Hope
Agad na bumaba sa sasakyan ang mommy ni Edge.
"My God. Are you okay?" She looked at me from head toe. She held my arms firmly to find my gaze but I chose to look away.
"Of course you don't look okay," sagot niya sa sariling tanong.
"You seemed very tired, hija" Edge's dad said. Tumabi siya sa asawa habang nakatingin din sa akin. He has the same eyes with Edge.
"I-I am..." my voice cracked.
"What are you tired of?" Edge's mom asked, may ingat ang bawat bigkas niya.
I looked at them. Kita ko ang awa sa kanilang mga mukha.
"Everything." I whispered.
Auntie Reizel nodded.
"This place is really far from your house. And you're crying mess. What happened, Traiva?" tanong ng Dad ni Edge. His voice sound so worried.
"I-I run away from h-home."
Malakas na suminghap ang Mommy ni Edge ngunit agad siyang nakabawi.
"Come with us, honey." she gently held my hand. Napatingin ako sa kanya. Umiling ako.
"Come on. Don't worry you'll be safe now."
Pinasakay nila ako sa sasakyan kung saan my driver at my guard sa unahan at likod. Pagtapos ay dinala nila ako sa isang malaking bahay. Mukha itong rest house.
Nasa loob kami ng isang kwarto ngayon kasama si Auntie Reizel na pinunasan ang puno ng luha kong mukha pagkatapos sinuklay ang bahagyang nabasa kong buhok dahil sa luha. Matamang nakatingin lamang sa amin ang Daddy ni Edge.
"Go out."
"Why?"
"I want a girl to girl talk with her."
Auntie Reizel smiled at me.
"I want to listen." ani ng Daddy ni Edge.
"Get loss, Eduardo."
"I need to tell this to her father." akmang kukuhanin niya na ang phone sa bulsa ng bigla siyang pinigilan ni Auntie.
"No. Don't tell Conrad or Ferdinand about this yet. Shut your mouth." she hissed.
"But–"
"Eduardo."
"Reizel."
"Eduardo." Auntie Reizel gave him a sharp look. He immediately nodded .
"Alright. Alright." Uncle surrendered. I smiled a bit.
"Lock the door."
"I'll change your clothes. Is it okay?" she asked. Nakayuko lamang akong tumango. Hinubad niya ang suot kong dress pataas. Pagkatapos ay pinunasan ang aking braso at leeg. Nakita ko rin ang pagtagal ng titig niya sa aking dibdib, sa aking tyan, braso at hita. She even checked my back na tila may hinahanap pagkatapos ay bumuntong-hininga siya bago ako sinuotan ng pantulog na dress.
Nag-angat ako ng tingin.
"I'm sorry for the trouble, Auntie" panimula ko. Nakatingin lamang siya sa akin at hinihintay ang susunod na sasabihin ko.
"I'd hurt your son." pag-aamin ko.
"I know." sagot niya at tinanggal ang nakadikit na buhok sa aking pisngi.
"I never got a chance to apologize to him. I want to but he's gone. It's too late."
"Uh-huh."
"It's been almost two years. And I'm still waiting for him to come back. I really want to apologize for what I did. I love your son, Auntie."
