The Welsh Maiden

Kabanata 21

Disclosure

"Althea"

"K-Ka-Kathleen?!"

I just stand there, with mouth slightly opened. I couldn't even utter a single word after seeing her in the flesh! Para akong tuod habang nakatingin sa kanya!

"You're pale..." I heard Megan commented. Napahawak siya sa braso ko dala ng pag-aalala.

Lumapit si Kathleen at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. 

"Althea, thank God you're still alive!" And I heard her subtle sobs while throwing herself at me. It took a moment for me to react.

"K-Kathleen, I-I should be the one asking you that!" My hands are probably shaking. Ramdam ko ang lamig nito dahil nang hawakan niya ang mga kamay ko ay halos mapaso ako sa init ng palad niya. 

"Y-You're s-still alive?!"

Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap sakin at mariin akong tinitigan. Ngumiti ito at tumango. "I can't be dead Althea, I have to live" Napahawak ito sa tiyan niya.

Napansin ko ang umbok nito. Bago pa man siya makapagsalita, inakbayan siya ni Rafael at hinalikan sa noo.

"B-But how... why... I-I thought you're..." I can't even get my tongue straight. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa nangyayari!

"I know you have a lot of questions Althea," Rafael started. "We can talk over lunch, if you like?"

Napatingin ako kay Kathleen and she nodded at me in agreement. "Don't worry, we're not here to give you harm Althea."

Napalunok ako ng ilang beses. I have to trust Kathleen, gusto ko ring malaman kung anong nangyari. Sumakay na kami ng sasakyan and then we followed their car. I'm still in shock while Megan is driving. Maraming tanong sa isip ko at ang tanging makakasagot lang no'n ay sina Rafael at Kathleen.

We settled in one of Tagaytay's famous restaurant. Kaunti lang ang tao kaya doon na kami tumungo. Pansin ko ring masyadong nakadikit si Kathleen kay Rafael na animo'y nagtatago habang naglalakad kami papasok.

Katabi ko si Megan at sa harap namin ang dalawa. We let Rafael pick a meal for us all kasi hindi naman kami pamilyar sa kung anuman ang pagkain dito.

We became silent for a minute or two bago ko marinig ang pagpapakawala niya ng malalim na hininga. 

"Okay, I guess I have to start with an apology." Napatingin si Kathleen sakin. "Althea, I'm so sorry if you thought I was dead. It's just, I didn't have the guts to face you, or Jade." Napayuko ito at napansin kong pinunasan niya ang mga namumuong luha bago pa ito kumawala sa mga mata niya. "I don't want to take the risk."

Now it's time for me to ask, "Anong nangyari Kathleen?"

Rafael held her hand and nodded as if telling her to continue. "By the time Raf and Jade got you, she pushed me 'til I fell hard on the floor. I was expecting that time."

"What do you mean?" Kunot noong tanong ko.

"Althea," She's now intently looking at me. "I was three months pregnant when that happened."

And that explains everything. Now it's all coming back to me.

"I bleed... there's a lot of blood and I was so worried of losing my child." I saw her fresh tears starting to come out. "Nakatutok na sakin Althea... she's holding her knife like she's going to stab me any minute" I know it's hard for her to tell all this. Kitang-kita ko sa mga mata niya. "But Jade must've come to her senses when she saw me bleeding... she let go of the knife and just looked at me." She wiped her tears again when Rafael handed a clean cloth. "I-I was so scared Althea, I thought it will be the end of me."