"So Sir, can you tell me what's your name?" I asked the 54 years old blind man in front of me.
Nandito ako ngayon sa Home for the Ages, I am currently conducting an interview for my journal.
He smiled before he speak.
"My name is Leonardo Kastilan." Huminga ako ng malalim bago sinimulan ang pagtatanong kay lolo.
"Can you tell us something about your life?" He nodded with a smile on his face.
"My mother died when I was still young. After 2 years my father find a new woman and married her."
"Papa sino po siya?"
"Leonardo, I want you to meet Estella. She's going to be your new mom."
"Hindi ako nagalit o nagtampo sa tatay ko, sa katunayan masaya ako para sa kaniya. I accepted my step mother whole heartedly. I treated her as if she's my own mother. But.." He paused.
"But?" I asked him.
"She don't want me as his son."
"Mama---"
"Don't call me 'Mama', I'm not your mother."
"Everytime my father is away, she would show her true self to me." He smiled weakly.
"Hey you! Go clean the house. I'm going out with my friends."
"But I have classes---"
"No buts! At wag mo ngang maidahilan sa akin 'yang pagaaral mo na hindi mo naman pinagbubuti. Hala sige kilos! Ng magkaroon ka naman ng silbi sa pamamahay na ito!"
"Bumagsak ako sa klase, and my dad is so disspointed because I used to be a top student in our class. Doon niya na sinimulang lasunin ang utak ni papa." Kitang kita ko ang paghigpit ng kapit niya sa wheelchair na kinauupuan niya.
"I'm so dissapointed..."
"Sorry hon, nung una ay hindi ko alam na pagkaalis niya ng bahay ay hindi naman pala siya pumapasok sa eskwelahan. 'Yun pala'y nagbubulakbol lamang. Sinubukan ko siyang pigilan pero sinagot sagot niya lang ako."
"Is that true, Leonardo?"
"Papa---"
"You're grounded!"
"Punyeta ano to!? Simpleng paglilinis lang hindi mo pa magawa ng ayos!"
"T-tama na po. N-nasasaktan po ako.."
"S-she's hurting y-you?"
"Yes, she used to hurt me everyday. I will receive a tons of slap, pinch and kick every single day. Then everytime my father noticed my bruises I will just tell him that I fall or tripped. My father love my step mom, and I don't want to be the reason of their break up." I saw a glimpse of pain in his eyes. Bakas sa mukha ni lolo ang hirap na sinapit niya sa kamay ng kaniyang madrasta.
"Nagpatuloy ang mga ganoong pangyayari hanggang sa nagbinata ako."
"Honey, Leonardo stole my jewelries!"
