Monasterio Series #6: Trapped in Her Arms

Kabanata 67

Kabanata 67

Hindi ako sigurado kung tama bang ang sarili kong ina ang nakikita ko sa mga sandaling ito. Ilang taon lang ba ang nakalipas? Apat? Lima? Hindi pa ganoon katagal pero bakit ganito na ang itsura niya?

Why is she even riding in a wheel chair? Why does she look pale and weak? Payat na payat na rin siya at may suot na scarf sa ulo na tila ba wala na siyang buhok.

Why does she look sicked right now?

Hindi pa kaagad ako nakagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko sa kabila ng paninitig sa akin ni Mommy. I can't also believe that she's genuinely smiling at me.

Nilingon ko si Nero. He was also looking at my mother. Wala akong makitang galit o ano man sa mga mata niya. The way he looked at her was laced with respect... with understanding... with forgiveness.

Nero glanced at me. He held my hand, his thumb caressing the back of it in a slow manner as if he's trying to comfort me that way.

Huminga ako nang malalim saka binalikan ng tingin si Mommy. She was still staring at me. Kinuha ko ang pagkakataon na 'yon para magsimula nang humakbang habang hawak ang kamay ni Nero.

She was watching us as we got nearer to her. And as I got the chance to see her closer, I noticed the lines beside her eyes that made her look older... but still pretty.

"M-Mommy..." I whispered while standing in front of her.

Matipid siyang ngumiti, wala na ang galit ng kahapon na siyang palaisipan para sa akin.

"Seraphine..." tawag niya pabalik, ang boses ay malumanay at tila nanghihina. "It's nice to see you a-again."

Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot. Bumitaw ako mula sa pagkakahawak ni Nero at lumuhod sa harapan ni Mommy. I bore my eyes into her hands. Wala ni isang alahas ang naroon, malayo sa nakasanayan ko simula pa pagkabata. I remember seeing her throughout my existence wearing expensive jewelries and branded clothes.

Today is different.

I tried to hold her hand. Nag alangan pa ako nung una dahil inisip kong bigla niyang tabigin ang kamay ko palayo sa kaniya.

But then... it didn't happen. She let me hold her hand... like how I have always wanted to happen before.

"What happened to you, Mommy?" I asked as soon as I raised my eyes to her.

Natawa siya. "Karma, I guess."

Tumingin siya sa gawi ni Nero nasa likod ko. Ang ngiti niya ay nauwi sa malungkot na pagtitig sa kaniya.

"I'm happy to see you two being with each other again, Reon. After of what I did to you and to your family, masaya akong hindi mo sinukan si Isha. I am beyond grateful that you fulfilled your promise to me."

"Promise? What promise?" I asked while stealing glances from them.

Walang sumagot sa kanilang dalawa. Sa halip ay naramdaman ko ang paghaplos ni Nero sa balikat ko. Tinitigan ko si Mommy. She brought her hand to my cheek and caressed it gently.

"I missed you," she whispered, her voice near to almost cracking. "You have no idea how bad I am missing my only daughter."

Naguguluhan man sa mga salitang binibitawan niya... at sa sitwasyon na mayroon siya ngayon, hindi ko pa rin naiwasan ang makaramdam ng kirot sa puso ko matapos niya sabihin 'yon.

I took her hand and kissed it. Pigil na pigil ang emosyon ko, pursigidong malaman ang mga pangyayari sa kaniya sa mga nakalipas na taon lalo pa at muli ko siyang nakita sa ganitong ayos.

"Can we go to that spot? I think it's better to have our conversation happened there instead of here."

Nilingon ko ang lugar na sinasabi Mommy. Mayroon isang malaking puno na naroon, may bench sa gitna at tila pahingahan. Nang ibalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya ay tumango ako saka tumayo. I was about to go behind her wheel chair and pull her when Nero held it first.