Yours and Mine are Ours

Chapter XXII

Mabilis lumipas ang araw. Bumalik na sa Korea ang mga kapatid ko. Balik trabaho na naman ang mga ito.
Nang araw na iyon ay bumisita ako sa bahay ng kuya Martin ko. Nagdala daw sila ng maraming mangga.
"Unni,did you enjoy?" Tanong ko. Kasalukuyan itong nag-aayos ng mga damit.
"Yeah,it was really great. Everyone is so kind to my children."
Natuwa ako sa nalaman.
"There are a lot of mango. Rin was so active playing in the mango tree." Natawa ako sa sinabi nito. Nai-imagine ko na pinagpawisan ito sa kalalaro.
"Wow."
"It's really common in your place talking at midnight?" tanong nito.
"Did they?"
"Grandmother and your aunts. Oh my gosh,I couldn't sleep because they were talking so loud."
"Oh I'm sorry."
"No it's okay. I joined them. I can understand already a little Tagalog so I can converse with them."
"Wahh..really? Oh,you're so kind that you already put yourself in our family."
"I like your family, Erin. They are happy people. I'm sure when Lee Young will join too,he would never feel out of place."
Napangiti ako.
"Did you accept him already?"
Umiling ako. Pinalo niya ako sa bisig.
"Unni.".
" You should accept him now. He is worthy to be with you. He can be a Filipino at heart too. "
"I will,unni. At the right time."
"Tsk,you prolong his turture."
"No. It's part of the process."
" ahh sos...process..you let him became old in the process."
"Will I become happy if I accept him?"
Pinalo uli niya ako.
"I don't know."
"Unni."
"You're not a baby!"
"Fine. After two months I'll tell him"
Natawa ito.
"Two months? He might change his mind."
"No!!"
"You're afraid now."
"Don't say that."
"Then tell it to him now."
Kumain na kami ng hapunan. Pork belly yung ulam namin. Napakasarap tingnan yung meat na medyo naging golden brown dahil iniihaw nito.
"When I watched kdrama,I usually saw this." Nakangiting kong sabi. Umupo na ang kuya Martin ko.
"She didn't sleep at night to watch kdrama. Hohh!she's terrible."
Kinuha ako ng lettuce at nilagyan ng meat.
"You're a Korean now." Natatawang wika ng asawa nito.
Kumain na kami. Sa kahuli-huli ay uminom kami ng soda.
"I'm full" sabi ko.
"May trabaho ka na bukas?'
" opo. Meron. May trabaho ako bukas."
"Okay. Wag mong kalimutan itong mangga. "
"Oho."
Makaraan ang ilang sandali ay umalis na ako.
Pagkarating ko sa bahay ay gumawa na ako ng mango float.
May kumatok at pumasok si Tae Young. Umiiyak ito.
"Why?"
"Jae Young"
"What happen to Jae Young?"
"She is sick."
"Where's hyung?"
"He's in the hospital. "
"What?"
Mabilis akong lumabas ng bahay at pinuntahan sila sa bahay nito.
Naabutan kong nakahiga si Jae Young sa loob ng silid nito.
Nilapitan ko siya.
"Jae Young-a,what do feel?"
"Noona,my stomach is in pain. It's excruciating." Naiiyak na wika nito. Pinahiga ko siya ng maayos. Kinuha ako ng mainit na tubig at pinainom iyon baka nalamigan lang ang tiyan nito.
Pinagpawisan ito.
"Noona..it's painful!"
Pinangko ko na siya at tinawagan si Lee.
"Lee,can you come over? Please watch the kids for me. Jae Young is in pain. Please?"
"Okay,I'll be right there."
"I'm going to the hospital."
Umalis na ako at nag-abang ng taxi. Naiiyak na ako dahil sa awa na nadarama ko para kay Jae Young.
Tinungo namin ang Seoul University Hospital.
Iniasikaso na ng mga doktor si Jae Young. Naiwan ako sa labas ng emergency room. Nandoon din si Lee Young.
Hindi ako mapakali dahil dito.
Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay lumabas na ito. Niyakap niya ako.
"Don't worry. She's stable now."wika nito. Hinaplos niya ang likod ko.
" I'm scared. I don't have car. I have to catch a taxi but that time I couldn't and she's in pain." Naiiyak kong sabi.
"It's okay. She's fine now. "
Dinala niya ako sa office niya at pinainom ng tubig.
"I asked Lee to watch the kids."
Sabi ko sa kanya. Umupo ito sa tapat ko.
"Thank you "
Tinapik niya ang balikat ko.
"You must be shaking." Sabi nito.
"I'm afraid if Jae Young died in my arms." Umiiyak na talaga ako sa harapan niya.
Tumawa ito at niyakap niya ulit ako.
"Don't cry now. She's fine. Her appendicitis is swollen so we have to operate her. After that she will be fine."
"Operate?"
Tumango ito.
"Yeah,or else it will become worst."
"Omygod!"
"Don't worry. I'm the one doing that to her. She's in good hands. "
Tumawa ito.
"You are acting like her mother."
"Jae Young is special to me."
"I love my sister too. I won't allow anything to harm her."
"Me too."
Lumabas na kami ng office nito. Pinuntahan na namin ang room nito. Gising na ito.
"Honey,how are you?" Tanong ko. Niyakap niya ako.
"Thanks. Noona. "
"Don't do that again okay?"
Tumango ito.
Iniwan kami ni Lee Young dahil may trabaho pa ito.
"He will be going to operate your appendicitis. If not,it become worst."
Tumango ito.
"Aren't you scared?"
Umiling ito.
"I know you are with me. And hyung will do that for me. You are here beside me. I'm not afraid to endure it,noona."
Niyakap ko siya.
"I won't leave you."
"Noona"
I never imagine that when I arrive in Korea,everything changed. I thought I would just teach and teach until they would know how to speak English and gain English proficiency through TOEIC. But I would be able to find my missing piece of my life.
I thought I will be living alone in my entire life and will be watching kdrama only. But now I live,breath together with them. It  was not so long for me to find them.
Pumasok ang kapatid nito. Dahil doctor ito,he was wearing his doctor's coat. At nasa leeg nito ang stethoscope.
Hindi ko namalayang inilagay na nito ang stethoscope sa dibdib ko.
"You're liar." Sabi nito.
"Why?"nakamasid ang kapatid nito at tila nasisiyahan sa nakita.
" your heart is shouting my name. You should accept me now."
Ngumiti ako.
"You're crazy. It is not the time to talk about it. Jae Young is in pain. You should take care of her."
"Yah!! When are you going to accept me? My TOEIC score is hazy now. I'm not sure if I could get it. I don't have anything."
"It is not important right now. Jae Young's life is the main priority now. "
"Yeah, yeah. I know. I know." Umalis na ito.
Tumawa kami pareho ni Jae Young.
"My brother is getting miserable. Noona."
"I think so too. It's his punishment for having good looks."
Tumawa ito.
"Ouch!" Napangiwi ito ng tumawa ito ng malakas.