Sightless Love

Chapter 1

"I don't need a new nurse, mom!"

"Of course you do, anak. Sinong mag aalaga sa'yo dyan?"

Sagot ng ina ni Jake sa kabilang linya ng telepono.

"Mom, why do you even bother? Umaalis lang din naman sila. They don't stay-"

"Now that you've mention it, 'yun din nga ang ipinagtataka ko. Bakit ba walang nagtatagal sa'yo na nurse?"

"Why? Because they're all-"

"Not they, hijo. I know it's not the nurses' fault. May ginagawa ka kaya hindi sila nagtatagal. Ano ba ang pinaggagagawa mo? I know it's hard for you Jake but-"

"No buts mom. Ugh. I told you already many, many times, it's not my fault they don't stay. You know me. Of all people, you're the one who really know me. Do you think I'd do that?"

"Exactly. Kilala kita anak. Pero a lot has changed in you these past few years."

"Okay. I might have been a little insensitive towards them but that's that. And just look at it this way, I won't be treating ANYONE bad if I won't have a new nurse."

"Anak, I know mahirap ang sitwasyon mo ngayon, but please listen to me. You need to recover as soon as possible. That's why you need someone to take care of you there. Alam mo naman na we can't go back to the Philippines now. Masyadong maraming inaasikaso ang daddy mo. And you know I can't just leave him. He needs me here."

Gusto sanang sabihin ni Jake na kailangan din niya ang ina ngunit sinarili na lamang niya ito.

"Dad's so lucky to have you, mom. No, he's not just lucky - he's the luckiest man on Earth."

"Naks naman! Binola pa ako ng gwapo kong anak. Huwag kang mag alala Jake, one day you'll find the girl that's meant for you too. At pag nangyari yun, siya ang magiging pinaka ma swerteng babae sa mundo. Wala na kayang mas pogi pa sa anak ko."

Napangiti naman siya sa sinabi ng ina. Kahit na naging pasaway at pilyo siya, mahal na mahal pa rin siya nito naniniwala pa rin sa kanya ang kanyang ina. Something na hindi niya nakita at naramdaman sa ama.

"Anyway mom, I know you're really busy there so stop worrying about me. I'll be fine."

"I know you will be. But I'm still not changing my mind, Jake."

"Man! I thought you'll forget about it already."

"No, I won't. You will have a new nurse by Monday. In the meantime, take good care of yourself. And please be nice to whoever they'll send you, would you?"

"I can't promise mom, so please don't make me. I don't wanna lie to you.  And you know I don't want making promises I can't keep."

"Fine. Just please try, okay? Love you. Bye."

"Bye. Love you too mom."

And he hung up.

Bakit ba kasi kailangan niya pa ng nurse?

As if naman di niya kayang tumayo at asikasuhin ang sarili.

Hindi naman siya baldado.

He's blind.

And blind doesn't mean helpless.

He closed his eyes. Though it doesn't make any difference really kung nakadilat man siya o naka pikit. There's still the same pitch black emptiness around him.

Then naalala niya ang isang babaeng nakita niya sa mall pagkarating niya sa Pilipinas bago siya mabulag.

Oo, he wasn't born blind.