nettie na siyang palaging umiintindi sa akin at nagmamahal sa akin ng buo. That is more than enough for me.
Sino kaya iyon...?
PS: I'm not a professional writer, I write to kill time....
PLS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
BINABASA MO ANG
Locked In My Memories
Romance"I thought I can survive one day without you. But I was wrong, so wrong baby, it broke me into pieces." You're locked in my memories and no one hold the key but you dear.. You can open my mind and I will let you in. My heart is shouting for your nam...
