ML Story (iM eLove)

43

"W-What do you m-mean?" nauutal kong tanong. Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa television.

"You can stay here as long as you want. Just let me sleep here in a while" hindi ko alam kung seryoso ba siya sa sinasabi niya.

"I'll move out. Just give me some time" I said with conviction. It was just right for me to move out right? To have my own place.

Hindi siya sumagot at nagkibit balikat nalang. I was about to stood up when my phone rang. Napakunot nuo pa ako ng makita ang pangalan ni kuya sa screen.

"Kuya"

[We need to go home tomorrow!] pilit niyang pagpapakalma sa boses niya kahit naulinigan ko ang bahagyang pagkataranta.

"W-why? May nangyari ba?" kinakabahang tanong ko.

[Nahospital si Mama..] mahinang sagot niya. Worry and panicked consumed me. Nataranta ako. Tumingin ako sa wall clock. It's 9:30 in the evening.

"Anong nangyari? Bakit bukas pa?! Can't we go home now? Saang hospital?!" natataranta kong suggest sa kanya.

"What happened?" tanong ni Bryan. Pero mas iniisip ko ang kalagayan ni Mama. Nagiguilty rin ako dahil lagi niya akong pinapauwi ngunit madalas ay abala ako sa trabaho.

[Nahimatay siya kanina. They're still waiting for the result though. At Delikadong umuwi ngayon Bri. Gabing gabi na. I'll fetch you tomorrow okay? Calm down..]

"Kuya" naiiyak kong tawag sa kanya.

[Calm down Bri. Maaga tayo bukas okay? I'll call them again later for the result. I'll update you] tamango ako kahit hindi niya naman ako nakikita.

Nagiguilty ako. Medyo may katandaan na ang parents namin. Si Mama at si Manang Rosie nalang ang natitira sa bahay. We insisted her to take a break but she just love her work so much. My mother was always telling us that it made her heart full when she saw hardworking students.

Yung tipong makikita niya na maging successful yung mga nagdaan estudyante niya. She's very friendly and approachable too. She's soft especially to those students that falls short of money but still trying so hard to reach their dreams. Marami rami na rin siya naging scholar. Yung iba ay successful na. And she was so happy and proud of them.

Nakikita ko namang mahal siya ng mga estudiyante at mga alumni ng school pati parents. Maybe she seek for her children full attention and presence, that both me and my brother failed to gave when we chose to study in Manila, and actually found them in her students.

"Hey!" Bryan called my attention. Nakatulala na pala ako.

I swallowed the lump on my throat. And hid my face. Naiiyak na pala ako. Did I really be good daughter just like I always thought? I made them proud by reaching my dream but did I actually fulfilled the responsibility of being their daughter? What's the procedure of being one anyway? Hindi ko alam.

Tumayo ako at nagmamadaling umakyat ng kwarto. Narinig kung tinawag ako ni Bryan ngunit hindi ko siya pinansin.

That night I dozed off to sleep thinking my mother's condition. Nakapag ayos narin ako ng gamit ko.

4:30 am ay sinundo na ako ni Kuya. He let me sleep the entire ride. May araw na ng makarating kami sa hospital. She's already awake. She welcome us with a weak smile and warm hug.