Blind Love

Kabanata 14

"Sige po, pero tatapusin ko po muna–"

"No, leave it there. It's fine. Ipasuyo na lang muna natin," he called the other maid who passed us at pinasunod naman niya ako sa kanya.

"Lena wants to talk to you," aniya sa akin bago ako lingunin. Tumango naman ako at sumunod sa kanya paakyat sa hagdanan.

Bakit ako pinapatawag? She'll talk to me? Paano...

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan.

Tumapat kami sa library at hinawi ko muna buhok ko para maging presentable akong tignan.

The cold air welcomed me when we entered. Sumunod ako kay Sir at kaagad kong nakita si Ma'am Lena na nakaupo sa wheelchair at nang makita ako ay kaagad siyang ngumiti.

"Magandang tanghali po," bati ko.

"Magandang tanghali rin, hija." She greeted me back. Sir Ejercito walked towards his swivel at ako'y nanatiling nakatayo sa harapan nila.

"Pasensya na kung pinatawag ka namin, hija, huh?" Marahang ani ni Ma'am. "Busy ka ba?"

"Walang problema po, ayos lang." Sagot ko naman. Masaya ako habang nakikitang ang sigla na ng itsura ni Ma'am.

"Sige, hija. Maupo ka." Tumango ako at naupo naman sa sofa na naroon.

"Hija, we called you to thank you for everything you've done for our son." She started. "Hindi namin alam kung anong mangyayari kung sakaling wala ka. We almost lost our hope na babalik siya sa dating ugali niya but then you came and he was back."

"Thank you so much for giving him the love he deserved, hija." Tumango ako at may mainit na humaplos sa puso ko habang pinapakinggan siya.

"Walang anuman po,"

"Dash Rakiel is a good man, yes, but sometimes he's stubborn. Ayaw niyang nakikinig sa amin. Kumpara sa dalawa ay mas madaling pagsabihan si Dash but kung ayaw niyang gawin, hindi niya talaga gagawin."

"Opo," Napangiti ako ng sabihin niya iyon.

"He was stubborn where it comes to the point na noong nabulag siya iniisip na niyang pabigat siya. That's why he decided to go in Sta. Monica to live alone. He believes he could."

"Opo, the first time we met, me as Rheallyn, he pushed me away kaagad. He want no one to take care of him, ayaw niyang maging pasanin nina Kuya at Zeij pati na rin ako." Kwento ko.

"But you manage to take it off his mind?" Biglang sabat ni Sir. Napangiti ako.

"That's why I liked her, Jer," ani Ma'am kay Sir. "She brightened up our son's mind! Wala akong narinig na anumang reklamo sa batang iyon simula noong iwan natin sila ni Reah sa probinsya."

"We've seen her before, right? When she was a kid?"

"Hmm..." ngumisi si Ma'am, "a very great girl. Do you remember playing with my sons before, Reah?" aniya.

Nangunot ang noo ko pero umiling, hindi mahalukay ang memorya.

"Oh, that's sad," her lips protruded. "But I understand. You were just a kid! Kayo nina Dash at Trevor ang magkalaro noon."

"Oh," natigilan si Sir Jer. "You mean Cess and Floyd's?" he asked, maybe referring to his friends.

"Yup!" she answered with a smile. "But that's a long time ago. Mga bulilit pa ang mga ito. Reah likes to stay in our house before to play with the kids."

You mean, nagkita na kami dati nina Dash?

The thought of it made me happy but sad at the same time because I couldn't remember much.