The White in her Black

Chapter 26

Agad kong tinakpan ang mukha gamit ang dalawang mga palad. Lumakas ang aking hikbi bago makadama ng pagkalunod dahil sa mga emosyon na bumubuhos sa akin mula sa kaibuturan ng aking mga laman.

I couldn't look at Francesca who was then hugging me, crying with the same intensity as I am. Her sobs was too loud to the point that I got so worried. I was thinking about how she would feel with so much emotion, thinking that she won't be able to handle it with her asthma.

Ganoon na lamang ang gulat ko nang alisin ko ang mga palad at madatnan ang kaibigang si Criza na gising na at umiiyak rin. Kabaliktaran 'yon ng natutulog na si Gabriella, mahimbing na mahimbing ang pagpapahinga habang bahagya pang nakabukas ang bibig, hindi nagdidikit ang mga labi.

Criza immediately embraced me. Her arms... oh, I missed them so. Payat at manipis na manipis ang kanyang mukha. Katulad ko, parang hindi maayos ang naging buhay ni Criza.

I missed her but I got so worried. Agad akong kumalas sa aming yakap upang haplusin ang kanyang mga pisngi. Ang maamo at malungkot niyang mukha, sinasakop ngayon ng aking mga palad. Salo-salo ko ang kanyang buong mukha habang pinapanood ang mga luha niyang sunod-sunod ang pagtulo.

"I missed you so much, love. I missed you so much..." tuloy tuloy kasama ang kanyang mga hikbi, pumikit siya at tuluyang humagulgol nang muling dumilat.

Criza hugged me tightly as if she's been waiting for an opportunity to do so. Humagulgol ako nang napakalakas noong siya na ang yumakap sa akin. Her face was resting on my neck. I can feel her teardrops rolling down my body. Pilit ko siyang pinapakalma kahit pa maging ako ay nahihirapan din.

Tuluyan ko nang hindi kinaya ang mga bagay bagay nang muling umangat ang tingin ni Criza sa akin.

"I'm so sorry, mahal ko... I'm so sorry..." Humihikbi at mahina niyang sabi. Mukhang maging siya ay nahihirapan din na tanggapin ang nangyari.

Her cries made me feel like it wasn't just me who went through something so bad.

"I should've been there for you. You should've had me to share your sorrows with... I'm so sorry," Waves of emotions came through. Lalo lamang akong naiyak nang yumakap siya at humalik sa akin banda sa parteng malapit sa tainga. "I'm sorry, forgive me..." Paulit ulit niya 'yong naging bulong.

Hindi niya naman kasalanan ang nangyari sa akin. Lalong lalo na ang naging desisyon ko. I don't understand why I had to hear her apologies. At kahit pa anong pag alo ang gawin ko sa kanya, hindi niya magawang tumahan.

Criza cried so much that Gabriella woke up from her deep sleep. She looked too shocked upon seeing me. Unlike the two, Gabriella didn't cry. She looked strong, like her usual self. She looked amazed by seeing how I try to console Criza who wouldn't stop crying.

"Sush, Criza, I'm okay..." Mahina kong sabi nang kumalma.

Napatingin ako kay Francesca nang bumangon siya at pumwesto sa gilid ng kama. Kung saaan nakaupo si Criza paharap sa akin.

Hinatak ni Francesca si Criza at agad na niyakap. "Hush now, please, Madison may not be able to absorb too much emotion. Let's control ourselves..." Mahina at marahang sabi ni Francesca. I have never seen Criza being babied by anyone. Seeing how Francesca comforts her made me realize that I have been gone for so long.

Unti-unti, tumahan at tumahimik si Criza. Her face was as red as a tomato. Her eyes are puffy and her breathing are deep.

Agad na nalipat ang atensyon ko kay Catherine nang pumasok siyang may hawak na dalawang baso. She immediately went to Criza and handed her a glass of water.