"I need to go now, hija." paalam ni tito sa akin.
Ngumiti naman ako tumango.
"Sige po, tito. Ingat po kayo," wika ko.
"Sorry, it's really urgent. Wala ka namang tanong right?" nag-aalala niyang tanong.
Umiling naman ako.
"Wala na po. Don't worry, tito. Nasabi ko na po sa kaibigan ko na pumunta sila dito. Hindi po ako mag-iisa dito," nakangiti kong ani.
Bumuntong hininga lang siya at lumapit sa akin.
"Be strong, okay. You can overcome it all. I heard from my son that you got attacks when you dreamed of your mother. Don't be afraid. It's the sickness, that's talking that time," sabi niya pagkalapit niya sa akin.
Tumango naman at ngumiti.
"Thank you, tito." at least, my mother's issue has been cleared.
"I'm going now. Take care, hija. Malapit ka ng madischarge, right? Pwede kang tumuloy sa amin if you want. Our house is always welcome for you," alok niya.
Gustuhin ko man pero buo na ang plano kong pumunta ng US. Kaya tumango na lang ako.
"Thank you, tito."
Tumango naman siya at lumabas na ng kwarto. Napabuntong-hininga naman ako.
Too many revelation for this day. Hindi ko na ata kakayanin kapag nadagdagan pa.
Makailang sandali ay bumukas din agad ang pinto. Ang aga naman atang dumating ni Theo.
"I've got some got news for you," masayang sabi niya sabay upo sa upuang nasa tabi ng kama ko.
"Nahanap mo?" masaya kong tanong sa kaniya.
"Of course. She's Iantha Serrano, still not married. Nasa New York siya ngayon. Nakuha ko din ang contact number niya para matawagan natin," masayang sabi niya sabay labas ng dala niyang iPad.
Ang yaman naman ng lalaking ito. Pwede namang iprint. Why do he need to bring an iPad?
"Do you want to call her now?" tumango naman ako. Nilabas niya ang cellphone niya at siya na mismo ang nagdial noong number.
Napakurap naman ako dahil sa gulat. May pang-roaming pa siya. Tsk, nagfeflex lang ata ito ng kayamanan niya.
Nilapit naman niya ang cellphone sa akin. I hear a voice of a woman.
"Hello? Who is this?" she said. Kapansin pansin ang accent niya. Halatang laki na siya doon.
"Hello, is this Iantha Serrano? I'm your nephew, Euphemia Iantha Serrano, daughter of Ian Serrano," I hopefully said. I really hope she's my aunt.
I heard a gasp then footsteps followed.
"A-are you really his daughter? W-what happened to him? I heard his already dead," she emotionally said.
"Yes, I am. It's true, tita. He's already dead. Papa's dead," malungkot kong wika sa kaniya.
I heard some faint sobs from the other line. Mukhang umiiyak siya. It's really hard to know that someone died before you meet them again for the last time.
"Sorry, I wasn't able to visit. What do you need?" she calmly said.
"I need some help, tita. I plan to go for a vacation there. I hope I can stay with you," I hopefully said. I hope she'll agree.
"Sure, hija. Kailan ba?" she asked. Probably shocked with my sudden request.
"Madidischarge na po ako this week. So maybe next week. I'll go asap, tita." I said. I heard her gasps again.
BINABASA MO ANG
Revamping Affinity
Romance"The two of us is struck by the lightning. An ill-fated love." Euphemia Iantha Serrano suffered amnesia because of an unknown accident. Since then, she lived quietly with her mother. Her father died even before she got hospitalized. Until she met Pr...
