Across Minds (ACROSS Series 1)

Chapter 20

"Kayo?" My hands started to shake really bad as I looked at her longer.

She hesitantly approached me. "Pumasok ka muna sa loob, hija."

I unconsciously stepped inside the house and sat on the one seater sofa on the side of the living room. My eyes didn't leave the old woman who looked so nervous as she walked towards me. She quietly sat on the chair adjacent to mine.

"Kayo 'yung lola ni Aizer?" Nagpipigil sa galit kong tanong.

Even if I am furious, I was taught how to respect other people. But I don't know for how long I can carry the grudge inside. One wrong word, I know I am going to explode.

"Ako nga." She answered hesitantly.

"Anong ginagawa dito ni Ace?" I sternly asked. "Bakit niya kayo kasama?"

"Margaret..." Her eyes were already glistening because of the tears that were starting to form. "Patawarin mo ako."

"Sagutin niyo 'yung mga tanong ko. Hindi ko kailangan ang sorry niyo." I bit the insides of my cheeks to control my emotions. "Bakit niya kayo kasama?"

She didn't answer my questions. Instead she just started crying. She looked down and I saw how her shoulders were shaking. I want to pity her but anger is flooding out of me now.  I tried to keep my face void of any emotions but my tears says otherwise.

"'Yan lang po ba 'yung masasagot niyo sa akin? Iyak? Luha?" I asked. "Sige padaliin natin. Si Ace at si Aizer, iisa lang po sila 'di ba?"

Seconds passed before she nodded her head. Napapikit ako dahil sa sagot niya. I knew it. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali.

"Lola." I sobbed. "Bakit siya nandito? Nakikiusap po ako sa inyo. Sagutin niyo po 'yung tanong ko. Kasi gulong gulo po ako ngayon. Parang awa niyo na."

I observed her and she tried to stop herself from crying. I harshly wiped the tears that escaped from my eyes. I decided to transfer to the bigger sofa that she was sitting on. I stared at her but I know she is avoiding my gaze. My head started to heat up.

"Ilang tanong pa ba 'yung kailangan kong gawin?" I was already getting tired of this. I just need the answers. Are my questions that difficult?

"Magpapaliwanag ako, hija." She placed her wrinkled hands on top of mine. "Dumating siya sa amin dito tatlong taon na ang nakakaraan. Nagulat na lamang ako nang iuwi siya ni Chloe sa dati naming kubo. Isang buwan siyang nanatili sa ospital dahil sa matinding bugbog na natamo niya."

"Bugbog? Bakit anong nangyari sa kanya?" Worry bubbled up inside me.

"Hindi rin naman alam. Basta nang magising siya, wala siyang matandaan. Ang sabi ng doktor sa amin, dahil daw 'yon sa matinding tama sa ulo niya. Ilang linggo din siyang hindi nagsasalita, akala ko nga ay 'di na siya babalik sa dati." She shed a tear.

"Pero kilala mo siya, 'di ba? Alam mong siya si Ace. Sigurado ako dahil ako nga kilala mo, eh." I accused.

"Oo nakilala ko siya." She admitted. I puffed air because of what she revealed. "Namukaan ko siya n'ung unti-unti ng gumagaling 'yung mga sugat sa mukha niya."

"Kung nakilala mo siya, bakit hindi niyo ako sinabihan?" I glared at her with tears in my eyes. "Alam niyo nasaan kami sa Maynila. Sinabi namin 'yon sa inyo dati. Bakit hindi niyo ako hinanap?"

"Maniwala ka, Margaret. May plano akong sabihin sa'yo. Ang kaso kinain ako ng lungkot ng mga panahon na 'yon." She reached for the picture frame beside her. It has a photo of her and Mang Hener. "Kakamatay lang ni Hener n'on. Hindi ko alam kung papaano magpapatuloy sa buhay. Mag-isa na lang ako. Si Chloe, siya 'yung nagbantay sa akin. Anak siya ng anak-anakan ko kaya siya ang pinagbantay sa akin bilang utang na loob."