OBSIDIAN ISSUE #2 : WOUNDED

THIRTY NINE

I was expecting to catch fear from my daughter or even run towards my way but neither happened. Marahil ay mas takot siya sa galit ko kaya hindi agad ako nilapitan at kumapit pa sa kamay ng babaeng kasama niya.

"Dorcas," I called her as mild as I could but she remained on the woman's side.

"Hi, good evening..."

Nagtagal ang paningin ko kay Dorcas na nakayuko bago ko ginantihan ng pagbati ang babae. My lips parted, not because she's familiar which is not, but for a moment I got awestruck by her pretty wide eyes. Though it was fleeting since I was too overwrought to admire or even get angry.

"Good evening. Salamat sa..." Tinignan ko si Dorcas, "Paghatid sa anak ko."

She seems too awkward to smile but she managed.

"I wouldn't bother to do it again in a heartbeat." She held a softer smile to my daughter. "You're home now, pretty girl. Don't make your Mom worry like that again, okay?"

Tahimik na tumango si Dorcas saka bumitaw nang dahan-dahan at ganoon din ang pagtawid tungo sa akin. She wouldn't have been standing close to me if I didn't pull her for me to hug her side. Bukas ko pa yata siya makakausap nang matino.

"Seriously, I'm truly grateful." I smiled to the woman. "Can I offer you some water or coffee? Malayo pa ba ang ibabiyahe mo? I mean the city's several hours drive from here so..."

"Thank you, that's very kind of you to consider. But I'm afraid I have to decline. Actually, I was just on my way home when I saw your daughter." Her unbelievably round doe eyes landed on Dorcas. "It's not a normal sight to see a child wandering in the streets in this late night and with a bag pack."

Wala akong maisip na sabihin dahil pinangunahan na agad ng pangamba. Baka iniisip niya na pinabayaan ko lang ang anak kong maglakwatsa sa gitna ng gabi! I don't think judging me was her primary intention but her words seem to sound like it so...

"I... I agree." I forced a smile. "Do you happen to live nearby? If you need anything, please don't hesitate..."

"Thank you. But I better be going—"

"Does our hero have a name... perhaps?" Quentin delayed her exit. Kakaiba at siksik din sa kahulugan ang tono niya.

Sisitahin ko na sana siya ngunit naudlot sa nahagip na pagkakatigil ng babae. Her eyes narrowed, as if calculating an outcome inside her mind before she decided for a loaded smile.

"I'm blessed with many names." She suppressed a smile through pursed lips. "So you can call me by any name you want." She left a wake of meaning with those words before turning her back.

Bemused, we watch her get inside the car until it drove away and disappeared from our gates.

Kahit parang nabunutan ng tinik ay nanatili ang hapdi ng pag-aalala sa dibdib ko. Now, I'm not sure how much berating is needed for Dorcas not to repeat the same misbehaviour even when she has realized the extent of what she's done by now.

Alam niyang nag-aalala ako, nanaig nga lang talaga ang pangungulila niya sa ama sa nakikita kong pagkatigil niya at tinanaw ang shelf sa make-shift fireplace namin na dati'y punong-puno ng mga litrato ni Angelov. What used to be a space of copious photographs reduced into three individual frames of him, me and us together.

Nakatalikod man Si Dorcas sa akin, halata ang lalim ng kanyang buntong hininga at nanghihinang tinungo ang kanyang silid.

"We will talk tomorrow, Dorcas," I called after her.

"Okay..." mahina niyang tugon saka pumasok sa kuwarto. At bago pa tuluyang magsara ang pinto ay sumunod si Sal sa loob.

I updated the police regarding my daughter. Nagpasalamat ako bago ibinaba ang tawag at hinarap si Quentin na kanina pa nagtiyaga sa paghihintay na maging bakante ang oras ko sa pag-aalala.