Always, My Jade

Longing (8)

They're both in Jade's car now and they're on their way to the Tanchingco's. Althea wants to see Ama, too. She's Holding the handkerchief in both hands on her lap and looking outside the window. She seems excited yet reserved, happy but it seems she doesn't want to let it known.

Siya pala si Lola. Kaya ba ganon na lang si Lola sa kanya? Bakit hindi na lang niya ako tinanong noong nasa Airport kami? Hindi na ba niya natatandaan ang panyo? Ano ka ba Althea matagal na panahon na yon matatandaan ka pa ba niya? At isa pa may sakit siya dba? kontra ni Althea sa sarili niya. Pero nalilito pa rin ang isip niya.

"You ok?" tanong ni Jade ng mapansin ata ang malalim niyang pagiisip, and she just nodded and look at Jade then back her eyes looking outside.

Jade smiled, Althea's like a child going to school for the first time. Excited yet nervous. It seems Ama left an impression on her that she cherished for the longest time.

When they arrived at the house, they found Ama in the garden attending her orchids. When she saw Althea, a wide smile formed in her face and reach out an open arm to Althea. With trembling knees, Althea slowly walked towards Ama who in return hug her tightly. They remained in that position until Jade could see Althea's shoulder shaking. She's crying.

She could hear Ama cooed Althea and cupped her face when they pulled away.

"Lola" was the only word Althea uttered.

"Ama, mula ngayon tawagin mo na rin akong Ama" she said in her gentle and soothing voice.

- - -

How could something be so close and the bond so strong even for a very short period of time?

Ama must've seen something in Althea that she recognized her easily and Althea must've been looking for Ama for longest time that finally they've found each other again. Or there must be something that destiny itself plan it to be.

Dinner at the Tanchingco's is a little different because Ama is the one being so jolly and entertaining, she insist that Althea join them at dinner. Awkward man si Althea pinag bigyan niya si Ama. Oscar and Amanda just keep on eyeing at Althea , Ama then to Jade.

They saw how Jade looked at the other girl who's just so silent eating her meal, bowed down and eyes on her food. Raising her head only to answer or nod at Ama's questions.

No one speaks but only Ama, when Oscar tried to ask something to their guest, Ama's quick to stop him and said let Althea eat in peace. Jade just giggled at how her Dada's reprimanded by Ama. She looks at the girl beside her, she's so quiet kaya pinisil niya ang binti ng dalaga para icomfort siya pero nagulat si Althea at nabuga niya ang pagkain na nasa bibig niya.

"Ok ka lang?"tarantang tanong ni Jade sabay tayo at haplos sa likod ni Althea.

Tango tango lang si Althea at nagsenyas na ok lang siya.

"Bakit Apo?"alalang tanong ni Ama pero sinabi ni Althea na nasamid lang siya.

Napangiti si Jade, at hindi yon nakaligtas sa tingin ng kanyang mga magulang na napatingin sa isat isa.

- - -

Sa kwarto ni Ama, andon si Althea hinatid na niya ang matanda na naghahanda na para matulog. Lumabas si Jade para kumuha ng tubig ng matanda.

"Ama, bakit nasabi niyo noon sa akin na hindi ko pwedeng gamitin ang panyong bigay niyo pag umiiyak ako?"

Ama hold her hand and said
"Kasi pakiramdam ko mas madalas kang umiiyak ng mga panahon na yon, at hayaan mong ibang tao ang magpunas ng luha mo. Malaman mong hindi ka nagiisa, may nagamamahal sayo."

Hindi namalayan ni Althea na pumapatak ng luha niya, ganon ba ka lungkot ang buhay niya na nakikita ng ibang tao ang lungkot sa mga mata niya o si Ama lang ang nakakakita?

"Ama, ok naman po ako noon eh?andon si Dad at si yaya po?

Tumango tango lang si Ama, pinipilit makumbinsi ang sarili.

"Ngayon ba ok ka Apo?

Silence

"Kaya ko pa naman po"

Tango lang si Ama ulit while gently caressing my hands on her lap.

"Nagpapasalamat ako na bago tuluyang kainin ng sakit ang memorya ko, nagkita ulit tayo Apo kasi lagi nilang sinasabi may sakit daw ako kaya ang dami daming gamot ang pinapainom sa akin."

Althea felt pain inside, when she was about to say something Lola quickly ushered her to stand.

"Magpalit ka na ng pantulog Apo, dito ka na matulog"

"H-hindi na po Ama, uwi na po ako"

"Bukas ka na umuwi, samahan mo siya Jade magpalit at balik kayo dito" she told Jade who's already standing at the door.

Gulat si Althea and asked her "kanina ka pa?" At ngiting tango lang sagot niya dito.

- - -

"Kasya naman siguro yong shirt at pajama sayo" Jade smiling habang inaabot kay Althea ang pamalit.

"Hintayin na lang kita sa kwarto ni Ama, there's the bathroom andon na rin extra toothbrush" pointing to the door of the bathroom.

Pag alis ni Jade, pikit matang nag buntong hininga si Althea. Kanina pa hindi mapakali ang puso niya, para siyang aatakihin. She's in Jade's room, and there is familiarity in the place kahit ngayon lang siya nakapasok. She can smell her in the room and she found herself smiling from ear to ear.

"What?!, no!no! hindi pwede." She suddenly stop herself.

- - -

When she returned to Ama's room, the old lady is now lying at the center of the bed and Jade's on the other side. Ama tap the other side and Althea lie beside her. Ama's in the middle. Jades at her left and Althea's at her right.

Kahit nahihiya tumabi siya kay Ama, kinuha ni Ama ang kamay ni Althea at itinabi sa kamay ni Jade na nakayap na sa matanda.nabigla man ay hindi niya magawang alisin dahil ipinatong din ng matanda ang dalawang kamay niya sa dalawang kamay na nakayakap sa kanya.

Pano ako makakatulog nito, isip ni Althea. Ramdam ko ang malambot na kamay ni Jade. Ama ano tong ginagawa niyo?tanong ko sa isip ko. Tapik tapik naman ang matanda sa mga kamay ng dalawang nakayakap sa kanya, hanggang maramdaman ni Althea ang antok.

Akala ni Althea hindi siya dadalawin ng antok dahil sa naalangan siya pero hindi niya namalayan na nakatulog na pala siya. katabi at yakap ang matandang matagal na niyang pinagarap na makita ulit. At si Jade na kaharap niya, hindi man derektang nakikita pero nararamdaman niya.

She felt her and again the feeling is so strange yet seems familiar.

And for the first time for a very long time. Nakatulog siya ng walang alak.

Bago to para sa kanya.

Pero may ngiti sa labi niya.