Damsel in Disguise

~~~ Chapter 42 ~~~

"Is Dad okay?" Tanong ko kay Mama matapos siyang yakapin din ng apat. Dahan-dahan itong tumango. She looks so stressed. Magulo ang buhok nito, maga ang mga mata at maputla ang mukha. I can't stand seeing her like this.

"He's on the operating room." Aniya at muli akong niyakap. Humagulgol ito sa aking balikat and I swear, my heart was shattered into thousand pieces as the pain slowly crept into my chest. But I'm nothing but to show ice. "Bogoshipeoso," Wika niya at nabasa na ng kanyang luha ang balikat ko. Ayokong nakikitang umiiyak ang nanay ko. Pakiramdam ko ay mas masakit pa ito sa lahat ng pinagdaanan ko.

Why am I so stupid? Why did I chose to leave everything behind, to leave every part of me to create new me?

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll never leave again," Sambit ko at hinagod ng palad ang kanyang likod. We waited for few more hours. My dad has a problem with one of his kidney kaya kailangan itong tanggalin. Kailangan lamang niyang mag-ingat palagi.
Thank God na successful ang operation niya.

"Umuwi muna kayo," Sambit ko sa apat at inabutan sila ng tubig. Umiling sila, sabay-sabay.

"Harley, tayo na lamang ang meron tayo. Hindi ka na'min iiwan," Ani Trix. Pakiramdam ko'y muli na namang babagsak ang mainit na luha sa aking mga mata. Niyakap nila ako at tahimik kaming nag-iyakan sa balikat ng isa't isa. Maswerte talaga ako na nakilala ko sila. We may not be perfect but we're making everything work for us.

Maya-maya di'y nagising na si Daddy. Agad kaming pumasok sa loob at sinalubong kami nito ng malungkot na ngiti. Agad ko sitang pinigilang magsalita nang makalapit ako. "I'm sorry, Dad. Take a rest and I'll take care of everything," Sambit ko. Hindi ko ito hinayaang magsalita at inaasikaso ko na lamang. He's growing white hairs already. He's getting old.

Naupo ako sa tabi niya at hinaplos ang kanyang mukha. I'm really sorry for everything. I've never been a good daughter. I was never open to them. I am their only child and a burden.

"Is everything alright?" I looked straight into his eyes at kumunot ang noo ko.

"Dad," Saway ko. How can he be so caring even when he's in the middle of suffering? "Just take a rest," Wika ko at hinawakan ang kamay niya. When was the last time I held his hand? Never, siya lagi ang humahawak sa kamay ko. Siya ang laging nagliligtas sa'kin.

"Sorry for disturbing you," Utas niya. I breathed heavily.

"You did not disturbed me, Dad! Please don't say that, I should be here for you. I should be here for our family. I love you, Daddy." My voice cracked as I said the last four words. Ayokong mahuli ang lahat bago ko ito sabihin sa kanya. I'm so afraid to lose him. I'm so afraid when I heard of news. I'm so afraid that I might be late. I'm so... Afraid.

He managed to form a little curve in his lips, "Being independent helped you a lot. You've changed... You became more wise, and sweet." Wika niya at bahagyang tumawa sa huling salita ngunit kumirot ang tahi niya kaya muli ko siyang sinaway. But his smile never faded. His voice... It changed a lot. "Whatever you are into, Quinn, everything will be alright. I can see it in your eyes no matter how hard it hides those. I will forever be by your side, I love you too, sweetie." Aniya at hinaplos ang kamay ko. His touch was so comforting. It was little but it felt like a hug into my soul. He knew me so much.

Hindi pa nagtagal ay nakatulog na si Daddy. I took the advantage para pag-isipan ang lahat. I should not waste time just because I'm hurting. I should fix everything.

"Mom, you should take a rest with Dad." Utas ko. Lumingon ito sa akin at kumunot ang noo saka ipinagpatuloy ang paghiwa ng mga prutas. She's a perfect Mom. I would be needing no one because she's enough.

"What are you talking about?" Tanong niya. Her face already has wrinkles, nevertheless, beauty was still shown.

"I'll take care of our company, and everything." Pagkibit balikat ko. She smiled sweetly and I am thankful that she is feeling better now. Because seeing her hurting burns my heart.

"Are you sure of that?" Tanong niya. Tumangu-tango ako.

"Give me all the files, I'll start as soon as tomorrow." Sambit ko. She laughed a little.

"My daughter is growing up so fast. You can handle things now," She sighed after she've said those. It's like she's picturing past in her mind now. "Alright, then. I'll help you, too." Pagsangayon niya.

This is the right thing to do. Our mistakes... It always lead us to right ones. Whatever those are, will remain in past. Ibabalot ko ang lahat ng nangyari dati, at kahapon. Saka ako mabubuhay gaya ng dati, muli.

Gail... Being a 'Gail' was a gift. It thought me a lot of things. It made me stronger. At least they helped us to feel good in many other ways. Now, I'm contented. I've got what I want. However, the scar wasn't healed.

Nevertheless, I'm still feeling much better than before. I should not worry much and start again by opening a new chapter in a different book. There's always no ending. There's always another start.