Lead Me To You

Kabanata VII

Dreadful

"If you're not going to comply to the wish of your complainant, you will rot here!"

Mateo was eager to make me agree for Francis' stupid suggestion.

"I will never stoop down to that level. I am a Carluccio, don't you remember? I do not deserve that!" I yelled.

He always come to visit me every Friday afternoon just to argue with me. And Friday comes that's why he's here again. Kahit na anong pagpipilit niya, hinding-hindi ako papayag sa kagustuhan ni Francis.

"Monica, your name will be useless if you will be remembered as thief. Francis is giving you another chance and gain his forgiveness by accepting his condition to you."

"And then what? Make me more miserable by commanding me? By running errands for his personal affair? Ano? Para utos-utusan?" I argued.

"No. Not like that-" his speech was being interrupted.

"Tapos na ang oras ng dalaw. Kailangan nang bumalik ni Monica sa loob. Pasensya na po, attorney." Sabi ng babaeng pulis na nagdala sa akin sa kwartong ito.

Kinasasanayan ko na ang posas na nakagapos sa aking mga palapulsuhan sa tuwing may dalaw na darating. Hindi na ako nagrereklamo at hinahayaan ko n lamang.

"Tell this person that I don't want him to pay his visit on me anymore," pahiwatig ko sa babaeng pulis susundo sa akin.

"Monica, pakinggan mo naman ako. Ginagawa ko ito para sayo." Pagsusumamo ng aking pinsan.

Hindi ko alam kung totoo ba ang kanyang sinasabi.

Does he even really care about me?

Pinakatingnan ko ang kanyang mga mata. Malalim at halatang ilang araw nang hindi nakakatulog ng maayos.

"Does my grandfather knew about this?" I asked suddenly.

"No. I will not say a word about this to him." He said utterly.

Everyone are scared whenever they hear my grandfather's name. Because they knew that he is not easy to handle in messing around especially when it comes to his family.

"Good," I don't want him to taste the fury of my grandpa. "Now go, and don't comeback."

Wala nang salita akong narinig nang tumalikod na ako sa kanya. Naglalakad na ako pabalik ng selda.

Isang linggo pa ang lumipas at hindi pa rin ako nakakaalis sa kulungang ito. Nalipat lamang ngunit mas lalong sumikip ang sakop ng kwarto.

"What happened to her?" Bungad ko nang makabalik ako sa aming selda.

"Sumasakit at namamaga na naman ang kanyang dibdib. Nag-breast feed kasi siya sa kanyang sanggol." Sagot naman ni Gladys.

Nakikita ko ang paghihirap at pamimilipit ni Nelly sa sakit. Yakap ang sariling dibdib at halos umiyak na sa sakit. We already asked for police's help but they are just ignoring us.

"What the hell? Somone is suffering here! Hello?!" Sigaw ko.

Wala pa ring pumapansin sa sigaw ko. Parang walang naririnig ang mga pulis na nagbabantay sa labas na kinaiinisan ko.

"Hayaan mo iyan. Lilipas din iyan," Sabi ng isang babae sa katapat naming selda.

"How can you say that? Someone is in pain! How can you say to just let it go?" Pakikipag-argumento ko.

"Monica, tama na iyan." Boses ni Nelly.

Dinaluhan ko siya sa kanyang pagkakahiga. Did mothers usually feeling this way? This is way too far as what I have imagined.