A Love To Remember

Chapter 4: Bond

Chiara

I was silent the entire ride although I admit, I'm really curious to ask Tita Lea about Sabel.

Why am I thinking about it anyway? Ano naman ang pakialam ko sa Sabel na iyan? Why do I even make a big deal about it?

Just get back to your senses, Chiara!

I tried to shrug my thoughts away and think about other stuff instead pero, hindi talaga maalis sa isipan ko ang tungkol kay Sabel.

I secretly took a glance at Tita, diretso lang ang tingin niya sa daan. Well, it's now or never, Chiara! Go ask her.

I heaved a deep breath first before throwing her a question, "Tita, can I ask you something?" paninimula ko.

Tumingin siya sa'kin at ngumiti bago niya ibinalik muli ang tingin niya sa daan.

"Sure. About what?"

"I hope you don't get offended," paninimula ko, "Pero, sino po si Sabel?" dagdag na tanong ko and the moment I said that, biglang nawala ang ngiti sa labi niya at tila ba napalitan ito ng lungkot.

Okay, something is not right. Hindi nakasagot si Tita Lea, napakamot naman ako ng ulo ko. It's like I triggered a memory by asking that question, which is rude of me now that I figured it out.

"Sorry Tita for asking you that, nakita ko lang po kasi ang charm bracelet na nakasabit d'yan kaya nagtaka ako kung sino si Sabel. Okay lang naman po kung huwag niyo nang sagutin ang tanong ko, I understand naman po." I explained kahit na labag sa loob ko.

Gusto ko mang alamin kung sino si Sabel, huwag na lang at mukhang na-offend pa si Tita Lea.

I'm not really the type of person na babawiin pa ang mga nasabi niya but, guess what? I just did.

Tita Lea flashed a small smile, a pale and a bitter one. Hindi kagaya noong iba niyang mga ngiti na puno ng sincerity.

What's with Sabel? Bakit parang ang laki talaga ng impact niya sa buhay ni Tita Lea?

"You really want to know her?" tanong niya, kaagad naman akong tumango.

"Soon, sumama ka sa'kin. We'll visit her. Huwag muna ngayon because I want to spend this day with you." she said at feeling ko, namula ang buong mukha ko dahil doon.

What an honor. I'm flattered, really.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at natameme ako sa mga pinagsasabi niya. Bakit ba feeling ko, napaka-special ko tuwing kasama ko siya?

Maybe, sa kanya ko lang nakita ang malasakit para sa sarili ko na matagal ko ng gustong maramdaman.

Napangiti ako ng mapakla as I faced the car's window instead. My Dad, he's always too busy doing his job and other paraphernalias, ni hindi nga niya ako maatupag.

Hindi naman siya ganyan dati, eh. When I was 11 and below? Super close namin, I'm a certified Daddy's girl, ika nga nila. Spoiled ako sa kanya, sobra.

But, everything changed. Ewan ko kung bakit at paano pero isang araw, nagising na lang ako, tila nagbago na ang ihip ng hangin. Nagbago na ang lahat.

Dad became a workaholic, maaga siyang dadating, gabi siya uuwi. Kahit weekends at dapat family time namin, may trabaho siyang inaatupag.

I can't help not to feel bad about it. There's one time nga na may parangal kami sa school ko and I was one of the star students of the month, I was waiting for him to come pero ni anino niya, hindi dumating. He promised me that he will come but he didn't. Iyak ako nang iyak noon, buti na lang at nandoon sina Tita Kate upang patahanin ako.