𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘀
We rushed to the airport when Manang Imee informed us about what happened, I was with Liza and escorts.
When we arrived we were trapped by many people, dahilan kung bakit hindi kami nakapasok agad but thankfully the airport guards were their to rescue right away.
We're already inside but I didn't see Irene & Greggy. Where are they? Naabutan kaya nila Celestine?
We walked, roaming our eyes to hundreds of people. Until I gaze to a young lady sitting and scrolling through her phone. I'm sure that it's Isabelle!
So we hurriedly went to her, I call her attention and I hugged her tightly.
𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲
I'm already here inside the aircraft, naghihintay na mag-take off. Bumabagabag parin sa loob ko kung sino yung tumawag saakin kanina. The voice was like tito Greggy's.
I was still thinking tapos may narinig akong kapwa ko pasahero na nakikipag-usap sa kasama niya.
"Nandoon yung mga Marcos sa airport, sayang hindi ako nakapagpapicture." said by the woman.
"Oo nga 'no, yun yung bunsong kapatid ni Presidente diba?" the other girl asked.
What are they doing here? I decided to open my phone and turned off the airplane mode kasi hindi pa naman umaalis yung eroplano.
Nakita ko yung tone-toneladang tawag ni tita Imee.
12 missed calls from tita Irene
7 missed calls from kuya Borgy
23 missed calls from tita Imee
2 messages from tita Imee
From: Tita Imee
Isabelle, please go out of the plane. Your tita Irene is there!
From: Tita Imee
Don't leave, sweetheart.
Bakit? Hindi na ako nagreply pa. Nagdadalawang isip ako kung aalis pa ba ako dito sa eroplano o hindi na.
"Nahimatay daw si Ms. Irene!" I heard the girl said.
What the hell? Kailangan ko siyang puntuhan! Dinumog ba sila ng mga tao dito? Pambihira naman apo!
Bakit naman kasi kailangan pang pumunta dito, alam naman siguro na na hindi sila pangkaraniwang tao. Hard-Headed Irene Marcos!
"Ate!" I called the flight attendant.
"Yes ma'am?" She asked.
"Can you please help me to take my luggage? Hindi na po ako tutuloy." I said, she looked at me with wonder.
"Po? Bakit po?" She asked, I explained to her why and she nodded. She helped me to get my things and she accompany me pabalik sa airport.
I smiled, "Thank you po." I said, sincerely.
"Welcome!" She replied.
Nakabalik na ako dito sa loob ng airport, I'm sure tita Irene is on the clinic ngayon. Pero may clinic ba sila dito? or umuwi na sila?
Ewan ko ba!
Sana okay na si tita Irene, umupo ako ng biglang may tumawag sa pangalan ko. I looked at the direction on where the voice is coming from. And it was from tito Bong!
Pati sila, nandito? Ano ba yung nangyayari?
"Isabelle!"
He exclaimed as he run towards me and hugged me tightly.
"What's happening po? Bat po kayo nanditong lahat?" I asked politely.
Tito Bong and Tita Liza are teary-eyed.
"Hindi ka tumuloy?" Tita Liza asked me back.
"Hindi po, narinig ko po kasing nahimatay si tita Irene." I said, in my low voice as I bowed my head.
"Nahimatay yung mommy mo, you mean." Tito Bong told me that made me looked at him.
I was shocked, what does he mean?
"po?" I asked.
"Isabelle, nalaman na namin yung totoo." Tito Bong said as he held my hand.
"Isabelle, ikaw si Celestine." He added.
Is he joking or what? Pano ako magiging si Celestine? I want some proofs.
"Nagkakamali po ata kayo" I uttered, nervously, I'm trying to be calm at my finest. When tito said that to me, I remember how I witnessed tita Irene suffered on finding Celestine.
"No, the investigator said and the DNA test confirmed." Tito Bonget said, I'm trembling.
"S-saan niyo nakuha yung sample ko? To perform a DNA test?" I asked hesitantly, I want to be mad at them kasi hindi nila ako sinabihan. Pero pilinit ko yung sarili kong hindi magalit.
"Your tita Irene did all of that, sweetie. Your tita Irene was too desperate to know the truth kaya hindi na siya nakapagpaalam sayo." Tita Liza explained.
"I understand." I said calmly, she longs so much.
"Tine, make all the sufferings of your mom be worth it. Make her happy, make your mother happy." Tito Bong told me softly, I looked at him hesitantly because I don't know how.
"All the years of her and your dad suffered, bumawi ka sakanila and they will too. Your mom loves you so much, kaya sana hindi ka magalit sa kanya, she was so devastated nung nawala ka, and yesterday she felt so happy nung nalaman niyang ikaw si Celestine." Tito Bong uttered, I just listened to them, hindi ko kayang magalit kay tita Irene. I have witnessed how she suffered and how much she has been hurt on searching for Isabelle, but it turns out na ako si Celestine. I have envied Celestine kasi hindi pa siya nagpapakita sa pamilya niya pero it was myself who I hated.
"Your mommy fainted kakaiyak, kasi akala niya iniwan mo na siya. They flew back to Ilocos kasi akala nila nandoon kapa." Tito Bong explained.
Tears are streaming down in my cheeks "I-I want to see her, I-I h-hope s-she's o-okay." I uttered, stuttering.
"Tito!"
Someone called tito from our behind. I know who it was and when I looked back I was right, its Kuya Borgy, Kuya Matthew and Sandro.
They didn't able to move when I looked back. When they process everything in their mind, they immediately run towards me and hugged me tightly. Ang higpit, hindi ako makahinga!
Talaga naman!
"I can't breath!" I complained as I hit their arms.
"Oh sorry, pinakaba mo kami akala namin umalis kana!" Kuya Matthew said as he rested her arms in my shoulders.
"Alam mo bang nangako kami sa guard na titriplihin namin yung bayad ng ticket mapuntahan kalang tapos umalis agad yung eroplano." Sandro exclaimed.
"But we're glad na hindi ka umalis Belle, kawawa si tita Irene. You know what the passed out scene was supposedly acting lang but she really did passed out." Kuya Borgy informed.
"W-where is she?" I asked, worriedly.
"Worried so much?" Kuya Borgy asked, teasingly.
"Of course!" I said loudly.
"You want to see your mom na?" Kuya Matthew asked, I hesitantly nodded.
"She's in the clinic resting, doon na kami dumiretso after naming makita na lumipad na yung eroplano. Tita Irene is still unconcious." Kuya Borgy murmured.
"Oh let's go, your mom will gain her energy again kung makita ka niya." Tito Bong said, I just nodded and smiled lighty. Habang papalapit kami ng papalapit sa clinic, my heart is beating so fast. Kuya Borgy was the one holding my luggage.
When we reached the clinic, Sandro twisted the door knob. Tito Bong were the first one to enter the clinic. After they all entered, sumunod ako.
"Isabelle.." Tito Greggy whispered as soon as he saw me, he stood up and hugged me so tight while he was sobbing.
"Anak.." He uttered which made me uncomfortable, when we withdraw from our hug, I slowly went to tita Irene who is still laying on the bed, unconcious, I held her hand as I sat beside her.
"I-I'm sorry." I whispered as my tears continuously flowing.
"I didn't know na aabot ka sa ganito, I have been hurting you so much and for that I sincerely apologize, please wake up, I'm here na oh, tita." I said in my low voice.
"Alam mo naman na kahit anong gawin mo mahal na mahal ka parin niyan." Tito Bong told me, I gently caressed her face, what a beautiful woman. She's pale.
"Please wake up, I missed you. I'm back now at hinding-hindi na ako mawawala sa tabi mo. You suffered long enough, its time to make you happy and to bring back the old Irene again." I whispered.
"You don't know how much I wished na sana nga ako nalang si Celestine but my mind was fighting between hoping and thinking that I was abandoned by my parents. Forgive me, if I have caused you so much pain and returned me with all your love. I'm sorry you have been in your situation now because of me."
"I can't wait to spend time with you, mama."
"Hinding-hindi na ulit ako mawawala sayo." I said as I planted a kiss on her soft hand.
We're still her in the clinic, still waiting for tita Irene to wake up.
Then we heard her groaned, we instantly jumped from our sit and went near to her. I was just standing behind kuya Borgy.
"Hon, are you okay now?" Tito Greggy asked her, I saw her manage to smile slightly but I saw her eyes are puffy.
"Ading.." Tito Bonget whispered as he carefully hugged tita Irene which caused her to cry again.
It literally brokes my heart whenever I see her cry.
"She already left me, Kuya. I l-lost her, I lost her again." she told Tito Bong while sobbing.
"I don't think so." Tito Bong replied, he gently held my hand and pulled me in front so tita Irene can see me. I don't know what to say because she was just staring at me.
I smiled awkwardly, "A-ah u-um." I murmured, she started to sob again as she held my hand.
"My precious angel.." She whispered in the midst of her crying.
I smiled at her, "H-hi" I said, I'm also crying already, all us here are crying.
"C-can I-I get a h-hug?" She asked, hesitantly, I nodded as I gently hugged her.
"I thought you leave me again, my love. Thank you for not leaving, you don't know how happy I am." She whispered.
"I-I'm s-sorry, I-I didn't know -
"Ssh, you don't have to say sorry. The important thing is, you're here. I couldn't wish more of it, anak." She said, weakly, I smiled as I hugged her once more. A hug that is different and addicting.
"You need to gain your energy po." I said softly, she nodded and smiled at me.
"I love you " She mouthed.
I just smiled because I still feel uncomfortable feeling towards her, hindi ko nga alam kung ano yung itatawag ko sakanya eh. Naiilang na ako sakanya simula nung nalaman ko yung totoo.
Tita Irene keeps on holding my hand as if I'm going somewhere. I just sat beside her while the others were talking.
"By the way, Isabelle - I mean Celestine, I love how you fought and defend our surname during your debate, well done!" Tito Bong exclaimed.
"Thank you po." I replied, tita Irene squeeze my hand gently which made me looked at her as she smiled genuinely. She keeps on staring at me.
"Galing ka palang sa hospital nun diba?" Kuya Borgy asked.
"Yes, that was impromptu kaya I was so nervous!" I replied.
"Really? Kinabahan kana nun ha yet your answers were very elite!" Kuya Matthew complimented.
"Yeah, absent daw kasi yung usual debater kaya ako nalang daw muna." I respond.
"You would be really good in politics, Tine!" Tito Bong exclaimed.
"Kuya.." Tita Irene muttered.
He laughed, "Just a suggestion." Tito Bonget answered.
When tita already gained her energy we decided to head home already. Yeah, I thing from now on I'll be living with them already.
To be continue..
Sorry for the wrong grammars and misspelled words.