Love Me on December

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12: Answers

After having lunch with Tita Eula with her sincere talk over me and Eus, umalis muli siya para sa trabaho. Hinatid ko si Tita papunta sa kotseng naghihintay sa kaniya sa labas, dahil sa mahaba pang usapan namin.

"My apologies if my son treated you indifferently, hija. Sana'y magkakaintindihan kayo rito, and I know he's just being protective over you." Tita said, habang naglalakad na kami palabas sa front door.

"It's okay, Tita. I don't complain naman po, ang akin lang po talaga ay... nahihiya na ako ngayon sa mga kaibigan niya. And I'm not used to be humiliated in front of other people." Mahinahon kong paliwanag.

Huminto na kami ngayon sa puting van nang tuluyan na kaming nakalabas. The van already started the ignition waiting for Tita Eula, pero nanatili pa rin siya rito sa labas at nakikipag-usap pa rin sa'kin.

"Pasensya ka na talaga, hija. Don't worry, 'kay? I will deal alone on Eus again, and I know he would eventually stop humiliating you. Just feel comfortable here and treat this environment as your home than your hometown." She said keeping her smile.

I smiled at her again. "Yes, Tita, I would. And you don't have to worry about me, I can accompany myself po." I sighed. "Ingat po kayo sa biyahe niyo." Dagdag ko.

She clung her bag into place over her arm. "Mag-ingat din kayo rito. We'll be back after dinner, kaya 'wag niyo na kaming hintayin." Paalam niya.

Tumango at nagpaalam muli ako sa kaniya, pagkatapos ay pumasok na si Tita sa sasakyan at pinapanuod ko na ngayon ang papalabas na sasakyan ng gate. I waited for the van to fade away from my sight, before I turned my back and the house helps closed the gate behind me.

I look around over their front yard, it was covered with natural and constructed elements, trees and weeds, arthropods and birds, and different kinds of flowers on their flower pots. Nilingon ko ang kanang bahagi ng yard, at may grotto doon ng isang rebulto.

I walk towards it, at ngayon ko lang iyon napansin simula pa noong nagbabakasyon ako rito. Well, sabagay whenever I come to visit here my mind is always filled with the beach at the back of the house. Hindi ko man lang napapansin na may artificial cave pala rito sila Tita.

Hindi mo rin iyon mapapansin, dahil nasa masulok ito na bahagi na kung saan ay natatabunan ito ng mga nagtataasang halaman. Habang naglalakad ako papunta rito, may house help namang naglilinis, pinupunasan ang magandang rebulto. I'm glad they're keeping something like this in their house, and keep to maintain this significant view from time to time.

Nang makarating na ako at huminto dahil sa pagkakamangha, the house help walked out and let me alone here. I stood in front of the holy statue with the other three children statues kneeling in front of Her. I stared at Her with fascination, confusion and with a question in my mind.

Bakit nangyari iyon sa pamilya namin?

Why did that happen to our family? Bakit ganito na ngayon ang pamilya namin? Why did my mother commit adultery? Why did my father take his own life? Why am I left alone now? Why do I have to get wounded?

May malaking kasalanan bang nagawa noon ang mga magulang ko, kaya ang lahat ng kamalasan at sakit ay dapat maibuntong sa'kin?

I wiped the single tear fell from my cheek.

Ano bang nagawa nila, kaya bakit ganito na lang ang nangyari sa pamilya namin? Basag na basag at hindi na maitagpi-tagpi ang pagkakawasak para lang mabuo ulit. Wasak na wasak na hindi na muli maghihilom ang sakit nito.

I held my face when I can't stop myself of crying anymore. I break down again, in front of here and I can't stop myself. Nakakahiya mang isumbat itong lahat sa Kaniya, but I just want to pour these out, I want to demand kahit ngayon lang.