Gleaming Part

....39

Chapter 39

Seated in the dining table with them feels so weird.

"Do you have a special someone, Cadie?" I coughed at Tito Kline's question.

Natawa naman si Tita Claire, "I'm guessing that she is not. She is very goal-oriented. Pagiging doctor lang siguro ang iniisip niya ngayon, hon."

I awkwardly smiled at Tito and continued eating.

"How about the both of you? When will you settle?" Napatigil ako kasi nakaramdam ako ng sakit. No, it shouldn't be this way. It shouldn't be.

"We don't have plans for that yet." Eugene mumbled.

Natawa si Talliah at hinawakan ang kamay ni Eugene, "Maybe in the last year of his internship? I mean we're not getting younger anymore." She looked at me and smiled, "You should get someone already. It's hard to find someone nowadays." I smiled back at her and shook my head.

"I'm choosing my career over anything else as of the moment. Having a lovelife isn't a big of a deal for me." It went quiet. Oddly quiet.

The dinner went by so slow. It felt like the time was put into slow mode for me to be in an uncomfortable position. And they even decided to have wine.

Great, just great. I want to go home.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Kuya Kane's number. After a few rings, he answered it.

"Something wrong? I'm still in the office." I sighed.

"Can I go there?" I mumbled.

"Huh, bakit? Just go home straight away. Hindi mo naman kailangan pumunta rito." He sounded uneasy.

"Kuya." I called him telling him I know something's off.

"You're not in the office, aren't you?" I heard him sigh.

"I'll pick you up. Where are you?" I sighed in relief and bit my lip realizing I don't know what's Eugene's condo address.

"Eugene." Napatigil at napatingin sila sa 'kin nang tawagin ko si Eugene.

He excused himself to them and went towards me.

"Yep?" Sumandal siya sa pader.

"Can you tell Kuya the address of your condo?" Napatigil siya.

"What? I'm taking you home. Inabala mo pa kuya mo." Umiling kaagad ako.

"Nah, there's an emergency. He'll pick me up." Nilahad ko sakaniya iyong phone ko. "Tell him the address. Pupunta lang ako kina Tita. Mag papaalam lang."

Kinuha niya iyong cellphone ko at lumayo.

I went back to the living room and sat beside Tita.

"What happened?" She asked.

Ngumiti naman kaagad ako at umiling.

"Unfortunately, Tita. I have to go. Some emergency in the family has occurred. Kuya Kane will pick me up." Napatigil kaagad sina Tito at nagkatinginan.

"Did your kuya tell you something?" Tito Kline asked.

Umiling naman ako, "Not as of the moment. Why? Do I need to know something?"

Nagkatinginan sila at biglang tumayo. Kahit si Talliah ay nagulat.

"Let's go. We'll take you where your Kuya is." They told me.

Lumapit na rin sa 'min si Eugene. "I'll take her there. Hatid ko na lang muna si Talliah."

Bigla namang umiling si Talliah, "No, let's go. I'll go with you guys."

Kahit naguguluhan. Tumayo na rin ako.

They all escorted me out and down to the basement. Eugene opened the door of his car for me and buckled my seat belt.

"H-Hey, dito si Talliah." Umiling naman kaagad siya. I saw Talliah's shocked face.

"She'll be riding with mom." Tumingin siya kay Tallian at hinalikan ito sa noo.

"Tal, be safe with mom."

Bigla ko hinawakan ang balikat ni Eugene, "She didn't even answer yet."

Sinarhan niya ako ng pinto. I looked at Talliah staring at the door before sighing and walking towards Eugene's parents.

Pumasok na kaagad si Eugene sa driver seat. He turned on the engine.

"Why are you all panicking?" I asked and he didn't answer back. He drove so fast.

"Eugene. You're driving too fast. If you can't tell me please just to drop me off at the side. Ayoko pa mamatay." He sighed and drove normally.

"You know what's happening, don't you?" I asked and looked at him. He didn't answer, didn't even look at me.

"Kelan pa sinabi ni Kuya?" He sighed again but never bothered to reply.

Nakarating kami sa hospital nila Eugene. He parked his car and immediately went out to open the door for me.

"What are we doing here?" He put his hand on my back and he guided me to the elevator.

"Your kuya's here." Kumunot ang noo ko.

What does he mean my kuya's here?

We hurriedly went to the floor where the private rooms of the hospital are.

We stopped at one door and he knocked before opening it.

Nanlaki ang mata ko at biglang napaatras. I started shaking.

"Cadie." I saw Kuya's worried eyes. Umiling ako. Trying to calm myself down.

"Cadie." I felt Eugene held my hand.

"W-Why is he here?" Nahihirapan kong tugon.

I saw mom in the hospital bed sleeping, while this douche has the audacity to hold mom's hand.

"K-Kuya." Nanginginig ako.

He went towards me and hugged me. I pushed him away and looked at the person who haunted me for so many years.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito? At talagang may gana ka pang lumabas ng prisinto?!" Eugene held my shoulder trying to stop me.

"Look, Millicent-"

"Don't fucking call me in that name, you fucking disgust me! Umalis ka rito! You really have the audacity to be here?! Go back to where you belong! Don't fucking touch my mother!" I shouted that caused mom to wake up.

"Anak." I heard mom sobbed.

"Ma." Lumapit kaagad ako sakaniya at sinuklay ang buhok niya.

"What happened, mama? May masakit ba sa'yo?" She smiled lightly and shook her head.

The person in front of me was about to talk when I turn my back on him and faced my brother.

"Maguusap tayo." Lumabas ako ng kwarto at narinig ko naman na sumunod siya.

He quietly closed the door and pulled me away from the nurse station.

I waited for him to speak up. And he just sighed and closed his eyes tight.

"Bakit iyan nandito? You know how much crime he committed! Bakit iyan nakalabas? Sinong nag palabas? Ano? Even the authorities agreed to this bullshit? Kasi ano? May pera iyan?!" I tried to compose myself but I can't help it.

"Mom's not doing so good. We are about to tell you soon but I wasn't ready right now." I scoffed.

"Hanggang ngayon pa ba I am treated differently in the family?! At una pa pala nakaalam 'yung lalake na iyon?" Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Mom wants to clear things with him. S-So." His voice broke, "When mom leaves, she leaves with a light heart and no worries. Ayun lang naman gusto ni mommy, Cadie. She's not doing so well already. Can you spare her this?"

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa nangyayari ngayon.

Spare her this? Ni hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari kay mommy. Kung anong sakit niya.