Those Blurry Lines

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Face

"Keep the change, po."

Tumango iyong driver sa 'kin at may ngiti sa labi. "Maraming salamat po, ma'am - teka, nakita na ho kita!"

I weakly smiled. I wore my sunglasses as I fixed my dress.

Tuwang tuwa siya habang nakatingin sa front mirror. "Nasa TV ka po."

"Yes."

Tumango na lamang ako at lumabas na. May sinabi pa siya pero hindi ko na iyon narinig pa. I went inside the hospital.

I was holding my breath. My hands were shaking. I don't know what to react.

Mabagal ang bawat pagtapak ko. Hindi ko naiintindihan kung bakit ako nandito. I get it that she's not fine, but why am I here?

What am I doing here?

Basta pagkatapos akong tinawagan ni Daddy, kaagad siyang nag-text sa room number. Then, I called a taxi.

But why?

Nakita ko si Daddy na nakaupo sa bench at si Aling Baby na nakatingin sa may salamin ng isang kwarto. I felt an ache in my heart.

It's been years since I last saw her. Nagtatrabaho pa rin pala siya kay Mommy. Puti na ang buhok niya at namumula ang mga mata.

When Dad saw me, he immediately stood up.

"Isabelle, you're here."

Aling Baby looked at me with teary eyes. "Jusko, ma'am... Lois, ikaw na ba 'yan?" Kaagad siyang nagpunta sa 'kin at hinawakan ang dalawa kong kamay. "Ang laki-laki mo na."

I only looked at her, not sure of what to say. Dahan-dahan kong tinanggal ang hawak niya at nakita ko kung paano siya nasaktan dun.

I walked passed them and went to the glass wall. May malaking letrang ICU na nakatatak dito sa ibabaw na bahagi. Beyond it, I saw Mom lying on a bed. May mga makina sa tabi niya at may tubo sa bibig niya.

She looked... different. She has a long hair now and from my view, I can see her wrinkles.

Naramdaman ko ang pagtabi ni Dad sa 'kin. From the corner of my eye, I saw his hands in his pocket and looking directly at his ex-wife.

"She was ambushed. Sabi ng mga pulis, dahil daw ito sa kompetisiyon. She ended up being stabbed three times to the stomache. The operation was successful. Right now, we'll just wait for further announcements."

He continued. "I happened to be in the hospital to visit my friend, a doctor, when she was rushed in. Tanging si Aling Baby lamang ang narito. Her family members were being contacted. At naisipan kong tawagan ka..."

"Okay..."

I took one last glance at her and sat down on the bench.

It's the first time that I've seen her after all the years. She had given me a lot of pain and remorse. Naaalala ko pa rin kung paano niya pinunit ang mga drawing ko, kung paano niya ako sinabihan na wala akong mararating...

Hatred filled my heart. Now that she's unconscious, looking so weak, I don't know what to feel.

Nalilito ako. Dapat ba akong maawa? Dapat ba akong magalit? Dapat ba akong matuwa?

"Hija, kamusta ka na?" tanong ni Aling Baby nang umupo siya sa tabi ko.

"I'm fine."

"Nakita kita sa TV... proud na proud ako sa 'yo, ma'am. Iyong mga halaman mo sa bahay, inaalagaan ko pa rin. Iyong iilan ay malalaki na kaya itinanim ko sa mga bakuran."