Between the Spaces

Kabanata 29

Donny

I was just beside Kisses while Tito Gilbert was trying to explain to her what's going to happen next. After 3 days ni Tita sa ospital ay finally, pinayagan nadin sila ng doctor na lumabas at magpa second opinion sa U.S. na hindi parin alam ni Kisses.

"Dad? What do you mean? Aalis kayo?" tanong ni Kisses kay Tito when he told her about the 'business trip' that they have to go to.

"Yes anak. Siguro in a month or two." Kaswal na sagot ni Tito sa kanya

"Kaya na ba ni mommy, dad? Kakalabas niya palang galing ospital ah. Alis na agad kayo?" nagkatinginan kami ni Tito kase obvious sa mukha ni Kisses that she needs answers to her questions. Immediate answers.

"Hindi din naman bukas agad. Siguro next week?" sagot ulit sa kanya ni Tito

"Kailangan ba talagang sumama si Mommy?"

"Hmmm. Hindi ko naman siya pinilit nak. But she told me na sama daw siya kase baka daw siya nagkakasakit kase ang init init na dito sa Pilipinas."

"Sinabi niya yun?"

"Yes. Gusto yatang magbakasyon kaya ganun." Sagot ni Tito sa kanya, Kisses looked at me, still not convinced with what Tito said, "Tell us your thoughts about it. Para masagot naming yung mga tanong mo, anak."

"Wala naman na dad. Kung para naman sa business yan at gusting sumama ni mommy, okay lang naman. I'll be fine here." Kisses told them,

"Wag ka mag alala nak. Nakausap ko na si Anthony," sabay tingin ni Tito kay Daddy, "Habang wala kami, sila muna yung bahala sayo. Hindi naman kami magtatagal dun, siguro matagal na yung isang buwan?" Kisses went over Tito and hugged him,

"Daddy, mamimiss ko kayooooooooooooooooo." She cries so easily when it comes to her parents, tiningnan naman ako ni daddy at ngumiti,

"Andyan naman tito Anthony mo, I'm sure you'll be fine with them." Sagot ni tito sa kanya, "Napagkasunduan na naming ni Anthony anak na during weekdays, sa bahay ka parin uuwi, tapos pagka weekends naman, pwede kang sa bahay naman nila mag stay." Pag eexplain sa kanya ni Tito, Kisses looked at me so I nodded at her telling her everything is fine,

"Nak, don't you ever think you are alone. We are here. We are also your family." Sabi sa kanya ni Daddy,

"Thank you po Tito." Kisses told daddy

After just 2 days, umalis na nga sila Tito papuntang Amerika. All were sealed, na habang hindi pa nakakapag undergo ng second set of tests si tita, wala munang malalaman si Kisses. At tatlo lang kaming may alam nun, si Daddy, ako and Tito Gilbert.

"Are you okay, love?" tanong ko sa kanya while she sits down beside me on their living room

"Ang tahimik na ng bahay love. Kami kami nalang nila Manang dito." Sagot niya and leaned her head on my shoulder,

"Andito naman ako ah." I happily told her, "Diba sabi ko sayo, you will always have me no matter what." And then I hugged her, "Come on. I got you always."

"Thank you." It was a hug longer than the usual until no one between us two wanted to get away from it,

"Are you crying?" tanong ko sa kanya

"Why do I feel like something is really wrong, Donny?" she told me, hinahagod ko naman yung likod niya to comfort her,

"Nothing's wrong. It's all in your mind, love. Shhhh. Please stop crying." Sabi ko sa kanya, I let go from the hug and held her face, inch apart from her, looker intently on how this girl carries all the burden in the world when I am here as a matter of factly.