No Longer Alive (COMPLETED)

Chapter Nineteen

After our heartfelt talk, Rohan vanished for about one week now. The last thing he said to me was that he would make things right and nothing else.

Nandito ako ngayon at kasalukuyang nagtratrabaho. Maraming mga customer kaya abalang abala kaming lahat sa ginagawa namin. Minsan naman ay nagbrebreak kami at may libreng pakain ang manager namin kaya tila nawawala rin ang aming mga pagod at nagkakasayahan kami habang nagjojoke ang ibang mga kasamahan dahil sa maldita at conyong costumer na dumating kanina.

Dapit hapon na at unti unti nalang ang mga customer kaya napagdesisyonan na naming maglinis sa buong paligid ng isang ingay sa entrance ang narinig namin.

When I glanced at the direction of the door, my body went frozen as I stared at the two familiar figures.

Mr. Jerome Alcantara and Mrs. Selene Alcantara entered our cafe.

Dahil napakabigatin ng mga customer na pumasok, mismong ang manager ang lumapit sa kanila at kuma-usap.

Nag silapitan naman sa isa't isa ang mga kapwa ko katrabaho at pinag usupan ang mag asawa na eleganteng nakaupo sa isang table. Nang tignan ko ring muli ang direksyon na iyon, sakto namang nakatingin saakin si Madame Selene kaya napabalikwas ako ng tingin kaagad.

Why are they here in a normal cafe?

They should be eating in a five star restaurant right now.

"Di ba sila yung sikat na politiko na parating pinapalabas sa TV?"

"Oo nga, napakayaman nga nila eh. Wala ata silang pinoproblema sa buhay kung pera ang pag-uusapan."

"Narinig ko rin na ang pogi ng anak ng mag asawang Alcantara. Wala pa daw yung asawa, sarap akitin bes!"

"Kahit siguro mag dasal ka ng ilang beses, hindi ka mapapansin ng mga lebel nila. Ordinaryong tao lang tayo."

"Sanaol ordirnayo, alien ako eh."

Samo't saring chismis ang inabala ng mga katrabaho ko dahil sa biglaan pag dating ng mag asawa. Kaya naman sinipat kami ng manager na tapos ng kausapin ang mga bigating costumer.

Pero tinitigan ako ng manager at napaisip saglit.

"Wena, ikaw daw ang pakay nila. Gusto ka nilang makausap." Sabi saakin ng manager na may halong bilib at taka sa mga mata.

Dahil sa sinabi niya ay lahat ng kanina pa nagchichismis ay napatingin saakin. Kita ang gulat sa kanilang mga mata at bahagyang nakabuka ang mga bibig. Hindi siguro nila inakala na ang tahimik at mahinhing Rowena na kilala nila ay may koneksyon sa makapangyarihang pamilya kagaya ng mga Alcantara.

However that is not the way they think it is.

I took a deep sighed and stood up.

Well, I bound to meet again since I just gave birth to their own grandson without them knowing.

Naglakad ako patungo sa mag asawang matiyagang naghintay saakin. The atmosphere around them seems to be strange, very different from our last interaction.

Nang malapit na ako sa kanina, umupo ako sa kanilang harapan at nakayukong naghihintay sa kong ano man ang pakay nila.

Would they accuse me because they wouldn't believe that I hide their grandson from them?

Would they get mad because I made some relationship with their son after my imprisonment?

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas nang biglang hinawakan ni Madame Selene ang mga kamay ko na may malungkot na ekspresyon sa maganda at makinis niyang mukha.

But I flinched instantly from the contact making her to back off immediately.

Kinalma ko naman ang aking sarili at matatag na tinignan sila ng diritso. Mr. Alcantara is wearing a neutral expression on his face without the usual air of authority around him while Madame Selene looks extremely guilty and distressed.

"Ms. Wang, my son and attorney Mendoza told me everything about five years ago." Madame Selene said as she glanced to her husband who remained silent and still.

Nanatili lamang akong tahimik at nakikinig sa kaniya.

"I know I don't have the right to say this but I am deeply sorry for what I did. What I've done to you was too much considering the murderous intent I was feeling that day towards you. I am so sorry that I've made such decision that could completely ruin a woman. I am a woman like you and I know how it must have been felt being pregnant and alone in the lair of the beasts." Madame Selene eyes turned glossy as her lips trembled.

"I would just like to offer my deepest regrets and forgiveness for my sudden decisions without thinking rationally about the whole situation. I was driven by immense hatred due to the fact that someone just dared to hurt my beloved son. As a mother myself, I couldn't just let it aside when someone threatened a person even more important than myself. Despite my sincere reasons for what I did to you, I know it will never be enough. I am not asking for forgiveness because you are the mother of my grandson but because I am sincerely sorry, Ms. Wang."

Kinalma niya ang nanginginig niyang sarili at napahinga ng malalim.

"Eve though I know in myself that you woud never accept my apology, but please let me apologize again and again. I couldn't sleep at night thinking that for five years, I put an innocent person in hell. I am sorry, my dear, I am so sorry." Dinaluhan na siya ng kanyang tahimik na asawa dahil nahihirapan na itong hininga.

"Even I couldn't imagine the pain you must have felt and the painful life you were living with no one to trust. Even my grandson was taken away from you. I am even amazed that you managed to go through experience and still stood bravely in front of me."

Madame Selene then stood up and bowed her head in front of me.

"I am deeply sorry, I am so sorry."

Agaran naman akong tumayo dahil sa ginawa niya at mabilisan siyang inakay sa pagkakayuko. Kaya biglaan siyang napatingin saakin.

I took a paper from my pocket and write the simple words that I truly wanted to say to them.

I am okay now, Mr and Mrs Alcantara.

I forgive you.

I give the piece of paper to her and slightly smiled at them.

Nang mabasa niya iyon ay tuluyan ng siyang napaluha ng husto na kaagad namang dinaluhan ng kanyang asawa.

Mr. Alcantara glanced at me and his stone cold face looked apologetic as he slightly bowed his head to me. Niyakap niya maman ng mahigpit ang kanyang asawang humahagolgol sa kanyang mga bisig.

Ngumiti naman ako at nag bow sa harap nila bago tahimik na umalis.

I have lived my life full of pain and misery that I almost thought death would be the final solution of my life.

I was mistreated, accused, and imprisoned without doing something wrong. The people around myself treated me as if I am some kind of a pawn that they could easily controlled at their will.

I was the one who carried their jealously, hatred, anger, frustration, and evil intentions.

It was very suffocating to be at the center of their game without any plot holes or exits to escape.

However despite what happened to me, I am ready to forgive those people.

I choose to free my heart from hatred, anger, and evilness.

Because I choose to live freely without anything holding me back.

When life hits us hard, there is nothing as effective as forgiveness for healing deep scars and freeing ourselves.