Loving The Green Stone (FS # 2)

Kabanata 26

Unfair

"Why are we gathered here?" I can hear my mom's voice. Nasa labas ng bahay kami ng mga Morgan.

"I don't know tita.. sabi lang ni Jerem, Jade told him to ask everyone to gather here." Narinig kong sagot ni Jasmine.

I nodded at Jerem and JD. Sinal na iyon na papasok ba kami.

Tinakpan namin si Ate Pin. Hindi naman kami nahirapan gawin yon dahil sobrang tangkad ni Jerem and JD. We entered the house and everyone turned their head on us.

"Anak.. what happened? Is there something wrong?" I can see that mom is so worried. I smiled and shook my head.

"Everyone.. I went to Argao a while ago, to meet Ivor's brother" kita ang pagtataka sa mga mata nila.

Dad stood up. "Are you marrying that man?" Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Dad. They misunderstood everything.

The memory in the church flashed on my mind.

"That's not the point here. Pumunta ako doon at may natuklasan ako.. I saw someone.." namumuo nanaman ang samu't saring emosyon sa dibdib ko.

"She's here right? I can feel her" saad ni Kuya Joss. Hindi siya naiintindihan ng mga elders pero naiintindihan namin siya kaya ginawa ko na ang dapat kong gawin.

Humakbang ako palayo at sumunod si Jerem at Jayden sa akin. Gasp filled the air. Napatayo si Tita Alina and Tito Travis sa pagkakaupo sa sofa.

"My baby.." Tita Alina ran and hugged Ate Pin. Lumapit na kaming tatlo sa iba at yumakap ako kay daddy. He kissed my temple.

"I am proud of you." I hugged him tightly.

"What happened? How did she got there? Akala ko ba ay tumulong sa paghahanap ang mga Montgomery? Why is she in their teritory and nobody even bothered to tell us" mahinahon pero madiin na saad ni Tito Travis. Bumitaw ako kay daddy at humarap sakanila. Jace held my hand.

"Its my fault.. mahirap po i-explain pero aayusin ko po ito. I am sorry--"

"Its not her fault. May amnesia po ako, I didn't know who I was. Tinatago na pala ako doon ay hindi ko pa alam. Everybody in that place knew.. somehow everyone. Inutusan lang sila na walang sabihin sa akin." Now I understand.. kalat sa buong Pilipinas na nawawala siya pero wala man lang nagsabi mula sa lugar na iyon. From television, newspaper and even radio.. binabanggit ang pangalan niya.

She told us the whole story, kung paano siya nakita doon. Kung paano siya ni-claim ng mga kumupkop sakanya bilang anak nila. Kung paano niya nalaman na planado ang lahat. I can't even react because its too cruel.

"I'm gonna kill those Montgomery!" Napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi ni Tito Travis. Sinubukan niyang maglakad paalis pero hinawakan siya sa kamay ni Tita Alina.

"Don't.. please don't Travis." I saw pleading in Tita Alina's eyes and alam naming lahat na weakness yon ni Tito Travis.

Napapikit ako at yumakap ulit kay daddy.

"Where is Ivor? Iniwan ka ba niya?" Mahinang tanong ni daddy sa akin. I shook.

"No dad, actually ako ang umalis. Kailangan kong unahin si Ate Pin." Saad ko. Dad just kept silent.

Tumingin ako kay Kuya Joss na palapit na ngayon kay Ate Pin. He was walking slowly.. nakuha naman niya ang atensyon ni Ate Pin. Shock was written all over Ate Pin's face.

"This is surreal.. its like my boy version" saad niya habang pinagmamasdan si Kuya Joss.

Mabilis na lumapit si Kuya Joss sakanya at yinakap siya. Longing is evident on Kuya Joss'.