That Guy
We directly went to the hospital where Mom was being admitted. I was crying really hard worrying for Mom, for what happened, for everything. Kailangan niya operahan sa obaryo kay nararamdaman na pala siyang sakit ngunit di niya nagawang sabihin sa amin. Why Mommy? Your daughter was with you all the time but you didn't bother to tell her about your condition. Was I really your daughter? Oo bata ako pero kailangan kung malaman iyon.
"Kuya Malcolm, si Mama" hindi pa yata nauubos ang mga luha ko, kuya was holding my hands. I saw Dad near the window with Kuya Mirco. I stared at him like this was his fault.
"Stop crying, you should rest" nakalapit na pala siya sa amin ni Kuya. He tried to touch my face pero hindi niya nagawa inilayo ko kaagad ang kamay niya.
"Kasalanan mo ito Daddy!" sinigawan ko siya halata sa mata ni Dad ang pagkagulat sa mga binitiwang salita. "Kasalanan mo ito!" Inaalo ako ni Kuya.
"Kung hindi mo sana sinaktan si Ma noon, hindi to mangyayari. Sana buo tayo ngayon. Sana may pamilya akong masaya kagaya ng iba" iyak parin ako ng iyak, niyayakap na ako ni Kuya.
"I hate you Daddy for ruining everything, for hurting us, for making us suffer from this pain" kung naging matino lang sana siya noon hindi kami aabot sa ganito. Alam kong wala pa ako sa mundo nung nangyari iyon sa kanila pero nasasaktan ako, kaming magkakapatid ang sobrang apektado dito.
"Liv, tama na" mahinahong wika ni Kuya Mirco.
"Hindi ko naman talaga siya gustong makasama Kuya, pinipilit lang ako ni Mama kasi kailangan" pumasok si Tita Chat at kinuha ako kay Kuya Malcolm
Hindi ako pinayagang magtagal roon umuwi muna ako sa bahay nila Tita sa La Consolacion habang nagpapagaling si Mama.
I was outside playing then my friend asked me " Look, sasakyan ba iyan ng Papa mo?"
Nakumpirma kong sa kanya nga iyon, tumakbo ako at hinabol ang sasakyan. I wanted to see him, ask him what was really happened, I wanted to know if he's okay. Tumakbo ako nang tumakbo habang umiiyak, then I realized nakaluhod na ako sa kalsada.
"Tita, it was him right? Si Papa yun, Tita" I sobbed hard while hugging my Aunt. At paulit ulit na wika ko.
I thought he won't leave us. I did hold on to his promise. Nagkasakit lang si Mama tapos hindi na niya kayang manatili sa buhay namin. Ganon ba talaga? Pinaglaban namin siya ni Mama, pinili naming sumama sa kanya. Mas minahal ko pa siya kaysa sa totoong tatay ko.
"Liv, wake up" someone's touching my nose. I slowly opened my eyes then Mom's beautiful face welcomed me. Nakatulog pala ako sa sala kakahintay sa kanya. I remembered Papa Benedict again, tatlong taon na nang mangyari iyon. I don't know but I want to see him, I still miss him. What should I do? He was my father for ten years, he treated me like his own flesh and blood still, I was really grateful for the years that we had shared together. I experienced having a father who supported me with everything. He gave me the fatherly love that my real father couldn't give.
Malapit na ako sa gate ng school at may nakikita akong akong isang pamilyar na tao. Bukas ang mga butones ng kanyang uniform at nakasandal sa guardhouse na akala mo ay may binabantayang dumaan. I checked myself if I bring my ID and if I'm wearing a complete uniform at naglakad ng normal lamang papuntang silid aralan. Then I noticed he's following me, nung nakapasok na ako sa room saka siya umalis.
"I think that guy earlier was following you, he's quite famous" one of my chismosa classmates said. Really, famous? Bakit hindi ko kilala?
"No, you're just imagining things. I think you noticed that because you like him" got you girl. Anong year level ba yon baka senior high na?
"Yeah. I think so" shep replied then giggled.
Nakapila na ako para bumili ng pagkain then Mau shouted at me to sit with them kasama teammates niya. Do I have a choice? Ayoko naman siyang mapahiya. I mouthed okay to her.
I joined their group and sit to the vacant chair and that guy Gabb was in front of me, Mau was on my right and Rojan on my left. Parang hindi ako makahinga, wagas makatitig tong kaharap ko, I can't concentrate nor compose my self properly.
"May practice kami mamaya, Liv, pwede kang manood kung gusto mo lang naman" Rojan informed while I'm sipping my pineapple juice. Kilala ko si Rojan dahil nagtuturo ang Mama niya sa isang learning center sa La Asuncion. Parating naroon si Rojan sumasama sa nanay niya at inenroll ako ni Ma doon.
"I can't, Ma and I will cook something after my class" I faced Rojan and I saw Gabb in my peripheral vision that he's collecting the plastics that we used and disposed it. That's how he really behave or just pretending to behave like that. I find him not that talkative I'm not saying that I'm a talkative person but he's not talking to us.
"It's okay Rojan manunuod yan si mismong competition" Mau announced it reassuring him. But that guy Gabb was staring at me while eating sandwich. Tsssk.
"Kailangan ko nang umalis" naunang tumayo si Gabb tapos ako. Nagulat ang iba sa pagtayo niya. What's with him? He's making me uncomfortable and nervous. I shook my head a bit.
"Aalis ka na?" nagulat ako sa narinig na boses para akong nakikinig ng musika ng mga alon sa dalampasigan. Nilingon ko ang may-ari ng boses na iyon. That guy Gabb was the owner of that voice by the way,uhuh. Bat naman siya napatanong?
"Ah... oo" marunong naman palang magsalita. Kung alam ko lang na ganon pala ang boses ng isang yun sana siya yung kinausap ko kanina.
I felt so tired sa pakikinig lang sa mga guro habang nakaupo. Pwede pa lang mapagod kahit nakikinig at nakaupo lang. Palabas na ako ng paaralan and that guy Gabb was leaning his back on that small guardhouse again like he's waiting for something. Tumakbo ako at hinanap ang sasakyan ni Mama sa labas, lumingon ako pabalik at saka naman siya tumalikod at umalis. I don't like his presence, he makes me nervous without doing anything. I don't like this.
