The Second Woman

Chapter 39

GUIDEON

She looked at me with eyes filled with surprise. Nanlalaki ang mga mata niya na tila ba'y nakakita siya ng multo. Siya ang naunang bumasag sa aming titigan.

"G-guideon? What are you doing here? How did you find me?" Nakita ko siyang lumunok.

Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko sa kanya. What? Am I suppose to say 'Hi!'? After almost two years ay ganon nalang?

I still can't believe my own eyes. I can't believe that she's here, in front of me. Alive. Akala ko nananaginip lang ako, o kaya naman ay imahinasyon ko lang ang lahat ng ito. But she's really here. I can see her clearly, I can hear her breathe. I can feel the warmth of her body in this cold, cold, place.

"You.. You're alive?" Parang naestatwa ako bigla sa kinatatayuan ko. Gusto ko siyang lapitan pero hindi ko magawa.

I saw her scoffed. She looked irritated. Now I'm convinced that she's alive.

"Of course, I am! What? You already consider me dead?" She laughed sarcastically.

I have so many questions in my mind right now, but I felt like it's not the right time to talk about it. Ilang beses akong pumikit ng mariin at dumilat muli ngunit ganoon pa rin ang nakikita ko. Nasa harap ko pa din siya.

She was sitting on the floor, she looked like she had been in here for a long time. Nagawi ang paningin ko sa kanyang paa at agad kong napagtanto na iyon ang problema niya. Her right ankle is swollen. Nagbabadya na iyong mag pasa.

"What happened to you?" Naglakad ako palapit sa kanya.

"I was picking vegetables and I heared a noise coming from here. Sinubukan kong buksan ang ilaw pero nalaglag ako. I think I sprained my ankle." Tinuro niya ang upuan na marahil ay pinag akyatan niya kanina.

Tumingala ako at nakita ang switch ng ilaw na sana ay aabutin niya. Tumingkayad ako para ako na ang mag bukas ng ilaw. Finally, I can see her clear.

Ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na titigan siya. Her hair is short, she had never looked so simple and gorgeous. Malayo sa dating Veronica na kilala ko. But she's still the same fierce woman though.

"What are you doing here?" Tumingala siya sa akin. Nakakunot ang kanyang noo.

I leaned down to her.

"I should be the one asking you that. What are you doing here, Veronica?" I said. My voice was firm. I was being careful because I don't want to scare her off.

"This is where I live. This has been my home for the past year." Simpleng sagot niya sa akin.

Sinubukan kong tingnan ang kanyang paa. I performed basic first aid. She needs to see a doctor but it's raining so hard outside. Sa tingin ko ay makakapag hintay naman iyon. Maayos naman ang pagkakalagay ko ng pressure sa paa niya.

"So what you're telling me is, you're alive? You faked your own death?" Hindi ko na maiwasang magtanong pa.

Nakita ko kaagad na nalukot ang kanyang mukha bago siya bumunghalit ng tawa. Naiiling akong bumuntong hininga upang maupo at sumandal sa pader malapit sa kanya.