Chapter 42: The Birth of the Chosen Kataha

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"Diana

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"Diana.." Clara knocked on the door of one of the guest rooms in their house, where her younger sister locked herself up the moment the Kataha gathering ended. "Mahigit dalawang oras ka na diyan. Please, open the door. Baka malaman nina Papa at ni Ate Lucille na nagkulong ka."

Nag-aalala na ang dalaga sapagkat alam nito ang labis na takot na nararamdaman ng kapatid sa mga panahong iyon, at alam rin niyang hindi magiging maganda ang reaksyon ng kanilang mga magulang sa oras na malaman nilang labag sa loob ni Diana ang lahat.

After all, the birth of the chosen Kataha was what everyone in their kind was fervently waiting for, so their parents expected them to feel the same.

"Just leave me alone!" She heard Diana answer, crying. "Huwag niyo muna akong kausapin ngayon. Please!" Halo-halo ang emosyon sa boses nito - galit, pighati, at matinding takot.

Isinandal ni Clara ang ulo sa pinto at nagpakawala ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga. She too, was terribly heartbroken for her sister. Kung siya lamang ang masusunod ay aakuin na nito lahat ng nadarama ng kapatid. Heck, she would volunteer to be the mother of the chosen Kataha if she could, if only to take away the devastation of her dearest Diana.

"Diana, I may not fully know how horrible you are feeling right now." Clara finally surrendered. She gently spoke to her sister through the wooden door. "But always know na nandito si ate, hindi kita pababayaan. We'll get through this together. I promise."

Wala siyang sagot na nakuha mula sa kapatid, and she knew better than to force her sister out of the room. Nagpasya siyang umalis sa kinatatayuan at bigyan na lamang muna si Diana ng panahon upang mapagisa at makapagisip.

Pabalik na siya sa kanilang silid nang makasalubong niya sa pasilyo si Lucille.

"Ate Lucille." Clara whispered to her sister. She was quite taken aback by the cold glare given to her. "It's about Diana.."

"Oh, what about her?" Lucille raised an eyebrow at her which confused Clara.

"She's so scared." Malungkot niyang sagot sa nakatatandang kapatid. "Kinulong niya ang sarili niya dun sa guest room natin sa dulo. I don't know how to comfort her."

"You don't know how?" Lucille asked, as if mocking her. "Kayo ang magkasama sa Amerika for seven years, at sa akin mo itatanong kung paano siya aaluin?!" Tumataas na ang boses ni Lucille na siyang ikinagulo ng isip ng kapatid.

"A-ate.." Clara stuttered. "W-what's your problem?! Anong bang ikinagagalit mo diyan?"

The eldest Hontiveros sister scoffed. "Ako, galit? You must be imagining things, Clara." She laughed sarcastically.

Lucille touched her sister's cheek and looked at her intently. "Wala akong ikinagagalit, Clara. Hayaan mo, aalagaan natin si Diana." Her snake-like eyes pierced through Clara, at hindi malaman ng huli kung bakit tila kinakabahan siya sa mga sinabi ng kanyang ate.

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