BABYSITTING THE 9 VILLAMAYOR SIBLINGS

Chapter 20 - Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

Kahit pa nagulat at naguguluhan ako sa nangyayari ay agad kong ginamot si Nero. Ano bang nangyari dito?

Nandito ko sa kwarto niya ngayon dahil kahit anong pilit ko ay ayaw niya kong hayaang dalhin siya sa ospital. Eh ang dami niya kayang sugat. Para bang nabugbog siya.

"Bakit ba ayaw mo? May pinagtataguan ka ba? Ano bang ginawa mo? Sinong may gawa niyan? Ano bang nangyari sayo?" sunod sunod kong tanong as soon as nakita ko na siyang maayos ng nakakagalaw.

"You talk a lot, don't you?" he asked while grinning at me.
"Ano?! Nagagawa mo pa talagang mang-inis sa lagay na yan no? Ayos ka talaga!" inis kong sabi.
"Hahaha."

Nagulat ako sa tawa niyang yun. Ang genuine. Wow.

"You don't remember what you did?" out of the blue niyang tanong.
"Huh? Alin?" takang tanong ko. Hindi ko talaga maalala kung ano man ang sinasabi niya hanggang sa naalala ko na naman yung sinabi niya nung nakaraan.

'Whether you remember or not, my feelings won't change. I still like you and I won't stop myself if the time comes that this would develop into love.'

Love agad? Ano nga ba yung pangyayaring yun?

Ang tanging alam ko lang kasi ay maid lang nila ko. Wala ng iba. I never met him noon. Haays. Well, I don't know how to confirm it kung nag-interact na ba kami before. I don't even trust my memory as well. Haays.

"Nero," tawag ko sa kanya. Gusto ko na kasi malaman kung saan at paano niya ko nakilala. Sana naman magsabi na siya ng totoo this time.

"Yes baby?"
"Di mo ko baby. Just answer me and stop calling me with your endearments."
"Why? It's good naman ah. Ano bang question mo baby?"
"Tss. Saan at paano mo ko unang nakilala?"
"You really dont remember anything?"
"Ano ba talagang nagawa ko para sayo?" tanong ko.

Panandaliang katahimikan ang bumalot sa paligid na bahagyang nagpaiba ng nararamdaman ko. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay anytime from this moment ay sasabihin siyang ikakagulat ko. Tila bumagal ang oras sa pagtigil niyang yun. Pa-suspense pa. Kinakabahan ako sa di ko malamang dahilan.

"You saved me." he said while smiling genuinely.

Was it me? Or it's just him who's acting weird? I don't know. Pero kakaiba talaga siya ngayon.

Iniligtas ko daw siya? I don't remember meeting him ever.

Wait. Did I actually meet him? Or is he just delusional right now?

"Imposible." I uttered.
"I thought you would say that. But yes, you did. I guess it's time for you to hear again the real story. Why you are here and why your family is working for us."
"We are working for you kasi may utang kami sa inyo. You helped us. And alam ko may nagawang pabor din ang mga magulang ko sa inyo."
"Yes. Your family did. But do you know what's that?"

Oo nga no. Ni minsan hindi nasagi sa isip ko kung ano nga ba ang nagawa nila sa pamilyang to.

"Ano nga ba?"
"It was Christmas then, the most beautiful time of the year."

Even without asking him, I can clearly say that narrating this story is too painful for him.

"Kung masakit para sayo ikwento yan, ayos lang. Kapag ready ka na, saka ako makikinig. Pakiramdam ko kasi, masyadong masakit para sayo ang magkwento."
"No. It's time to tell you this. Since you become a part of the family now."

Why is he persistent on telling this? Yes, I know this is important pero di ko alam kung bakit gustong gusto niyang sabihin.

"We are all living a peaceful life that time. When one day, a group of armed men started showering bullets on our home. It's just me, Mom and you who is in the house that time. It's creeping me out again. But I have to tell you this. I need to. I never knew such tragic thing will happen."