Turn The Page

Chapter 36

After breakfast, Page decided to go back to her room and take a nap. Meanwhile, June paced back and forth in her room, anxious to make the phone call. She took a deep breath as she stared at her phone, trying to decide whether or not she should call April. "For Page," she uttered under her breath. Then she finally made the phone call. After a few rings, April finally answered. "Ate," she said. Her voice sounded hoarse. "Are you okay?" June immediately asked. "I'm okay. Are you?" April asked in return. "Yes. I'm okay," June answered. There was an uncomfortable moment of silence between the two. Neither of them knew what to say. "I just called to make sure you're okay," June finally said. "Okay lang ako, ate. You don't have to worry about me. And thank you for the concern," April said guiltily. June closed her eyes and rubbed her face over and over. Then she sighed. "I'm going to be honest with you, April. I'm not over everything yet," June finally admitted. "I know, ate. I don't expect you to be. I was actually surprised to get a call from you," April replied. "Are you sick?" June asked. She was genuinely worried. "Just a bit of a headache and a cold, but other than that, I'm okay," April said. "Okay," June replied. Another awkward silence was spent between the two. "How's Page?" April broke the silence this time. "She's getting by. To tell you the truth, she's the reason why I called," June confessed. "Is she okay?" April asked worriedly. "No," June answered. "What?" April asked on the other line. "What's wrong?" Her voice sounded like she was in a panic. "That's why I called para sana puntahan mo sya," June said. "Okay, ate. Mag-bibihis lang ako, then I'll be on my way. Do you need me to get you guys anything?" April asked. "No," June said, "I think we're good," she added. "Okay, I'll see you both later," April said. Then the two of them said their goodbyes and hung up the phone. June sighed. She stood by the window. Her heart was still breaking after all that had happened, but she knew she needed to do this for Page.

Within an hour, the doorbell rang. June immediately headed downstairs. When she opened the door, April stood awkwardly in front of her. "Hi, ate," she greeted her. "Hi, come in," June said. April wasn't sure if she could hug her, so she kept her distance. "She's upstairs. She's sleeping," June said. April nodded. "I know you guys said you guys are good, but I bought some fruits for Page. How is she? Nilalagnat ba?" She asked. "Thank you. I know she'll appreciate that. Puntahan mo na lang sya sa taas," June said as she motioned for the stairs. April nodded in return. Before June headed to the dining room, April stopped by the stairs. "Ate," she said. "Yeah?" June said in response. "Thank you for letting me see her," April said. June swallowed as she stared at her. "I know she'll appreciate to have you come by," June replied. April nodded. Then she continued to head upstairs. When she opened the door, Page was under the covers. She sighed. Then she carefully sat on her bed right next to her. "Page," she said quietly as she rubbed Page's shoulder. She was immediately emotional. "Page," she said again. Page slowly opened her eyes. Then she looked around. "Tita April," she said as she sat up. "Be careful," April said to her, but Page quickly threw herself at April and hugged her as tightly as she could. "I'm sorry, tita," she immediately said. "Page," April replied. She couldn't hold it any longer. She started crying with her. "I'm sorry nasampal ka ni mama. I'm sorry nagkasagutan kayo. I'm sorry pinaalis ka nya. I'm sorry, tita," Page said. April sobbed as she held her in her arms. "Page, tama naman ang mama mo eh. Ikaw ang sumalo ng galit na dapat naman sa akin. I kept quiet this whole time. I didn't say a word when I should have." April explained. "Pero nasaktan ka pa rin ni mama. Nasaktan nyo ang isa't isa ng dahil sakin," Page said as she cried. "Sssh," April said as she rubbed Page's back. "Wala kang kasalanan," she said to her. Page let go of the hug and wiped her tears. "Tita, san ka natulog? Naka-tulog ka ba? Nakakain ka ba? Ha? Bakit ganyan boses mo? Para kang paos? Yung mata mo parang may sakit," Page said worriedly. "Sssh," April said as she wiped the tears in Page's face. "I slept in a hotel, so don't worry. I was safe all night. I did eat. And I'm okay, Page. Ikaw. Sabi ng mama mo hindi ka daw okay. May sakit ka?" April asked. Page swallowed. Page's heart was touched by her mother's gesture. "Yung totoo, pinapunta ka lang siguro ni mama kasi alam nya iniisip kita. Pero alam ko pinapunta ka din nya dahil hindi ka rin nya matiis," she said. "Maybe she did it for you. Pinapunta nyako dito para sayo," April replied. Page shook her head in return. "Naniniwala ako na gusto ni mama mag-try na magpatawad, tita. Kaya sana kung i-ooffer nya ulit yung bahay nya sayo, sana 'wag kang maghe-hesitate. Hayaan mong buksan ulit ni mama di lang ang bahay nya para sayo kundi ang puso din nya para mapatwad ka," she said. April wiped the tears from her eyes and stared at Page for a very long time. "Bakit, tita?" Page asked. "Ang laki laki mo na," April said as she pouted. Page frowned as well. More tears came out of their eyes. "Parang kelan lang, lahat kami sa shelter were all struggling to climb the wall that you built around you. Pero ngayon, eto ka na. Grabe impact ni mama Junjun sayo ah. Natibag nya ata yung wall mo na yun," April said. Page smiled a little as she cried. "Pinatibag ko naman eh. Hinayaan ko syang tibagin yun, kasi na-realize ko bakit ba? Ano pa ba silbi ng pader na tinayo ko? Ikaw na rin nagsabi, marami kayong sumubok na akyatin yung pader ko na yun. Na-realize ko, kung may mga taong nag-eeffort na akyatin yun, then worth it sila sa oras, atensyon at pagmamahal na meron ako," Page replied. April took a deep breath. "I'm proud of you, Page," she said as she held Page's face. "I'm proud of the woman that you've become. Ikaw nagpapatunay na your past does not have to define who you are. Kung ikaw natuto kang magbagong buhay after all that you've been through, ibig sabihin kaya ko rin," April said. She stared Page in the eyes the whole time. Page nodded in response. "Kayang kaya mo rin, tita. Nakapag-bagong buhay ako dahil sa mga taong consistent sa buhay ko at isa ka na doon. Kayo ni mama. Yung presence nyo sa buhay ko, yun ang tumulong sakin para i-embrace at maging grateful sa lahat ng meron ako ngayon. Gusto ko na lang enjoyin yun. Gusto ko na lang na lahat maayos na para lahat tayo makapag-move on na," she said. April nodded. Then the two of them hugged again. After the two of them got themselves together, April wiped her face again. "Alam mo pilya din tong mama mo eh," she said. Page was wiping her face, too. Then she looked at April. "Bakit?" She asked. "Eh sabi nya you weren't okay. Akala ko tuloy may nangyari nanamang masama sayo," April explained. Page smiled a little. "Ayaw kasi siguro nya i-admit na pati sya concerned sayo. In denial siguro sya na gusto nya rin malaman kung okay ka lang," she pointed out. April smiled a little. "Well, I'm glad na okay ka lang. Kala ko sa hospital nanaman ako pupunta eh. Sabihin ko sana 'tingnan mo toh si Page, kasasabi ko lang no more hospitals tapos nasa hospital nanaman'. I thought your heart couldn't take everything that has happened nanaman. Kinabahan ako," April admitted. Page shook her head. "Okay lang ako, tita. Pasensya ka na tinakot ka ni mama. Nakakarami na si mama sayo ano? Lista mo nga para singilin mo in the future," Page joked. April laughed a little. "Nah. This is payback for everything that I have done wrongly sa kanya. Kulang pa nga toh eh. Ang bait na nga ng mama mo sakin kung tutuusin eh," April said. Page looked at April for a very long time. "Tita, alam ko mahal mo si mama. Naniniwala ako sa lahat ng sinabi mong rason kung bakit hindi mo nasabi sa kanya ang lahat. At alam ko ding mahal na mahal ka ni mama kaya din sya nasaktan. Alam kong di ka rin nya matitiis. Alam ko din na kahit nangyari ang lahat ng toh, hindi nababawasan ang pagmamahal ni mama sayo," Page tried to reassure her. April smiled a little. "Thank you, Page," she said to her. Then the two of them sat quietly next to each other.