Unveiling The Mask Behind (High Class Issue Series #4)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Mercy

"Welcome to the Philippines, Ma'am," bati sa akin ng flight attendant pero hindi ko man lang nagawang ngitian ito dahil sa bigat na nararamdaman ko. Nung ako na mismo ang nasa pinto ng eroplano ay parang nangangatog ang mga tuhod ko kaya nakagat ko ang ibabang labi ko.

The cold air caressed the fine hairs of my skin. It was tremendous enough to suck my breath. I can't believe that I came back here. Everything became fast all of a sudden, and now that I'm back, it felt like the place I don't belong gave me anxiety once again.

Nang mapunta ang tingin ko sa hagdan ay parang hindi ko magawang maihakbang ang mga paa ko. My feet were nailed to the plane as if they doesn't want to take a step to a place where everything was so dark and lost.

"Ma'am, are you okay?" Bumalik ang diwa ko nang biglang akong tanungin ng flight attendant. Parehong tumaas ang kanyang kilay sa akin pero umiling na lang ako at bumaba na ng eroplano.

Sa bawat hakbang na ginagawa ko ay parang bumabalik ang mga alaalang pilit kong binabaon. Bawat paglapat ng takong ko sa sementong sahig ay bumibigat ang paghinga ko. Takot, 'yon ang naramdaman ko sa araw ng pagbalik ko.

Nang makarating ako sa waiting area ay humigpit ang hawak ko sa handle ng manibela ko nang makita ang bulto ng isang lalaki na kahit hindi ko makita ang mukha ay kilala ko na kaagad kung sino ito.

A smile crept to my lips as I walked towards him. I guess he didn't felt that I was already closed to him that's why I tapped his shoulder lightly. When he turned around, the smile faded to see him being worried.

"A-Are you okay, Orcus?" I asked and held his arm. I stared at him intently, trying to look for the answer to why he's like this, but I failed.

"Ikaw, ayos ka lang ba? Ang putla mo," usal niya at hinaplos ang pisngi ko gamit ang hinlalaki niya. Nanlambot ang puso ko dahil sa tanong na 'yon. Bihira lang ang mga taong makakita kung sino talaga ako pero kahit lang ay walang nagtanong kung ayos lang ba ako.

"I-I'm not okay," I confessed and tightened my grip on his arm. He's my strength right now after I heard that my mom is in the hospital because of cancer.

To know that she's sick made me weak. It was the worst news I heard in my entire life. Just imagining her lying on the hospital bed breaks me into pieces. That's why I decided to go back here to the Philippines.

Of course, I'm worried for her. I made a mistake that I shouted at her when she came to France without knowing that she's been suffering from a sickness. If only I could turn back time, I will take back what I said.

Mas lalong lumapit sa akin si Orcus at hindi nag-alinlangan na halikan ang noo ko. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko at dinama ang labi niyang nakalapat sa noo ko. Nagawa niyang pagaanin ang nararamdaman ko at nagpapasalamat ako dahil sinundo niya ako.

Nasasanay na akong lagi siyang nandiyan. Baka mahirapan ako kapag dumating 'yung oras na siya naman ang lumayo sa akin.