EXTRASENSORY (ON HOLD)

Chapter 2-The White Shadow

I have a secret. I have a gift. A gift I never wanted. A gift I considered...a curse.

Nakatutok ang mga mata ni Aya sa screen ng telebisyon. Hindi mapuknat ang mga mata niya roon. Her hands were shaking, and so were her knees. Then suddenly she saw something on the screen. It was a shadow. A white one. Maraming puting anino. Napakarami. She felt cold when one of the shadows turned to her. Wala iyong mata. Walang mukha. Pero pakiramdam niya ay titig na titig iyon sa kanya. Gusto niya nang umalis. Tumakbo. Pero hindi niya magawa. Hindi siya makagalaw. It was like her feet were glued on the floor. Papalapit nang papalapit ang anino. Papalapit nang papalapit...

"Aya?" Napapitlag siya ng may humawak sa balikat niya. Napatingin siya dito. It was her mother. Her foster parent. "Okay ka lang ba, anak?" Napatingin ito sa telebisyon. Napatingin uli siya roon. Wala na ang puting anino.

"Grabe namang aksidente 'yan," anito. "Kawawa naman ang mga taong nadamay diyan. Lalo na 'yong mga estudyanteng sakay no'ng school bus."

Kasalukayang ibinabalita doon ang nangyaring pagsabog sa isang Gasoline Station dahil sa pagsalpok ng isang school bus. Marami ang nadamay sa aksidenteng iyon. Napakarami ring namatay. Iilan lamang ang nabuhay ngunit napakalaki naman nang pinsalang natamo ng mga ito.

"Ah, Mommy, aalis na po ako," aniya at inayos ang sukbit na bag sa balikat.

"Anak, tungkol sa pagbukod mo." She sensed concern in her voice. "Anak, hindi mo naman kailangang bumukod pa. Malaki naman itong bahay para sa'ting lahat. Isa pa, nag-aalala ako sa'yo. Hindi panatag ang kalooban ko na malayo ka sa'kin."

Napangiti siya sa tinuran nito. She knew her mother loves her, even if they weren't related by blood. They're connection to each other is more than just a DNA strand. She had loved and took care of her like she was her own. She didn't just feed her, or gave her a home. More importantly, she gave her her love. And for that, she would always be grateful.

She was only a neonate when she was adopted by her. She was free at that time. They were happy on that particular time when they only had each other. But she fell in love and got herself a husband and a child. And everything changed.

Unfortunately, hindi siya gusto ng bago nitong pamilya. They were her legal family while she was only a stray cat on the street. She was the dirt on the car shield that should be removed. She doesn't want to make it hard for her. So she made a decision. A painful one.

"Mommy, alam niyo naman ho na gustong-gusto ko hong maging independent. Ayaw niyo ho ba no'n? Matututo ako sa buhay," pagpapagaan niya sa kalooban nito. Ayaw niyang sisihin nito ang sarili sa pag-alis niya. She loves her mother so much. And she doesn't want to cause her any pain. "Sana supportohan niyo po ako dito kasi ito po talaga ang gusto ko, hmm?"

Napabuntong-hininga ito saka tumango-tango. "Kung iyan ang sa tingin mong makakabuti at magpapasaya sa'yo, sino ako para pigilan ka," anito at binigyan siya ng ngiting nakakaunawa.

"Thanks, mom. Thank you for understanding," aniya at niyakap ito nang mahigpit. Ma-mi-miss niya ito ng sobra. Agad siyang kumawala nang maramdaman ang panunubig ng mga mata niya. "Sige ho, mauna na po ako't baka gabihin pa po ako sa daan."

"O, sige, ingatan mo palagi ang sarili mo," she said and cupped her face. "Don't skip your meal," bilin nito.

She gave her an assuring smile. "Opo." Kinuha niya ang mga kamay nito at pinisil iyon. "And take good care of yourself, as well, old woman. Don't skip your medicine," sabay silang napatawa nito.

She looked at her mother as if it would be the last time she would be seeing her.

She let out a heavy sigh. "Bye, mom." For the last time, she gave her a kiss on the cheek. Then she started walking towards the gate. Towards her melancholic life.