Heart of Darkness

Kabanata 22

Kabanata 22

"Tuyot na..." Nag-angat ako ng tingin at ngumuso. "Tuyot na 'yung halaman mo dito, Thornie."

I saw Tita Zidney staring at the plants near the window.

"I forgot planting it, queen. Sorry." I saw Doc smiled and bit his lip.

"Masyado ka kasing busy, Doc, eh." I commented and smiled.

Napatingin s'ya sa akin, I heard him chuckled and shook his head.

"Kinda, I got a few adjustments for the new hospital in the province. It was tiring, hindi na nga kami minsan nakakapagbonding ng reyna ko." Ani Doc at sumulyap sa asawa n'yang may dala na ngayong tabo at dahan-dahang naglalakad patungo sa mga halaman.

"And she's actually wearing heels while watering the plants," I commented and laughed.

Doc chuckled too, extending his hand to give me the food he's been eating na kaagad ko ring inabot at kumuha.

"Baby, careful with the heels." I heard him saying.

Biglang natapilok si Tita Zid, nanlaki ang mata ko at nakita kong napatayo si Doc pero hindi pa man nakakalapit ay mabilis na nakaayos si Tita Zid at ngumisi.

"I'm good," She chuckled and glanced at us. "Sorry po."

"Careful," Ani Doc at lumapit na asawa.

I watched them silently as they talk, nakita kong may binulong si Doc kay Tita bago kunin ang tabo at s'ya na ang lumapit sa halaman.

Tita Zid then smiled sweetly when she saw me and walked towards me. Nang maupo s'ya ay bigla s'yang yumakap sa akin kaya ngumiti ako at niyakap s'ya pabalik.

"Tita, thank you for coming." Masayang sabi ko.

"No worries, Winter." She smiled at me. "Thorn told me you want to see me so I went here."

"Hindi ka ba busy?" I asked her.

"Not really," Umiling s'ya. "I was bored in my office anyway, my children is out too. 'Yung tatlo busy sa trabaho, si Clyte naman ay kung saang lupalop nanaman."

"Oh, why? Work?"

"Yeah," She said. "She's being weird too, ayaw pumunta sa reunion ng buong pamilya at out of town palagi, parang umiiwas."

"Sa'yo?" My brow raised.

"Don't think so," Umiling s'ya. "She's always sweet to us, minsan medyo malayo nga lang, usually when we're with my brothers and the whole family."

"Hindi po kaya may tampuhan sa magpipinsan?" I said at nakita kong natigilan s'ya at napasulyap sa asawa n'yang napatingin rin sa amin.

"Oh..." She murmured. "And I guess she's been avoiding Chiel!"

"Chiel?" I asked curiously.

"Her cousin, you know Alchiel Sandejas?" She asked me.

Napaisip naman ako at umawang ang labi ko nang may matanto.

"T-The lawyer? Pamangkin n'yo po?" Gulat kong sabi.

"Yes, anak ni Kuya Iñigo." Aniya at mukhang napaisip. "Baka nag-away nanaman ang dalawang 'yun," She sighed and called her husband.

"Thornie, let's talk to Clyte later, ayokong hindi sila nagpapansinan ng mga pinsan n'ya." Aniya at tumango si Doc at lumapit sa amin.

Hindi na ako nag-usisa, nakita kong napapaisip ni Tita Zid pero maya-maya'y bumaling sa akin at ngumiti.

"Sorry for that, Win. Ano nga ulit ang gusto mong sabihin sa'kin?" She asked and smiled.

"No worries, Tita. I just want to ask some things..." I said.