The Burning of Summer

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Six

I am now alone with Abuela when Dad got a call from the office so he had to go and Ate Autumn went to her café.

I am actually bored. Dad forbade  me to watch any news at all saying it might just upset me more. Kaya naman kanina pa ako tulala dito at walang ginagawa.

Napadako ang tingin ko kay Abuela ay nakitang gising na siya. Tumayo ako mula sa sofa na naroon at lumipat sa upuan sa tabi ng kama.

"How long have you been awake Abuela?"

"Just now." she answered with a weak voice.

Akma itong babangon mag-isa kaya naman tumayo ako upanh pigilan siya.

"If you want to sit then stay still." pinirmi ko siya sa higaan at saka may pinindot upang umangat ang ulunang parte ng kama niya. "See? Much better."

"Thank you, Mija."

I smiled.

"No problem." sagot ko naman ngunit tinitigan niya ako sa mukha na para bang inaalisa at binabasa kung ano nasa isip ko.

"What's wrong?" Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong niyang iyon. Did she notice?
"There's something bothering you Mija, I know so tell me."

Kuryoso ang mga matang nakatitig ito sa akin habanh hinahantay ang sagot ko.

"It's nothing Abuela, don't stress yourself about it." I convinced her.

"You cried, I can tell."

"Of course I did! You made me cry a lot, remember?" sinabi ko na lang sa pabirong paraan upang hindi na ito mag-usisa pa.

Pinaningkitan niya ako ng mata bilang tugon.

"Don't lie to an old woman Summer. You're obviously hiding something from me." This time, her eyes looked pained just because she thinks I'm keeping something.

Na-alala ko tuloy kung gaanp siya kaboto kay Reid. Kung ganoon, wala kayang alam si Abuela? Hindi niya nga kaya talaga alam kung sino si Reid?

But I doubt it. Si Abuela ang tipo na hindi basta bastang magtitiwala sa mga tao. I'm sure she did a background check to everyone working on her land. That's more like her.

"I'm certainly not lying Abuela."

"How's your heart then?"

Napatuwid ako sa pagkaka-upo sa narinig.

"What do you mean po?"

"I meant with the things I said that day, how are you?" I sighed.

"Acceptance Abuela." paunang sabi ko. "I have been running away from that for too long. Maybe that's my way of coping up with the loss of my mother but it doesn't justify the wrong and awful things I did." I paused to hold her hand. "I still am very sorry Abuela. And I mean it when I told you that I missed you. I really do."

"I think this should be the last time that I hear another sorry from you Mija. Kung pareho lang tayong magso-sorry sa isa't-isa, baka hindi na tayo matapos kaka-sorry." Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi ko. "What's important is that we're okay now. Don't you think?"

Everything she said is true. We are okay now. Our relationship is okay now. Pero kung kailan naghilom na ang sugat na matagal ko nang iniinda ay saka naman iyon nawasak.

And this time, there is no way to fix it.

Nasa mall na ako ngayon sa loob ng isang tech shop. Kailangan ko nang mamili ng bagong cellphone since naiwan ko sa villa ang ginagamit ko. Did I mention that people are whispering and most probably talking about me?