Hey, It's Me, Karma (Manileño Series #1)

Chapter 27

Hey, It's Me, Karma

Date

We arrived in our destination, a huge gate coated in white paint greeted my sight.

Sa mga nakaraang araw ay pinili ko ang maghinga muna para ihanda ang sarili sa mga maaaring maganap. Lumipat ako ng apartment. I choose one near our old house because I was hoping it could contribute to my progress. It was too much risk since Kashia might know where our old house situated and she might figured out where I am staying right now. Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ko na kalaunan ay mahuli rin ni Kashia ang kasinungalingan ko noong araw na iyon. Still, I took the risk because I want it to go faster.

Pumunta ako sa bahay namin sa sumunod na araw nang paglipat ko. I rode a taxi because its the only public vehicle allowed to enter the premises of the private villa.

Naaalala ko pa ang gulantang na mukha ng nangangalaga ng bahay namin.

"I-Ikaw ba talaga 'yan, hija? Hindi ba ako nananaginip?" Nalaglag ang panga niya habang iginagala ang paningin sa akin.

I nodded and smiled curtly. Iginala ko ang paningin sa harapan ng bahay namin dahil hanggang ngayon ay nananatili pa rin ako sa labas ng gate.

"Hindi ka patay? Dios ko! Hindi ba ako dinadalaw nitong si Karma?" Narinig ko pa ang mahina niyang pagdadasal dahil sa naging presensya ko.

"Manang, hindi niyo po ba ako papapasukin?"

Binuksan niya ang gate at walang salita akong pumasok. When I stepped inside our frontyard, I can't help but smile. Walang nagdadagsaang alaala sa utak ko ngunit masarap sa pakiramdam na unti-unti na akong nakakabalik. I found another home. I found home in Ivan and I found home here. Never thought I could find home in different things, not only to one.

Sa labas mayroong round table na gawa sa bakal at nakakabit na payong. Kulay puti ang lahat at nakapaikot ang apat na upuan sa bilog na mesa. The ground where the table was placed were Bermuda grasses. Sa kabilang banda ay nakasemento lang ito at naka-park ang pamilyar na sasakyan. Natatandaan kong ito ang sasakyang ginamit namin sa picnic noong bata ako.

I smiled at the thought and continued wandering around the place.

It was a two-storey house. Kulay yellow and white ang exterior. The only color that popped was the chocolate brown in the upper and lowest part of the house.

Nang pumasok ako sa loob ay bumungad sa akin ang malawak na espasyo at ang spiral staircase ng bahay. In one corner, the L-shaped sofa was placed. Maraming babasagin na nakalagay sa isang shelf at glass cabinet ngunit mas nakaagaw ng atensyon ko ang itim at makinang na bagay.

It was a piano. The piano my Mom would use during her resting days. It was the piano that always brought us together in one place, listening to the sweet and gentle melody my mom played.

Lumapit ako rito, nagsimula sa pagbilis ang pintig at sumisikip ang puso.

I've always feared it ever since the moment I had my first memory of childhood. I can't even help but feel guilty because it's the first memory I had with my parents. It was a memory they left for me to remember. However, at the very moment, all I wanted was to embrace the piano in front of me.

Lumapat ang kamay ko sa fall board nito at sabay kung paano ako unti-unting nanghihina. I fell on the marbled floor.

"Dios ko, anong nangyayari sa'yo, hija?" Nataranta si Manang at dinaluhan ako.