Turn The Page

Chapter 25

"Having too much fun there, kiddo? Baka by next week hindi na kita makilala sa itim mo ha," June said as she watched Page floating on the pool. Page just looked at her as she floated by. "Kain na muna, anak," June called out to her. "Tapos pwede ako bumalik ulit sa tubig?" Page asked, hoping June would let her. "It's nighttime already," June said. "Pero masarap nga lalo eh kasi wala ng init," Page insisted. "One hour," June said. Page slumped her shoulders down as she stood on the pool. "Three hours," she bargained. "Hoy, umaabuso ka na nyan ha," June scolded. "Two hours?" Page bargained again. "An hour and a half and that's my final answer," June said while she squatted by the pool to offer her hand over to Page. "Sige na nga," Page said. Then she sighed and started walking up the steps of the pool and into the table where the food was waiting. June immediately wrapped her up with a towel. Then she gave her a kiss on the temple. "Dry up a little bit over there para hindi mabasa sila tita mo sayo," June instructed. Page nodded. She went over to where June had pointed and started using the towel to dry herself. Then she started coughing. June immediately stood up straight. The three women looked at each other, bobbing their eyebrows up and down as they watched June turn on her "mommy mode." June watched as Page coughed and dried herself at the same time. "Page?" She finally said. "Ayan na," May said quietly. The other two women giggled. "Shush," June said to all of them jokingly. "Why are you coughing?" She said to Page who shrugged at her in response. "I'm asking you. Don't shrug at me. Why are you coughing?" June asked again. "Kasi kumati dibdib ko?" Page answered. "And why is it itchy?" June asked. "Hindi ko alam. Baka may mga langgam na naglalaro sa dibdib ko?" Page said seriously. June put her hands on her hips. "Babe, I'm serious," she said as she lifted one eyebrow up. Page slumped her shoulders in response. "Eh hindi ko kasi alam eh," she answered. "No more going back to the pool then," June said then she continued to prepare the table. "Eh naman eh," Page whined. "Page, you're coughing already. Kanina ka pa sa pool na yan. I'm not going to stand here and argue with you. That pool is always there. Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, you can always go for a swim. Ngayon, tama na," June said. "Fifteen minutes?" Page asked. The women laughed. "Humirit pa eh, hindi ka mananalo dyan sa mama Junjun mo, Page. Bukas na ulit," April advised. Page sighed. "Come over here now," June said as she motioned for Page to sit on one of the outdoor chairs. Page came towards her obediently. Then June touched her neck which made Page pull away. "Huy, etong batang toh," June said, trying to be patient. "Bakit ba kasi chinicheck mo na kung may lagnat ako eh umubo lang naman ako," Page replied. "Page, the nuns and your tita April told me that you don't talk when you have something that's bothering you. Kapag may masakit sayo, you don't say anything until you fall on the floor, unconscious. If you don't say anything, then it's my job to check on you before that even happens," June explained. Page sighed as she sat on the chair. "Siguro naman na-prove ko na sayo na iba ako pag-dating sayo. Nagsasabi naman na ako sayo ah," she said which caught June off guard. Then she swallowed. The other women smiled at Page then at her. "Fine," June said then she cleared her throat trying to hide the fact that what Page just said has touched her heart again. June looked at all of them and nodded, "Let's eat."

"Go take a shower on that outdoor bathroom, Page. We'll take care of the dishes," June said while she stopped Page from helping with the table. "Sandali lang naman toh eh," Page replied. "Page, umuubo ka na kanina. I want you out of that wet suit now, please?" June instructed. Page sighed again. "Okay," she finally said. Then she went to grab her towel and headed for the bathroom. April, May and July giggled as they watched Page waddle her way on the grass. "Kakatawa kayong dalawa, ate," April finally said. "Ang tigas ng ulo," June complained. "Alam mo yung susunod naman pero ang dami pang satsat? Ay naku," she added. The women laughed with her. "I think you found your match. Nakahanap ka talaga ng katapat kay Page," May said. "Sinabi mo pa," June admitted. "I tell her nga sometimes na she's too smart for me. I seriously feel that way. Ang talino ng mga sagot nya, minsan natatameme ako eh tulad kanina," June confessed. "Aminin mo, ate, it felt good to hear na sayo she has changed her ways. Halata naman she's trying to be better for you eh. Sana lang talaga she does tell you kapag may nararamdaman sya," April said. June took a deep breath. "Yes, she does tell me things now na I think she probably would hide sa inyo, sa mga tao sa shelter. Pero I think pagdating sa nararamdaman nya physically, like pag may sakit sya, I think she's so used to keeping things to herself na pag may nararamdaman sya hindi na nya alam kung normal pa ba yun o hindi. Or normal na sa kanya to have discomfort or pain? I don't know. Yun lang naman ang sa tingin ko ha, from that one experience dun sa paa nya. She was limping, but she would hide it from me if she could. Sa pilitan pa nga dalhin sya sa doctor. It's true what I said to her kanina. If she won't tell me what's wrong with her, then it's my job to check kung okay lang sya. Kung hindi ko yun ginawa nung araw na magang maga na pala yung paa nya, her foot would have gotten worse kasi it wasn't treated kaagad. Ewan ko ba sa batang yan," June explained to them. "You're doing such a good job on her, ate," April said as she smiled at her. "I agree," May and July added. "Thanks, guys. I can see her trying. She really is doing her best para this Mama Junjun and Page tandem would work out. I couldn't have done it all by myself. She cooperated. She helped me with this, too. Kaya I can't take all the credit," June said to them. "She's very fond of you kasi, Juney. Mahal na mahal ka din ng batang yun, I can tell," July said. "Mahal na mahal ko din naman sya noh. I think she knows it kaya minsan tingnan mo, she'll test me kung ano yung pwede nyang abusohin," June said then she laughed. The women laughed with her. "Oo nga, napaka-pilya ano?" May said. June shook her head. "Di nga ata sa pilya yun eh, she's just plain smart," June said to them and all of them laughed.