Chapter 16
The year just started when I landed in Haneda international airport. Pagod akong napatingin kay Gideon na kanina pa tahimik sa aking tabi. He gave me a small smile before he stood up and joined the queue of passengers.
January's cold breeze slapped gently against my cheeks as we joined the sea of crowd. Lahat sila ay makakapal pa rin na jacket ang suot at naka-bonnet. Manipis na ang nyebe sa daan, di tulad noong umalis kami na halos hindi na madaanan.
"You should call Leon," wika ni Gideon habang ina-unload ang aming mga maleta. "Tell him you're already here."
"He's going to get mad," I murmured under my breath, producing a thin smoke from my mouth because of the cold weather.
"At least he knows where you are. His campaign is about to start."
I heaved a sigh. So he really wants to run as the governor, after all?
"I'll just take a rest and will tell him." Wika ko.
"Ihahatid na kita sa inyo." Ani Gideon nang makuha na ang pang-huling bag na may lamang mga electronics naming dalawa.
"Doon ka na din matulog sa aming bahay, Gid. You're going to be lonely, alone at your apartment."
"Huwag na—"
"I'm sure you wanted to see Suki." I teased him.
Namula ang dulo ng mga tainga ni Gideon sa aking sinabi. He's trying to fight a smile from breaking off his face. "Just cut it out, Mallory."
Tinusok-tusok ko pa ang kaniyang tagiliran habang tumatawa. We hailed a cab and instructed the driver to our address. Pinaghalong kaba, saya, at excitement ang nadarama ko nang makabalik ako dito sa Japan. I've never missed this country so much than now.
Malayo pa lamang ay kitang-kita ko na ang pigura ni Suki na nag-iigib ng tubig papasok sa loob ng aming bahay. Gideon's eyes shone but he kept his mouth shut. Iniwan niyang nakabukas ang gate. The taxi slowed down, catching her attention. Kumunot pa ang kaniyang noo nang makita ito pero nang lumabas na ako ay isang malaking ngiti ang sumilay sa kaniyang labi.
"Mallory!" she cheered, dropping the wooden pail on the ground and running towards my direction. She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug. Sobrang lamig ng kaniyang dalawang kamay.
"Suki . . ." natatawa kong wika.
"Nanite kotoda! You never said that you're going home today!" she pulled away from the hug and grinned widely at me.
"It's a rush decision, sorry."
I stared at her black orbs and bob cut hair. I can still remember when we first found her, almost freezing to death in the streets because her abusive parents abandoned her. Suki is only 5 years younger than me. But because her parents didn't allow her to study, she barely know anything. I became her guardian ever since then.
"You have someone waiting for you. It's a yoi tomodachi of yours."
Kumunot ang aking noo. "Huh? Sino?"
Tahimik na ipinasok ni Gideon ang aming mga bagahe. I helped him unload all of our suitcases followed by Suki.
"Secret! It's a surprise, nee-san!" she giggled.
Napailing na lamang ako. Suki understands a bit of Tagalog but can't speak of it properly. Buti na lamang at madali siyang matuto kaya naman hindi kami nahihirapang makipag-usap sa kaniya. Although the girl has a dialect, she sure is a smart girl.
Suki slide the door open, revealing a woman who was just getting up from her seat. Her eyes widen when she saw me. Pati ako ay sobra ding nagulat.
"Sierra!" I cried, dropping all of my bags and stumbling my way to hug her.
Niyakap ko siya nang sobrang higpit. Sierra hugged me back even tighter. Ibinaon niya ang kaniyang mukha sa aking leeg at mayamaya pa'y humikbi ito.
"God, Sierra, I thought I'll never see you again!"
"I'm sorry . . ." she sobbed.
Hinagod ko ang kaniyang likod. "Ssh . . . it's okay, it's okay. You have a lot to tell me. Ilang taon tayong hindi nagkita!"
Sierra's hair is dyed in a deep blonde and was kept sideways. It matched her fair skin and made her look even more dazzling.
Nang kumalas siya sa aking yakap ay pagak siyang tumawa habang pinupunasan ang kaniyang mga luha.
"Yeah, I have a lot to tell you."
Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang sayang nararamdaman ko nang makita ko muli siya. But my smile faded when my stomach turned into knots. Dali-dali akong tumakbo papunta sa CR upang magsuka. Sierra followed me, soothing my back.
"Did you not take your medicines before the flight?"
Umiling-iling ako. Ang gamot nga pala, nakalimutan ko. Nasusuka ako kapag hindi ako nakainom ng gamot bago pa man ang aming flight.
Inabutan ako ni Suki ng isang basong tubig nang makalabas ako ng CR. Gideon is smoking outside.
"Should I prepare dinner, nee-san?" tanong niya sa akin.
Tumango ako at muling binalingan si Sierra. "Let's talk?" anyaya ko sa kaniya.
She nodded her head. Kahit hilong-hilo ay sinundan ko pa rin siya sa loob ng aking kwarto upang makapag-usap kami nang maayos.
I'm really tired from my flight but I could not put the misery of not knowing where Sierra went any longer.
---
The next few days in Japan was horrible. I kept on getting in and out of flu. Nanghihina ang katawan ko. I called Leon last night and told him where I am. He's clearly upset but at least he pretended to be fine with it.
"Ayos ka lang ba talaga? Baka gusto mong magpatingin nalang sa doktor?" tanong sa akin ni Sierra habang inihahanda ang green tea sa lamesa.
"I'm fine." Labas sa ilong kong sagot sa kaniya. Nang matapos kaming mag-agahan ay bumalik ako sa aking kwarto at binuksan ang aking laptop. Leon wanted to have a video call with me. Para na rin makapag-usap kami nang maayos.
Nang mag-online ako ay naghintay muna ako nang ilang minute para ayusin ang sarili ko. Sobrang putla na ng aking mga labi at nahihilo ulit ako.
I was about to type Leon's name on the search bar when a tab suddenly appeared on my screen.
Christian Sage Monterio calling...
Muntik ko nang maibato ang aking laptop sa sobrang gulat. I stared at the screen wide-eyed, not knowing what to do. Kabadong-kabado ako habang pinagmamasdan ang screen. My fingers are trembling. Hinayaan ko lamang iyong magring nang magring. When the call died, I grabbed the mouse and accidentally clicked the answer button when he called again.
"Shit!"
Sage's face appeared on the screen. Medyo humaba ang kaniyang buhok at nakapanghalumbaba siya sa harap ng screen. His eyes went wide when he saw me but before he could even open his mouth, I close the lid of my laptop and clutched my chest. Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko.
Does he know that I am here? What does he want from me this time?
I lay on my futon thinking about the man I left in the Philippines. This is a good decision, for now. Kailangan muna naming dalawa ng panahon ni Sage para pag-isipan ang lahat ng mga nangyari. This is just too much for me.
Swallowing hard, I turned sideways and hugged my knees to my chest. Nararamdaman ko ang unti-unting pag-init ng aking katawan kahit na malamig naman ang panahon. Sumisikip din ang aking dibdib at sumasakit ang ulo. I wanted to puke again but I don't have the energy to go to the CR and empty my stomach. Ipinikit ko na lamang ang aking mga mata at pinilit na matulog.
---
"Mallory?"
I quickly flushed the toilet and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand when I heard Gideon's voice. He hesitantly approached me and offered me a towel.
"Are you okay?"
Iniling ko ang aking ulo. "My head feels like it's going to explode." Pag-amin ko sa kaniya.
Napapantastikuhan akong tiningnan ni Gideon. "You've been throwing up for the past few days. And it's only . . ." he glanced at his wrist watch. "—4 in the morning. Aren't you going to visit your doctor already?"
I sighed and leaned against the doorway, trying to calm myself. Nanghihina na ako sa maya't-mayang pagsusuka at pagsakit ng aking ulo.
"Mallory . . ." seryoso akong tiningnan ni Gideon.
"What?" I asked weakly.
"Mallory, are you pregnant?"
His question made me froze on the spot.