Apple Pie woke up confused and disoriented. Ito yung tipo ng gising na hindi dahan-dahan kundi parang isang pitik lamang at viola, she's awake. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and started assessing her surroundings.
The room was quiet familiar yet foreign to her eyes. Sa una ay hindi pa niya matandaan kung nasaan siya ngayon ngunit unti-unting bumalik ang ala-ala niya noong bumisita sila kina Elisa. Doon na nag-click sa isipan niya na nasa bahay siya nina Xav.
She grabbed her aching head while she was slowly sitting up. She swore she heard her bones crack while doing that. Para bang ang tagal niyang hindi nakagalaw at ngayon ang unang inat ng kaniyang katawan sa mahabang panahon. Nang maayos na siyang nakaupo ay napatingin-tingin naman siya sa paligid.
It was late afternoon, that's for sure. She can clearly see the reflection of the orange hue from the departing sun. Rinig rin niya ang maingay na huni ng mga kuliglig sa labas. Malawak ang kwarto na kinalalagyan niya ngayon at ang lalaki ng mga bintana. For sure, she was able to get enough sun while sleeping here.
Gigama man kong tanom sa mga buang.
Kahit na nananakit pa ang katawan ay sinikap niyang makatayo mula sa kama. Ewan ba niya pero para bang sawang-sawa na ang katawan niya doon. She carefully put on her slippers and was about to slowly walk towards the door but her legs gave way and she fell on the floor. Buti na lang at mabilis niyang naitukod ang kamay upang masalo ang katawan niya.
"Aray . . ." mahinang daing niya. Hindi niya maintindihan ngunit para bang pagod na pagod ang katawan niya ngayon. Kagagaling pa naman niya dapat sa tulog. She remain seated on the floor for a few minutes before trying to get up again. Fortunately, her body was a little bit cooperative right now and she was able to walk and reach the bedroom door.
Mahina niyang pinihit iyon at lumabas ng kwarto. The familiar hallway of Xav's mansion greeted her. Tama nga ang hinala niya na nasa bahay siya ng lalakeng iyon. Naguguluhan siyang naglakad papunta sa may hagdanan ng mansyon habang napapaisip kung nasaan ba ang mga tao sa bahay na ito. She scratched her head while walking down the stairway, looking all around, confused as hell because no one was there.
"Nasa labas ba silang lahat?" tanong niya sa sarili. She scanned the whole room for the second time and even peered inside the kitchen, just to make sure that nobody was there. Nagtataka siyang naglakad papunta sa main door at nagdesisyong i-check ang labas.
She opened the front door and walked out, covering her eyes because the setting sun was slightly blinding. Nilingon niya ang paligid at nakitang wala ring mga tao doon. She really was about to give up, but not until she heard some noises coming from the backyard. Bigla niyang natandaan na may garden area nga pala si Xav sa parteng iyon. Kunot-noo siyang naglakad papunta doon at ang kaninang mga bulong na narinig niya ay lumakas hanggang sa malinaw na niyang naririnig kung sino ang mga nag-uusap.
It was all of them, the three brothers, Elisa and Pedro. They were all talking at once except for Kuya Zy, but then they suddenly went silent when she walked towards them and asked, "May pagkain ba kayo?" Sabay-sabay silang napalingon sa kaniya at ang mga expressions ng mga ito ay para bang nakakita ng multo. Kinusot-kusot niya ang mga mata na parang bata bago muling nagsalita, "Nagugutom ako."
Everyone was still in shock except for Yohan who recovered much faster than the others. Tila naiiyak itong tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo nito at mabilis na naglakad papunta sa kaniya. He unhesitantly scooped her in his arms and hugged her so tightly.
"Oh!" gulat niyang usal dahil sa ginawa nito. Naguguluhan naman siyang napalingon sa mga taong nanonood sa kanila. She awkwardly laughed while trying to pry Yohan's arms wrapped around her. "Ano ba . . . OA nito ah."
BINABASA MO ANG
My Everything In His Past (2nd Book of 'In His Past' Series)
Historical Fiction"I wish I realized much sooner how important you are, my wife, my president, my everything."
