Strokes of a Painter

Kabanata 50

Kabanata 50 

Forever 

Nahahapong napasalampak si Tob sa sofa. Noong una, bigo siyang madatnan si Fej sa hotel at ngayon naman ay umalis na ito papuntang America para magpa-opera. Wala ng ibang sinabi ang kasambahay. 

Maghihintay na naman siya pero ngayon ay alam niyang may hihintayin siya. He wouldn't mind waiting for her. She was alive and beautiful as ever. Hindi na niya ito papakawalan pa. He would win her heart again even without her memories of him. 

It took Fej two months to recover after her major eye operation. She stayed for another month in America because of her annual general check up from the last accident. Nagulat nga ang parents niya dahil sa biglaang kagustuhan niyang magpa-opera. Sakto naman at may nagmatch na donor. 

After she met that painter, she felt the strong desire to see his paintings. She was beyond curious. Kaya gusto niyang makakita ulit. She has been a huge fan of art.

Panahon na para mabuhay siya ng malaya. She has lived in the darkness for so long. She didn't want to be scared anymore. 

She was breathing but barely alive. There was always a hallow in her heart that she couldn't figure out, like an empty space that was waiting to be filled up. Her heart kept on longing for something or maybe someone? 

The doctor said that her memories would come at the right time that she shouldn't force herself to remember. It would happen naturally. But the question was, how long would she wait for her all memories to come back? Months? Years? Decades? She couldn't wait for that long. She lost her memories, then she would find them. 

Hahanapin niya ang nawalang alaala. Alam niyang masalimuot ang kanyang nakaraan pero kahit ang mga iyon ay parte para tuluyan na siyang makapamuhay ng malaya. Ayaw din niyang parating nag-aalala ang kanyang pamilya.

Her Prosopagnosia was cured but another problem erupted. Because of her trauma few years ago she couldn't recognize people's faces. It was a rough journey but she was able to live.

Kakayanin niya. Ngayon pa ba siya susuko?

Fej decided to go to Dalaguete. Inimbita siya ng kanyang Tita Mag dahil birthday nito. 

Sinalubong siya ng kasambahay.

"Magandang umaga po Mam," magiliw na bungad nito. 

"Magandang umaga rin Manang..." pamilyar sa kanya ang mukha nito pero hindi niya matandaan ang pangalan. She felt bad. 

"Cita po." 

"Magandang umaga Manang Cita. Pasensiya na po kung hindi ko kayo maalala," pait na ngiti niya.

"Naku, walang problema Mam. Naiintindihan ko po. Pasok kayo." 

Pagkatapos mag-ayos ay bumaba siya at hinanap si Manang Cita para makapagpaalam. Pupunta siya sa farm ng kanyang Tita Mag. Nadatnan niya itong nagwawalis sa labas. 

"Manang pupunta po ako kina Tita Mag." 

"Pwede ko po kayong samahan." 

Umiling siya. "Don't worry Manang. I'll find my way. Magpahinga muna kayo pagkatapos niyan." 

Binaybay niya ang pamilyar na daan. Something flashed in her mind. She used to walk this path long time ago. Napahinto siya nang may ibang daan patungo sa kakahuyan. She shrugged her shoulders and took that way. 

Matatayog ang mga puno at malamig ang lugar. Naririnig niya pa ang masayang huni ng mga ibon at iilang insekto. Napakapeaceful. Magandang maglakad dito.