It takes a little while for Kuya Maddox to recover. For the past eight months, he could only recall what happened to Miki, his immediate family, and some of his childhood memories. His vision still shows no signs of improvement.
“Ang tahimik mo yata, Achie?”
“Huh?” mabilis kong baling sa inaakay.
His hand is linked on my right arm as we grace their patio towards the pool.
Tuwing umaga ay rito ko dinadala si Kuya Maddox para maglakad-lakad, maarawan, at makalanghap ng sariwang hangin.
“What are you thinking? May problema ba?” He sounded concerned now.
“Wala! Wala, Kuya Maddox. I’m just soaking in the morning sun. Can you feel it? It’s warm. Tumatama pa sa’yo oh…” I tap his arm and his cheek where the rays sit in.
“Does it look too pretty? It makes you speechless?”
Umangat ang kamay niya at parang dinama ang sinag ng araw. His head stretches toward the rays and it made me a little sad.
We stopped walking. Pinihit ko siya sa mga balikat para iharap sa sumisikat na araw. I winced but Kuya Maddox’s expression is still the same. Hindi nasisilaw. Hindi nakikita ang ganda ng araw.
I nudged him on his elbows and described what surrounds us.
“The sky is too bright. Marami ang ulap. The sun’s rays are directed towards us because of the trees here in your yard. Sumisingit sila sa mga sanga… sa mga espasyo ng mga dahon… some birds flew,” natawa ako dahil sa nakikita sa malayo.
“Si Kuya Obeng ay kumakaway sa atin, Kuya,” inangat ko ang kamay niya kasabay ng akin at sinuklian si Kuya Obeng.
I’m still giggling but Kuya Maddox remains silent.
“What more can you see, Achie?”
Napapikit-pikit ako at parang nanuyo ang lalamunan. He looks dejected and it hurts me too. Ibinaba ko na ang kamay niya.
I struggle a lot about what to say every time he asks me questions. Pero ngayon ay alam ko na agad ang sagot.
“Your eyes…” kumunot ang noo niya. “It reminds me of honey. The one I poured on our pancakes. It shines and it looks golden, Kuya. The sunlight is hitting your eyes and it's pretty.”
His mouth flew slightly open. I didn’t tear my gaze away from his orbs. Parang hinahatak ako.
The silence grew between us until I pulled him away from our spot. Inakay ko muli siya at inupo sa bench malapit sa pool. His usual sitting place.
Bumukas-sara ang bibig ko pero walang mailabas na mga salita. Idinantay ni Kuya Maddox ang mga siko niya sa kanyang hita at pinagsiklop ang mga palad. He’s definitely thinking of something else.
Marahan ako nakiupo rin sa bench at inikot ang tingin sa paligid. Just like us, the water in the pool ahead of us is so still.
“Chocolate fountain.”
“Kuya?”
“That… reminds me of your hair. It flows like one. It’s the same color.”
Walang kaabog-abog akong napatayo. Halos malaglag ang panga ko at lumapit kay Kuya Maddox. His brows are almost in a single line.
“It’s the same color, Achie. It’s the same,” ulit-ulit niyang bulong.
I gasped so loudly while nodding my head. Lumuhod ako sa harap niya at kinuha ang mga kamay niya. He looks confused and is ready to cry.
“Ano pa? Kuya Maddox? You c-can remember me now?”
“Achie,” tawag niya at umiling-iling. “You’re dressed in black. You’re h-holding a microphone and…”
“And?”
A tear drops on his eye. Sumunod na rin ang akin. Mariin siyang pumikit at mukhang pilit inaalala ang kung ano.
“It’s okay. That would be fine, Kuya Maddox. It’s okay… baka sumakit pa ang ulo mo,” alo ko at pinisil-pisil na ang kamay niya para patigilin. “That’s okay for now.”
“Achie,” he called again almost to himself. “I can’t… I can’t see y-your eyes because of your hair.”
I started crying louder when Kuya Maddox lifted his hands and reached my face.
“It’s concealing your eyes so I don’t know if you’re crying… but, you don’t sound like you’re crying. Everyone e-else is crying…”
Lumabi ako at lumakas ang paghikbi. His hand traces my jaw, my cheek, and reaches my bangs which he’s talking about.
Bumilog ang mga mata niya at parang nakumpirma ang naalala.
“I’m right? I’m r-right? That’s you, Achie? That’s you!”
“Ano’ng nangyayari, Achie?!”
Kuya Maddox pulled me towards him. Sa balikat niya ako tuluyang nag-iiyak at walang maisagot kay Manang. Halos lahat ng tao sa bahay ay dinaluhan kami ro’n at natataranta.
“What’s happening? Maddox?! Dox!” si Tita Chona naman ang humahangos.
Napaupo na ako at kumalas kay Kuya Maddox. Tita Chona looked at me with her eyes so scared. I can’t form my words right now.
“I c-can remember Achie now, Mom. I know her… and I can remember her! I know Achie!”
“What? Really? Manang! Manang, call his Doctor, please! Maddox! Oh my God, my son! Thank you, Jesus!”
Hindi kami halos napakali sa mga araw na iyon at sa mga sumunod pa.
Kuya Maddox started gaining his memories every now and then. Ang doctor niya ay araw-araw ang pagbisita sa mansion. Tita Chona’s always inside her son’s room. Lalabas lang kapag may ibabalitang maganda muli sa buong bahay.
“Ma, naaala na ako ni Kuya Maddox! He can describe me now so well! Pati ang mga kasama nila sa bahay ay kaya na niyang pangalanan!”
I jumped in glee as the words flew from my mouth continuously. Hinatak ko si Mama papasok ng bahay para ikuwento ang nangyayari sa bahay ng mga Peñaloza.
Nagpaalam ako kay Tita Chona na uuwi ngayon para ibalita rin kina Mama ang patungkol kay Kuya Maddox.
“He’s doing so well now. Hindi na rin daw gaanong masakit ang ulo. Kapag pinipilit niya pa ay ro’n na lang, Ma, kaya pinapatulog na lang siya ni Tita Chona,” I stopped and my brows furrowed together.
“Ma? May problema ba?”
Umiling siya at pilit ngumiti. “Magandang balita iyan, Achie. Natutuwa naman ako kung ganoon.”
“Ma,” I called again. Bumagsak ang mga balikat niya at napasapo sa noo. “Ma? Bakit?”
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Seen There, Done That (Sensara Series 1)
RomanceThe thing about Kashina Eve Natividad is you'll never see her struggling. People though, don't realize that just because she appears strong, quiet, and calm doesn't mean she doesn't have much to say. She'll never be your favorite sunshines or sunri...
