The Mayor's Secret

06: Guilt

Everything is black.

Then it became blurry.

My vision suddenly adjusted as different colors started to envelope my sight again.

It's still blurry when I heard some clicking noices beside me. I felt the soft mattress underneath and the slik pillows that carries my head.

I tried to move my fingers as my eyes adjust from the sudden change of environment.

I recalled everything that happened.

"Kean!"

I automatically shout his name when I saw three people on the sofa near the bed.

"Madame!"

"Serena!"

"Mommy!"

My sight suddenly became clear, allowing me to see everyone.

There's Margie, Mayor and...Kean!

"Where am I?"

I asked them,making me feel a pang of thirst. Parang ilang araw nang tuyo ang lalamunan ko ah.

Kumuha si Margie ng isang bote ng tubig at binigay sa akin. I saw a wound on her arm, from the bullet.

Mayor, carrying Kean who is eating a burger, walked towards me.

"Kean, mommy is now awake."

Tinignan ako ni Kean at ngumiti sa akin.

"It took you so long to wake up Mommy!"

Shucks, so long? Ilang araw ba akong wala? Na-comatose ba ako? Naka-life support lang ba ako?

"Kean, do not bother Mommy. She's just four days and four nights asleep."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwang, apat na araw lang naman pala. Wait l, kung apat na araw, sino ang nagbantay sa akin?

"I'll buy some fruits, alis muna ako." sabi ni Mayor.

Tumango lang ako, hinayaan siyang lumabas ng aking kwarto.

"Oy, Margie." Tawag ko sa aking PA. "Nasaan ako?"

Nilibot ko kasi kanina ang tingin ko pero hindi naman siya mukhang kwarto ng isang hospital dahil may mga aesthetic photos na nakasabit sa wall, may sariling walk in closet and even wallpapered wall.

Wala namang nagdecorate ng isang hospital room diba?

"Ah, sa mansion nila Mayor, Madame."

Nabilaukan ako sa aking sariling laway nang marinig yon.

"Paano nangyari iyon?" Tanong ko at lumagok ng tubig. Baka ikamatay ko pa ang sarili kong laway.

"Madame, kakalipat mo lang dito two days ago. Inoperahan ka sa hospital at successful naman kaya after two days, ay nagdecide si Mayor na dito ka nalang sa bahay nya."

"May sarili naman akong bahay eh!" Reklamo ko.

"Eh he volunteered naman Madame, pumayag din si Sir Herrera. So nandito ka sa guest room."

So pumayag si Dad?

"Alam mo ba Madame na hindi muna pumasok si Mayor sa trabaho para bantayan ka."

Ano daw? Ano walang Mayor sa City Hall?

"Huh?"

"Kasi Madame, nagi-guilty siya sa nangyari. He blames himself sa lahat ng nangyari."