Turn The Page

Chapter 14

1994

"Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez, everything is taken care of. Pinapaalala lang po namin na ingatan nyo ng mabuti ang bata. She's been through a lot, she needs a family that will take really good care of her, and all of us here at the shelter are very happy na for the first time, someone had taken a chance on her. Tawagan nyo lang ho kami kung may problema ho kayo sa bata," sister Berlin said to a couple who was willing to adopt Page. "Maraming salamat ho, sister. Makaka-asa ho kayong maalagaan ang bata ng maayos sa amin. Matutuwa ho yun dahil may kalaro ho sya sa bahay, yung dalawang anak ho namin na babae," Jerome Rodgriguez said. The sisters nodded at him with a smile. "Mabuti naman ho kung ganun. Sandali lang po at ipapakuha na namin si Page para sa inyo," sister Berlin said then she excused herself and asked one of the other nuns to get Page ready for her. After a few minutes, sister Cecil showed up with six-year old Page ready to go. She had on the new clothes the couple got for her as well as a small teddy bear. The couple smiled brightly as soon as they saw her. The nuns nodded in approval. "Page, naalala mo sila mama Ruby at si papa Jerome?" Sister Berlin asked while she bent down to Page's eye level to talk to her. Little Page stood closer towards sister Berlin. They could tell she was shy and scared. "Gusto ka nila isama sa bahay nila para pakilala sayo yung mga anak nila. Mga bago mong kalaro. Tapos dun ka na titira sa kanila ha. Sila na mag-aalaga sayo," sister Berlin tried her hardest to explain. Page shook her head and hid her face by sister Berlin's shoulder. "Page, 'wag ka matatakot. Mababait kami nila papa Jerome mo. Kami na mag-aalaga sayo ha. Tapos kami na yung tatayong mga magulang mo, meron na palaging mag-aalaga sayo. Tapos yung mga anak namin, yung kambal? Sila ate Samantha mo at ate Savannah, sila din mag-aalaga sayo. Mag-lalaro kayo ng mag-lalaro. Masaya dun sa bahay, anak. Punta tayo para makilala mo sila?" Ruby Rodriguez said. She tried to be as friendly as she could, but Page didn't want to let go of sister Berlin's hand. "Sige na Page, sama ka na muna sa kanila," sister Berlin tried to coach her gently. The couple each took one of Page's hands, then she started to cry. Jerome bent down and carried her and tried to comfort her by rubbing her back and swaying her. "Sige ho sister, salamat ho. Mauna na ho kami," he said to them politely. Ruby shook their hands, then the sisters walked them outside. Jerome handed Page to Ruby, her cries became louder as the couple said their goodbyes to the nuns. The sisters couldn't hide the worry in their faces as they watched the couple drive off with Page. They could hear her cry as the car slowly disappeared from their sight.

Sister Berlin sighed. "She'll be okay. Ganun naman talaga sa umpisa with all of the children, right? They all cry, pero once they get used to it, they're okay," she tried to reassure the other nuns. "Oo, sister. Tsaka umiiyak nga kung mas bata pa kay Page, what more si Page na medyo may isip na. Mahirap din po sa kanya toh lalo at hindi nawawala sa isip nya ang mama nya hanggang ngayon," sister Cecil said. They sighed as they returned inside the shelter. "Hindi pa huli ang lahat para kay Page. Mukhang mababait naman na mga magulang sila Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez. Makakatulong din na may kambal na silang anak. Matutuwa si Page na may bago na syang mga kapatid. Sana ma-distract sya at hindi na nya ma-isip ang nanay nya," sister Berlin said worriedly. Meanwhile, while on their way home, Ruby held Page's trembling little body as the couple took turns trying to comfort the new addition to their family. "'Nak, 'wag ka na umiyak ha. Gusto mo dumaan tayo ng pagkain? Ano gusto mo kainin?" Ruby asked worriedly. Page shook her head. "Gusto ko na po bumalik sa mama ko. Ibalik nyo na po ako sa mama ko," Page cried out loud. Her face as well as the front of her shirt was wet from crying. Ruby looked at her husband with deep concern as she held Page into an even tighter hug. "Page, ako na ang magiging mama mo ngayon ha--" Ruby was saying when Page cried even harder. "May mama na po ako. May anak na rin po kayo. Ibalik nyo na lang po ako sa mama ko," she cried. "'Nak, mas maalagaan ka namin dun sa bahay namin ni papa Jerome mo. Mas magiging okay kung nasamin ka. Kasi si mama mo, medyo hindi nya kayang alagaan ka eh. Kaya kami na lang ang mag-babantay sayo para hindi ka mapabayaan, para mas lalo kang maalagaan. Sa mama mo kasi walang nag-aalaga sayo dun eh. Dito, dalawa kami ng papa mo ang makakasama mo palagi. May dalawa ka pang ate na po-protecta sayo kahit ano pang mangyari. Sila yung magiging kalaro mo, sila yung magiging taga pag-tanggol mo habang lumalaki ka. Mamahalin ka naming lahat, Page. Magiging masaya ka dun sa bahay namin. Mamamasyal tayong lima parati. Bibili tayo ng pagkain at mga laruan. Ayaw mo ba yun?" Ruby asked. She tried to sound gentle and calm. Page shook her head. "Dun na lang po ako kay mama. Hindi nyo na po kelangan ng isa pang anak. Dalawa na po anak nyo. Si mama ko, isa lang po ako tapos wala pa po ako sa tabi nya," Page cried even more. Ruby swallowed. "Hindi ka kasi ligtas sa mama mo Page eh. Naiintindihan mo ba yun? Sabi ng sisters sinasaktan ka nya, pinapabayaan. Hindi dapat ganun, anak. Hayaan mong ipakita namin sayo ng papa Jerome mo kung pano ka dapat inaalagaan," Ruby said. Her heart broke for the little girl in her arms. "Okay lang naman na sinasaktan ako ni mama. Mahal ko pa rin sya. Gusto ko pa rin sya," Page said as she cried which made the couple sigh as they looked at each other.