Come Home To You (Book 1 of You Trilogy)

Kabanata 33

"Huh?" 

Ano nga ulit sinabi niya?

Ginulo niya ang kanyang buhok at binasa ang pang-ibabang labi.

"Come with us." he stated clearer

My lips parted. Inayos ko ang aking white cap at nilingon si Kala. 

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot. 

"I know you miss Bala." he added

He got me there. 

Nag-convoy nalang kami at... nagulat ako nang tahakin niya ang pamilyar na ruta. Kumabog ang puso ko nang mag-park siya sa parking ng Saldivar Towers. Akala ko... umalis na siya.

"Magandang umaga Sir! Ma'am!" binati kami ng mga personnel

Ngumiti ako nang mamukhaan ang iba sa kanila. 

"Nagkabalikan pala kayo, Sir." hindi na napigilang puna ng isa, sobrang lapad ng ngisi

I bit my lips as I awkwardly smiled. Napalingon ako kay Khalil na mukhang hindi naman b-in-ig deal ang narinig.

Tahimik kaming pareho nang sumakay sa elevator. It changed. The interior of the tower changed. I already sensed it because of more high tech sensors installed around. Mas marami narin ang guards. 

The security heightened. Must be because of what happened. Ayaw nang maulit kaya mas nag-iingat na ngayon.

The memories rushed to me like wild waves as I step into the condo. Lalo lang akong nagulat nang makitang wala itong pinagbago. The interior when I left looks the same. The couch. The dried flowers. Everything. 

Bakit hindi niya binago?

Gusto ko sanang magtanong pero baka batuhin niya ako ng 'bakit ko naman babaguhin'?

As much as possible, I don't want us to get there. This is better. Letting wounds heal without re-opening it.

Nabalik ako sa ulirat nang matanaw ang asong matagal ko nang gustong makita ulit.

"Ohmygosh ate Bala!"

I was so happy when she wiggled her tail and barked so loud. Halos maluha naman ako nang mayakap siya. 

"You're so big na!"

Siguro doble na ang laki niya kung ikokompara kay Kala, especially now that Kala is thinner. Suot-suot niya parin ang collar na binili ko. I think it underwent alteration, tho. Lumaki kase talaga siya!

"I miss you baby. Do you miss me too, hmm?" paglalambing ko

She stucked out her tongue and licked my face, like before. Naramdaman ko namang lumapit sa'min ang nanghihina pang si Kala. I held her and talked to her and her ate.

They filled the space in my heart. 

"Where's Josie?" tanong ko kay Khalil

He's on the kitchen counter now. Magluluto raw siya ng pwede naming lunch. Naka-pambahay na siya ngayon. Simpleng t-shirt, shorts at apron.

The image of him cooking for me before played in my mind. But of course, it's different now. He's cooking for his guest, not his wife.

"Hindi na siya nagta-trabaho rito. It's been two years already."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Sinisante niya? What happened to Josie? Nawalan ng trabaho? Nakahanap kaya siya ng iba? She told me her job with us was important for their family lalo pa at mas mataas ang sahod kompara sa ibang employer. Paano nalang?

"Don't worry, I sent her to school." he added like he knew what I was thinking 

I sighed and silently nodded. Buti nalang pala. Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at tinanaw nalang sina Kala at Bala na naglalaro. They looked so cute because it seemed like they're communicating. Si Bala etong mas energetic.