ALEXIS POV
Lumabas ako ng elevator nang tahimik kasabayan si Ali na may mga sinasabi sa kaniyang sarili pero hindi ko rin naman maintindihan.
Lumulutang ang isip ko dahil kay Starlette na si Glaiziel ang kinikilalang ina. Could it be that she had the same connection with her? Or was she just used to Gly’s presence since the time she stood up as her mother when Ali was missing?
If it’s true then why does she still claim that she’s Glaiziel? What’s the purpose? Will Ali keep on saying that she’s Glaiziel when it comes to her daughter? Kung gusto niyang makasama ang anak niya ay magpapakatotoo siya sa amin.
Alam ko ring noon pa gusto ni Glaiziel na mapasakaniya si Starlette kaya hindi rin niya itatangging siya ang nanay nito.
The hell this is, I’m tired of puzzling things up and down and left and right, why can’t my life just go back to normal? I’ve said it before, I felt she was Ali but she denied it, and now Starlette felt that she was her mother but still, she didn’t tell me she’s Ali that has rights to her daughter.
Nakapasok na kaming dalawa sa kuwarto hinubad ko ang black suit ko at nagtungo sa closet upang kumuha ng sando at squarepants na pamalit.
“Honey, I think we should go out of this town you, Starlette, me, so that my daughter will not see my sister and think that she’s her mother,” ani ni Ali sa mababang boses na ikinalingon ko sa kaniya sabay sara ng cabinet. Nakaupo siya sa couch at nakakuba na animo’y may mabigat na pasanin. “Tama kaya ito? Ayaw ko rin namang lumungkot si Starlette e kaso nasasaktan akong iba na naman ang nanay niya para sa kaniya, hayst! Kailan kaya matatapos itong family saga na ito at maging masaya na tayong lahat.”
I walked to the bed and climbed up to it, “Let us rest our minds first, my head can’t think well yet because of the jetlag.” malalim kong saad at nahiga na.
Tumayo naman siya, “Pero yung ideyang ikaw, ako, at si Starlette na magbabakasyon, does it sound good for you?” tanong niya habang naglalakad patungo sa akin at naupo sa tabi ng higaan.
“Anything that makes you and my daughter happy, but...how about Renz? Bakit hindi siya kasama?” mapagtaka kong tanong at pinagmasdan ang naguguluhan niyang ekspresyon.
I asked because I know Ali always includes Renz in everything about family especially outing, kahit pa nonchalant ang batang iyon sa kaniya, mahal na mahal niya pa rin iyon at sa palagay ko’y unti-unti na rin namang nagbabalik-loob yung bata sa kaniya—aywan ko lamang ngayong nawala siya nang napakatagal, iisipin na naman ni Rihz na wala itong pakialam sa kanya.
“H-huh? Who’s Renz?” she held her head trying to squeeze the information in. “H-hindi ko siya maalala, malapit ba siya sa akin? Gosh, I must be a terrible person to have forgotten.”
My quick reaction was to sit up and hold her forearm, “Yes, you are.” I didn’t know why I said that to her before I could even think about it, but I truly felt bad for Renz if Ali...? I can’t even decipher my lost of connection with her, she’s been really off lately. “You remember Ginang Marites but you forgot Renz who’s more closer to you?”
Marahas niyang binawi ang bisig niya, “Excuse me? It’s selective amnesia for a reason, why are you hurting me by indirectly saying that it’s my fault?! Oo, I’m a terrible person I know, but I thought you understand me, yet now it clearly says no. Hindi ko ginustong ma-aksidente at makalimutan ang mga mahal ko sa buhay!” singhal niya na animo’y maiiyak pero hindi ko man lang makita sa mga mata niya.
“I’m sorry, I’m getting you a psychiatrist tomorrow to help you regain all of your memory, no objections, I can’t help you with that anymore and I seemed to be harsh, final decision. Matulog na muna tayo ngayon.” I lied down again and covered half of my body with blanket.
