Trapped With Them

Chapter 37

Seinna

"Sei!"

Napalingon ako sa tumawag at nakita si Ysa na papalapit sa akin habang bitbit ang aking cellphone. Nagtataka ko siyang tiningnan bago tinigil ang pagpupunas sa mesa.

"Bakit, Ysa?"

"May gustong makipag FaceTime sa'yo. Ruki ang pangalan," she said as she handed me my phone.

Tumango ako at tinanggap ang iyon bago ngumiti sa kan'ya, "salamat. Labas lang muna ako."

Tinanguan niya ako bago ako lumabas sa back door ng kitchen. Sa gilid ng pool ko balak kausapin si Ruki. I tapped the answer button and the first time I saw through the screen was her scowling face.

Napangiti ako at nailing. Impatient, i see.

"Gaga! Ba't antagal mong sumagot? May trabaho ka ba? Did i disturb you? Mamaya nalang ako tatawag kung wala ka ng work." her voice were worried.

Umiling ako habang nangingiti sa kan'ya, tahimik na inoobserhaban sya.

Umupo ako sa upuan at sinandal ang likod ng cellphone sa tip ng pot ng halaman. When it was properly settled I shifted on my seat as I stare at her longingly with a small smile on my lips.

Gosh, she's glowing.

"It's okay, Ruki. Patapos na rin ako sa trabaho nang tumawag ka. By the way, you're glowing."

Iyon agad ang una kong napansin.

Though, this is the first time i saw her face through the screen for the past months she was away. We rarely talked through phones because I was too busy in school and work. Kapag ako naman iyong tumatawag sa kaniya ay minsan niya lang din nasasagot dahil may pinagkakaabalahan rin raw siya doon.

Humagikhik siya, "Ano ka ba! Dami niyo nang nagsasabi niyan, ah. Pero in fairness! You're glowing, too! Ano'ng ganap sa life mo? May nagdidilig na ba d'yan sa nakasapot mong pechay? Sinong matapang na mandirigma ang sumuong sa makipot na kweba mo? Sino?" Hindi pa rin siya natigil sa hagikhik at halos hindi na mapakali sa inuupuan niya.

Uminit ang mukha ko sa mga pinagtatanong niya. Hindi man lang nabawasan ang ganitong pag-uugali niya kahit ngayong buntis siya, mas lalo lang atang lumala.

I shook my head as an answer.

"How are you, Ruki?" tanong ko para maiwasan ang mga makamundong mga tanong niya.

She smiled widely when she heard my question as if she has nothing to be worried about of what's happening in her life, "I'm okay! I mean, I'm happy and lively, Seinna!" Her face softened, "Sobra akong masaya. No words can express how happy I am these past few months. Maayos ang baby ko at pamilya ko ngayon. Wala na yata akong mahihiling pa sa ganitong klase ng buhay na meron ako ngayon, Sei." she said softly as she caresses her baby bump.

I stared deeply at her. And she's not lying.

I could see the happiness swirling in her eyes. Masasabi kong naging maganda na nga ang buhay niya ngayon. For the past months and our often conversation through calls, she never fails to talked about how her life goes well together with her supportive and caring grandmother to her and her baby.

Naalala ko iyong araw kung saan inamin niyang nagahasa at buntis siya. She said about aborting her baby. The innocent life in her womb. Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na hindi ko dapat pinangunahan ang desisyon niya. When i heard the words came out of her mouth, i just lost it. I stepped on the boundary without thinking. I slapped her without thinking how much of trauma she gained from that asshole. I admit it, I acted impulsively. I physically hurt her even though I didn't know how much she went through to that monster.