Lea
"Ano ba kasi ang nangyari? Next time, be careful nga. Pinagalala mo kami eh, you know that?" I reprimanded Alysse na ngayo'y nakayuko lang while sitting at the back of Aga's car.
Kakatapos lang siyang gamutin and fortunately, okay naman siya. She just sprained her right foot, ika-ika nga lang sa paglalakad but time will heal and daily check ups, of course.
"Babes, kalma. It was an accident." Aga said as he took a glance at me but I just glared at him in return which I think he didn't see dahil nasa daan ang tingin niya.
"Iyon na nga eh, accident! Sana naman nagingat siya because I could not afford to loose her again!" I exclaimed, almost at the verge of crying.
Hindi ko kakayanin pag may nangyaring masama sa kanya, 16 years ang nawala 'tas ngayon, ilang linggo pa lang kami nagkakilala, in just a snap of one's hand at dahil sa simpleng aksidente, mawawala rin lahat iyon? I can't imagine my life's situation if ever that happens. Hindi ko kakayanin.
"I--im sorry po Mommy, I prom--mise next time, mag-iingat na po talaga ako. I'm really sorry." wika nito after few minutes of silence, nilingon ko siya na ngayo'y mangiyak-ngiyak na rin.
"Are you really? If you do, please, just please Alysse, magingat ka. I don't know kung ano ang gagawin ko kapag ikaw ang mawala." mahinang sambit ko, she smiled a little at me showing her dimples that somehow, calmed my shits for today.
"Don't worry Mommy, 'di naman ako mawawala eh. We'll make more memories and that includes well.. uhm.." she paused as a grin formed at her face and looking at her, I know what she's thinking..
"No!" mabilis na sagot ko at umayos na ng upo, I heard her chuckled,
"No ka d'yan! Do you know what I'm going to say ba? Well I was about to say na that includes Chiara because she's my sister! Uy si Mommy, malawak ang imagination HAHAHA!" she teased me at parang namula naman ako dahil dun. Leche, pahiya ako dun ah! I was really thinking of something else..
"You girls are getting along so well, aren't you?" I heard Aga asked.
"Uhuh, mabait naman pala siya Dad ano? She's a bit mataray nga lang but I feel so lucky to see Chiara's sweet and playful side!" sagot ni Alysse while giggling, looks like she's fond of Chiara, eh?
"Yeah, she is. Suplada talaga iyan pero when it comes to the people she love, lumalambot ang puso niyan." napatango na lang ako sa sinabi ni Aga.
I agree, Chiara may somehow be mean but at times, she's really caring and affectionate. Mabuti nga lang at 'di siya nagmana kay Clara na puro kademonyohan lang ang nalalaman.
"Oo nga pala babes, I forgot to tell you this earlier pero tumawag kanina si Detective Ivan asking if we're available at around 8, may lead na sila sa kaso and guess what, they already have witnesses and possible suspects." Aga informed me making me smile, may lead na? That means, we're so close to the truth and at the same time, the justice we've been looking for!
"That's good to hear, so saan tayo magkita-kita babes?" tanong ko, tumingin siya sa' kin saglit at balik ulit sa daan ang tingin niya.
"It's almost 8 na rin so I guess, deretso na lang tayo sa coffee shop na sinabi niya. Is it okay if we'll tag Alysse with us? Hassle na pag iuuwi pa kasi natin siya sa bahay." he said, tumango lang ako. Wala namang problema kung isasama namin siya, she can stay inside the car if she wants to.
"Alysse.." I called pero hindi siya sumagot kaya lumingon na lang ako to see if what she's up to right now but I was surprised to see her asleep. That fast? Napagod siguro talaga 'to.
"She's sleeping." saad ko as I tried to look for my phone inside my bag para sana picturan si Alysse but unfortunately, I can't find it.
Oh shoot! Naiwan ko pala iyon sa kwarto ni Aga, damn, now what? Sa sobrang pagmamadali namin kanina, 'di ko na naatupag ang mga gamit ko, all I did was grab my bag immediately not knowing na 'di ko pala dala-dala iyon.
I was about to say something when Aga's phone rang at dahil nagmamaneho siya, no choice ako kundi sagutin ang tawag na iyon para sakanya. Without looking at the caller ID, I picked it up.
"Hello?"
I heard sobs coming from the other line, wait, who's this?
"Is this Mr. Aga Muhlach?" a feminine voice asked in a croaky manner, tinignan ko muna ang caller ID and it says there na si Detective Ivan Alcantara daw iyong tumatawag making my forehead creased in confusion. Kung siya 'to, eh bakit babae ang kausap ko ngayon?
"This is Lea talking, is there anything you want to say to Aga?" pagpakilala at tanong ko, once again, I heard her sniff from the other line. Why is she even crying? Is this some sort of like prank?
"Ms. Lea, si Sir Aga po kasi iyong huling tao na nakausap ng asawa ko before he got himself involve into an accident, I read their conversation and I supposed, magkikita sana sila ngayon but unfortunately, it can't happen dahil nga sa nangyari.." she explained at sa haba nun, tanging ang salitang accident lang ang pumasok sa utak ko.
"What happened to Detective Ivan?" I asked and from my peripheral vision, nakita ko naman ang biglaang pag-sulyap ni Aga sa' kin.
"Nabangga po sa puno ang sasakyan niya, the police are still looking into the case kung ano nga ba talaga ang nangyari but now.. because of the hard impact, my husband's in coma." sagot niya na ikinanlaki ng mga mata ko. Coma? Si Detective Ivan? Shit.
"That's terrible.. Sige, I'll hang up now, I'll inform Aga na tumawag ka, I hope he gets better soon, bye!" paalam ko before ending the call at bumuntong hininga.
Shit. Iyon na eh, Detective has the list of witnesses and possible suspects tapos nawala pa? And now, he's in coma? Damn. Ang lupit din ng tadhana, eh ano? Kung saan malapit na kami sa katotohanan, dun pa nasira ang lahat!
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Chiara
Kanina pa ako balisa while looking at my own baby picture and Alysse's dito sa kwarto ni Daddy. What kind of coincidence is this? So... weird,
After snapping back myself to reality, lumabas ako ng kwarto na iyon dala-dala ang cellphone ni Lea at ang picture ko as I went downstairs, on my way, may katulong ako na nakasalunong habang pinupunasan niya ang railings sa hagdan, nilapitan ko siya as I approach her.
"Hey.." pagtawag ko rito kaya napatingin naman siya sa' kin, I don't know her name, okay? And I'm not willing to.
"Bakit po Ma'am Chiara?" tanong niya, I was hesitant to ask her at first but my thoughts were killing me kaya sabay kong ipinakita ang cellphone ni Lea at ang picture ko.
"What do you see?" I asked her na ngayo'y nakakunot ang noo habang nakatingin sa mga litrato.
"Picture niyo po ng bata kayo." prenteng sagot niya, picture ko?
"Do you think..it's me?" mahina kong tanong sabay turo sa litrato na naroon sa cellphone ni Lea, naguguluhan man, tumango na lang siya.
"Opo, magkamukha-magkamukha eh." she answered, tumango lang ako at tumakbo pabalik sa taas as I went to Dad's room and immediately put her phone back at his bed.
If this is all true.. paano nangyari iyon?
Napapitlag ako ng makarinig ako ng sunod-sunod na busina sa labas ng bahay kaya lumabas na ako ng kwarto ni Daddy as I made my way downstairs again, and I was surprised upon seeing Mommy walking in. She's here!
"Mommy!" sigaw ko at tumakbo papunta sa kanya as I hugged her real tight. She's my Mom, she's my Mom.
"What the hell happened to your head?" tanong niya after breaking our hug, nagkibit balikat na lang ako.
"Nothing serious, something happened but don't worry po, I'm fine now." I said shortly, she arched an eyebrow at me, crossing her arms.
"Are you sure? Is there something I need to now?" pahabol niya, I should be the one asking that!
"I think it should be me, saying those words, Mommy, is there something I need to now about myself?" I asked, Mom look at me with questionable eyes.
"About what?"
I sighed in frustration, "About me being your daughter? Am I really?" I asked again and as if on a cue, Mom's reaction changed as she look at me calmly.
"Of course you are! Back at this again, Chia? 'Di ba sinabi ko na sa'yo noon, you are my daughter, you are our daughter, okay? Anak ka namin ng Daddy Aga mo." she told me.
"Pero.." hindi ko na natapos and sasabihan ko when she held my wrists tightly at pakiramdam ko, bumabaon na ang mga mahahabang kuko niya sa kamay ko. It hurts.
"Wala ng pero-pero, ano nga ang palaging sinasabi ko sa'yo?" she asked using her sweetest voice and most gentle smile, I gulped continuously and didn't say a word pero mas hinigpitan pa niya ang pagkahawak sa kamay ko so I'm left with no choice. Ang sakit! I have stitches there!
"I am my Mom's daughter. I am your daughter. I am my Mom's daughter. I am your daughter." paulit-ulit kong sambit making her grin and slowly, she let go of my wrists kaya when she did that, kagaad ko namang hinimas-himas ito.
"Good girl! Always remember that Chia ah? You are my daughter and you must make Mommy happy and proud always." wika niya as she pat my shoulders, ngumiti lang ako ng matipid at tumango.
Yeah, I am her daughter and I must do everything to make Mommy happy and proud no matter what.
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