Always, My Jade

Bridge (1)

Terminal 3

Just returned from a week trip in Hongkong, just like all the ordinary trips I had. Just wanted to unwind and think.

Habang inaabangan ko ang luggage ko, may tumabi sa aking matandang babae, luminga linga ako sa paligid looking for her companion kung meron man but she just smiled at me and I just smiled back. Again I look around to see if there is someone with her, di na ako nakatiis.

"Lola, may kasama kayo?" She just smiled and said " Kanina meron, ngayon wala na".

Seryoso?i don't know what she meant pero napailing na lang ako, ang lakas ng trip ni Lola sabi ko sa isip ko.

When I saw my luggage I ready myself to get it but then this Lola interrupted and got in my way saying "Ayon Apo yong maleta ko pakikuha". Stunned in a minute but readily obliged and took her luggage missing my own. Sigh. Si Lola talaga.

"Lola kaya niyo ba ito asan po kasama niyo kanina" I said anticipating that her companion might be somewhere in the area or just gone to the toilet.

"Nasa Hongkong, hinatid lang ako ng Apo ko sa airport, gusto ko na kasi umuwi eh, may gagawin pa siya at naiwan kaya nagpahatid na lang ako sa airport. Asan maleta mo?bakit dmo pa nakukuha?maupo muna ako saglit doon Apo nangangalay ng paa ko eh, hawakan mo muna maleta ko ha isama mo na sa maleta mo para isang tulakan na lang". I was left in amazement how this old lady talks and treats me like her own granddaughter. She left without me saying anything, tulala lang and napapailing. Since I already saw my luggage I only waited for a few minutes before finally got hold of it.

Then with my luggage and Lola's in one trolley I slowly walk as I look around and find her in one corner.

"Lola, saan po ang sundo niyo hatid ko na po kayo." She always has this sweet smile ready for me that I can't help but melt and submit myself to her charm.

"Pahiram ng cellphone mo" she said without answering me, puzzled but still I took out my mobile phone and after unsecuring the password inabot ko kay Lola, kanina pa talaga ako nawiwindang sa matandang to. She asked me to dial the number she had on a piece of paper and slowly walked away from me but not too far, only enough distance for me not to hear her , after a few minutes she came back.

"Wala na yong sundo ko kaya pwede ba pahatid na lang sayo Apo?" Nganga bagsak balikat at tulala, ano daw?Pakiulit. Natawa si Lola sa reaksyon ko pero dedma instead hinila na niya ako palabas.

Ano to bakit, anong gagawin ko sa matandang to. Pero natutuwa ako sa kanya. Makulit na mabait.

Nagulat na lang ako sa pag muni muni ko when someone called me "Althea!"Si Batchi, "bakit ikaw sumundo sa akin" tanong ko.

"You're welcome" sagot niya. "Bawal ka mag drive dba? At kung sila Mang Gani lang susundo sayo alam ko tatakasan mo lang siya, matigas pa sa niyog yang ulo mo kaya"sunod sunod na niyang sermon.

"Nga pala kasama ko si Lola-sabay tingin kay Lola pero d ako pinansin tsaka bumaling kay Batchi asking "Ikaw ba sundo namin Apo?tara na".

Nagkatinginan lang kami ni Batchi at hinila ko na lang siya sabay bulong "mahabang kwento, sumunod ka na lang".
Kamot ulong sumunod si Batchi.

"Saan po tayo Lola?" Tumingin tingin si Lola sa paligid sabay sagot "Sa Alabang, Apo" Sa isip ko, ok medyo malapit lang kala ko sa probinsya pa si Lola.

Pagdating sa Alabang, sinabi ni Lola ang subdivision buti na lang kahit pano familiar kami ni Batchi sa lugar at papunta na kami ngayon sa isang exclusive subdivision. Alanganin kaming pumasok pero nakilala si Lola ng guard so ok taga rito nga siya sabi ko sa isip ko. Then after a few more minutes we stopped in a large gate, to my surprise the gate opened at lalo ka mamangha sa laki ng bahay. Expected kami?Tanong ko sa sarili ko.

Then a black Mercedes Benz suddenly stopped just behind our car, and 3 men dressed in uniform came out and one of them took Lola's luggage and immediately went inside, the two stayed behind as if waiting for instruction from Lola but Lola just stared at them and dismissed them. She then turned to us saying "Magmeryenda muna tayo"

But I declined politely saying I still have a meeting to attend to. She nodded but before we went back to our car she asked for my mobile number.

"Ho?, number ko?"and when I'm about to take out my calling card she interrupted me.

"May panyo ka ba?pahiram at don mo na rin isulat number mo."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Batchi. Lola torete ng utak ko sayo. But I can't decline and just surrendered to her request.
We left shaking our head and at the same time smiling with one thought in our minds, Oldies.

On our way back, tiningnan ako ni Batchi.

"Ano yon?"

"Di ko rin alam, baka kamukha ko Apo niya" I just answered with half smile.

"Kamusta bakasyon? Bago na bang hangin laman ng utak mo?"- Batchi

Tiningnan ko lang siya then looked away.

"Bakit parang ang hirap mag umpisa ulit Batchi.
Two years after, bakit parang kahapon lang nawala si Dad."

"Tsong--"

"Kung wala ka, kung wala kayo nila Kat, Abby---"

"Hindi kami mawawala, Althea, ok?"

Naluluha nanaman siya.

"I'll try Batch, hindi ko lang alam paano magumpisa ulit."

I love my Dad so much, kami ng magkasama since I was 7, Mom left early. Dad always stands for me, from people who judge me even from my own relatives. Sometimes, no most of the time, your own blood disowns you.Sarili mong ka dugo ang hindi makatanggap sa pagkatao mo.
And all my life si Dad lang nakasama ko, until ginupo siya ng sakit. Dad suffered from lung cancer and heart complications.

Since then para na rin akong patay. Nakita ko din mga taong nasa tabi ko lang in times of pleasure. Dad's presence gained me lots of so called friends and loving relatives and his absence proved me that they are just a bunch of hypocrites.

But I have true friends beside me and accepted me. Sila na din dahilan kaya ako andito pa rin ngayon. Sila na ang pamilya ko.

But I'm hurting them for playing around and wasting my life.

Paano kung pati sila mawala?

I sighed.

"Masyadong malalim ah?" Batchi laughed.

I just smiled at her, closed my eyes, rest my head and force myself to sleep.

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Salamat po sa mga magbabasa😊 sana magustuhan niyo. Hindi po ako professional writer. Hope you enjoy.✌️