Always, My Jade

Hunch (2)

On going ang meeting but I couldn't concentrate because of what I heard about Ama, as much as I want to go with her naipit ako sa meeting ko ngayon. Bigla siya nag decide umuwi kaya wala akong choice kundi ang ihatid na lang siya sa airport. She should be staying with me for a week pero 3 days pa lang bigla na siya nagyaya pauwi, good thing may available flight back to Manila. But before the flight I called Mama and Dada for them to pick up Ama. Ayaw niyang ibang may kasama pati si Yaya, bakit ganito si Ama ngayon, ako lang talaga ang gustong makasama, naisip ko.

Hindi rin pwede sumundo si Dada because of an urgent appointment and Mama was in Cebu for an event. Kuya Paul's also out of the country and so is Kuya Gab with Pearl. Minsan talaga pag sinumpong si Ama ng pasaway walang makakapigil. I just asked then Dada to send Mang Raul, our driver and two more bodyguards to fetch Lola. I know she'll be taken cared of at the airport, being a senior citizen, she'll always be the priority.

But I was surprised when I called Dada and said na tumawag daw si Ama sa bahay at sinabi na ayaw mag pasundo but instead hinatid siya ng isa ring pasahero. Ano nanamang naisip ni Ama. Lalo sumakit ulo ko. Just the same I know Dada said that andon pa rin mga tauhan niya para umalalay.

I need to finish this meeting para makamusta ko si Ama, I'm really worried and silently cursing myself for letting her on that flight alone.

Thankful, the meeting was over and I immediately call our house but nobody's answering. I decided to take my dinner muna and took a shower then prepare to do some work while trying to dial our house again hoping this time someone will answer.

I heard Yaya answered, "Yaya wala pa ba sila Dada at Mama? Kamusta si Ama pwede ko ba siya makausap?"

"Ah, Jade wala pa sila Sir at Mam, katatapos lang mag hapunan ni ng Angkong at Ama mo, nagpa pahinga na si Ama mo sa silid niya, saglit lang at silipin ko ha?"

After a few minutes of silence on the other line I heard Ama in the background as if expecting my call, she's still awake. I know she won't be sleeping unless we had a little chat, she doesn't want Angkong sleeping beside her, Ama's suffering from Alzheimer's disease and doesn't remember everyone except me. Kahit kami hindi makapaniwala na ako lang ang taong kilala niya at kasa kasama.

I know she's now holding the cordless extension when I heard her thanked Yaya.

"Ama bakit po hindi kayo nagpasundo kanina, kamusta na po kayo? Sino po nag hatid sa inyo? Wag niyo na po uulitin yon, paano kung masamang tao yong nakasama niyo at may ginawang masama sa inyo?."I said full of worry and concern.

There's silence at the other end so I continued.

"Hello po Ama.?"

"Alam ko rin namang pasusundan ako nong matandang kasama ko dito sa bahay at ng Daddy mo, si Oscar ba yon?"referring to Angkong and Dada, she answered. Alam din pala niya na hindi naman siya pababayaan. napailing na lang ako na tahimik na natatawa.;'

"Tumawag ako dito sa bahay para sabihing may maghahatid na sa akin buti may iniwan kang número at nakisuyo akong tumawag " she chuckled.

Si Ama parang bata. Then she's silent, "Ama, ok lang po kayo?"

Suddenly she asked "Naaalala mo pa ba si Ant?"then I can feel like she's smiling from ear to ear though I couldn't see her, she's a bit weird kanina pa ah at bigla kong naisip sinong Aunt?

"Ama, sinong Aunt? Sino sa mga auntie ko ang tinutukoy niyo? " Pero hindi siya sumagot parang nainis ata kaya nagtanong na lang kung kailan ako uuwi.

I told her I'll be home the day after tomorrow kasi hindi na rin kami makakapasyal dahil umuwi na siya. She just said goodnight and we'll see each other soon.

Sanay din kasi si Ama na may kakwentuhan bago matulog at this is the first time that we had a bonding moment na so short dahil nagpaalam na siya. I thought maybe she's just tired so I let her be and said my goodnight. After talking to Yaya at nagbilin nagpaalam na rin ako.

I made some last minute check on the bar I owned in Manila through Skype when I had an incoming call from Paul, napansin niya cguro online ako, "Hi bunso, how's your stay, balita ko tinakasan ka daw ni Ama, haha'!" I shot him a tiger look at nag peace sign naman siya, we had a good chat and told him what happened with Ama and he was just shaking his head the whole time.

"See you next month bunso" Paul said and we said good bye. Kuya Gab's on vacation, too in Europe, two weeks leave. Actually honeymoon leave with Pearl.

Paul's with his partner Gerald. It's hard for Dada to accept it before, a lot of drama and chaos before Dada finally accepted Paul, an accident happened that changed everything. We thought we're gonna lose Paul, he committed suicide by intentionally slamming his car in the concrete barrier. That changed everything, though Angkong has not yet accepted Paul, Dada and Mama couldn't afford to lose a son. Looking at us now, we're just trying to rebuild our family again, slowly but going strong.

Dada lost the position of president in Angkong's company for standing for Paul. It's family over company. But he struggled to find a way with other companies he owned and we, his children are with him backing him up. Slowly, Dada's back on his feet and his fast bouncing back.

Angkong and the rest of our relatives are still indifferent towards Paul. Angkong stays in our house because of Ama, but he remain distant especially from Paul, so Paul just stayed out and only comes to visit.

I had so much in my thoughts that I wasn't aware of the time. It's getting late I still have a meeting tomorrow at gusto ko na ring umuwi. Daya ni Kuya Gab siya dapat dito, di bale babawi ako pag nagkita kami.