Forgotten Child

First Chapter

Click. Click. Click.

"So, you want to know everything about her?" tanong sa'kin ng babaeng psychiatrist after clicking her annoying neon pink pen.

Tumango ako bilang sagot at tsaka siya tumawa.

"What is wrong with you, little girl? Bored ka ba kaya sa dami-dami ng pwede mong gawin ay ito pa ang napili mo? Ang alamin ang buhay ng isang baliw na babae?" She shook her head with a snort. "I don't get how the minds of young people these days work. They would want to do this and that and then after finding out everything they thought was 'awesome,' they would just fvckin' regret it and turn their backs as if nothing has ever happened."

"I won't turn my back," singit ko sa drama niya.

Napataas ang kilay niya at napalitan ng interesting-look ang expression niya. "Oh? Sinasabi mo lang 'yan dahil hindi mo pa alam ang katotohanan."

I looked at her eyes. "Kaya nga po ako nandito para malaman ang katotohanan."

"Haha!" Tumawa ulit siya at biglang sumeryosong tumingin pabalik sa'kin before leaning closer. "Eh paano kung matagal mo na palang alam ang katotohanan but you're just too stupid to notice and to give a d*mn care about it? That you're just waiting for someone to tell you what you wanted to hear."

"Are you trying to tell me that all I wanted was assurance?"

She grinned, as if she's hiding something.

"Are you?"

Huminga ako ng malalim bago sagutin ang tanong niya. "Doctora Niets Neknarf, gusto ko lang malaman ang buhay niya at wala ng iba. Kung bakit niya ginawa ang mga ginawa niya at paano niya nagawa ang mga 'yon. Kung totoo ba ang mga nalaman ko about sa kanya o hindi, ayun lang."

Now she's giggling. "You're making it sound like it's no big deal! Haha, oh goodness, I am starting to like you, Maiah Adria Omlin," she looked at me with sparkling eyes. "Keep talking. Tell me why you are doing all of this. Hindi ka naman mukhang estudyante. This isn't for your report to school," she leaned in and whispered. "This is for your own curiosity."

"Doctora, bakit kailangan ng mga tanong na ganyan? Wala namang pinirmahan na confidentiality ang babae na iyon."

"Uh-uh-uh," she clicked her pen again while saying that. "Wag mong ibahin ang usapan, Maiah, and start answering my curiosity so we can begin the life story of that woman."

Well, walang mangyayari kung hindi ako magte-take ng risk.

I sighed. "Okay, but I want to sign a confidentiality to have a hold on you. That if ever a word from this conversation escaped this room, I can put you in jail."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "You, little girl, is giving me chills," she licks her bottom lip and took out a paper. "Okay, sign here, here, and here." And I did tsaka niya kinuha ito. "You may begin."

I bit my lip and gulped.

"Ginagawa ko ito para malaman ko ang tunay kong pagkatao. Ampon lang ako, napulot sa basurahan, tinapon ng sarili kong ina, at pinalaki ng isang taong may malaking puso. And that woman? Her story? Her personality? Everything about her, can answer most of my questions about myself."

Napatulala siya sa sinabi ko as her aura became serious.

Ngayon alam ko na kung bakit the best in her field itong Doctora Niets Neknarf na ito.

She got it.

"Are you trying to say that this woman — this crazy, psycho woman who made herself lock up in the asylum — is the —"

Tumango na ako bago pa niya matapos ang sasabihin niya. "Kutob ko lang ito. Wala akong hawak na ebidensya para suportahan ito."

"Well you know what little girl?" She smiled. "I officially like you now, and I am more than willing to tell you everything about her life."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. "Thank you po."

Umiling siya. "Don't thank me yet. This woman's story is dark. Baka hindi mo makaya ang mga malalaman mo about sa kanya."

"I don't care. Hindi ako magaaksaya ng panahon at magbaback-out lang dahil sa takot."

She studied me for a moment before taking out a folder from her desk cabinet.

"Here's a photo of her when she was in her teenage years," she showed me.

"A-Ang ganda niya," napabulong kong sabi habang hinihipo ang litrato.

"True. She even looked like an angel."

Tumaas ang ulo ko para tignan siya. "But what?"

She smiled sadly. "But that innocent, kind-looking girl had...."

-x-

Napasandal ako sa pader dahil bibigay na ang aking tuhod kapag hindi pa ako tumigil sa paglalakad.

I had been wandering off to nowhere after that talk from Doctora Niets Neknarf.

Oh gosh, ano ba itong napasok ko—

I looked at my phone when it vibrated and answered it. "H-Hello?"

[Mao! Anong nangyari na? Kanina pa kita tinatawagan, di kita makontak, ngayon lang! Saan ka ba nagsususuot?]

"Baka walang signal kanina. Di ko din alam eh, pasensya na."

[Huy, okay ka lang ba? Iyang boses mo parang hinang-hina ah.]

Umiling ako.

"Hindi ako okay, Abo."

[Ha?! Ano bang nangyari?! Nakuha mo ba lahat ng gusto mong makuha?]

Umiling ako kahit hindi niya ako nakikita. "Hindi... pupuntahan ko ulit siya sa makalawa."

[Mao, ano ba? Kanina mo pa hindi sinasagot ang tanong ko ah! A-nong nang-ya-ri!]

I rolled my eyes at her demands.

"Ikaw talaga, napakademanding mo," sabi ko sa kanya habang nailing.

[Eh ano kasi nga ang nang—]

"Not only a lunatic," putol ko sa kanya. "But also a murderess."

I heard her loud gasp on the other line and I answered her with a huff before she could even utter her question.

"Ha, yes, Aliyah. Anak ako ng isang baliw na mamamatay-tao, and you know who were her first victims? None other than her own parents. Amazing, isn't it?"