It's Me

I remained dumfounded and unable to move.

The same feeling a years ago come back on my system again.

Umandar na ang kotse papaalis, pero nakatatak parin sa isip ko ang simbolong iyon.

"Shit! Makakatakas ang isang 'yun!"
Tumakbo agad si tita Elle, pagkasabi nun.

Namalayan ko nalang na ini-istart na niya ang kanyang kotse, at saka lang ako natauhan.

'I have to go!'

Susunod na sana ako ngunit hinawakan ni daddy ang braso ko.

"Amber!"

Napatingin ako kay dad saka kay mommy. My emotions mixed with worry, fear, shock and wrath.

'Mommy...'

"Please anak, get the car!"
Sabi nito.

"Please Amber, huwag ngayon. Huwag kang magpadala sa emosyon mo."
Mahinahong sabi ni dad.

Mangyayari na naman ba ang nangyari noon?

Inutusan naman agad-agad ni daddy ang mga katulong na tumawag ng pulis at ambulansya para sa sugatang tauhan namin.

He carried mom and run fast.
Nadatnan naming nakahiga at duguan ang mga guards sa labas.

Dad throw the car key to me and I immediately get it.

"I allow you to drive my car. Kahit alam kong kaskasera kang driver."
Napapangiwing sabi nito sa'kin.

"I'll show you my skills in driving dad. You will not regret it."
I smirked then lead my way.

Let's see..

----------------__

Agad kong niliko ang kotse sa harapan ng hospital. Pagkatapos, biglang inapakan bigla ang break.

SCREEEEEEEECH!!!

Malakas na tunog ng mga tires ng kotse ang umalingawngaw sa paligid.
In less than 2 minutes nakarating agad kami sa hospital.

I glanced at the rear-view mirror.
I got confused because dad didn't move in the backseat. Parang natuod ito sa kinauupuan nito.

"Dad?!"

Ang putla-putla niya. He seems like tensed and outraged.

"You will not ride a car again!! You're grounded!"
Sigaw nito.

"What?!?"
Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

'Ngayon pa talaga?!'

He immediately go outside even if his hands are shaking. Inilalayan ko si mommy and I shouted for help. Dad got panicked when mom's coughing a blood.

"Konting tiis nalang hon, malapit na tayo."
Nagmamakawang sabi ni daddy.

~~~~_ Fast Forward

Me and my dad are currently outside of the operating room, for almost two hours.

I just glanced dad, walking nervously back and fort. Hindi ito mapirmi sa kinatatayuan at parang wala sa sarili na nakasabunot sa buhok niya.

"Please check the CCTV's again, and find out why did they get inside, understand? And then, please pass it to ms. Azure. Okay?
I'll hung up now. Bye."
Sabay baba ng phone ko.

My phone rings again.

Tita Elle is calling....

I immediately swiped the answer button.

"Hello tita?"

"Kumusta na ang mommy mo?"

I sighed.

"Until now, she's is still in the operating room. Hindi pa namin alam ang kalagayan niya, tita."

"Pupunta nako diyan within a minutes, bye."

"Sige, bye."

Natulala lang ako sa kawalan. Ng biglang, tinapik ni daddy ang balikat ko.

"Everything will going to be fine, Amber."
Dad said while giving me an assurance smile.

Imbis na ako ang nagco-comfort kay daddy ngayon. Ay ako pa 'yung pinapalakas niya ng loob.

I smiled back.

"Sige po dad."

And then he stood up.

"Pupunta lang ako ng c.r bantayan mo muna ang mommy mo, okay?"
I just nodded at him.

After a few minutes the door swung open.

"Are you the family of Mrs. Wilson?"
The young doctor said.

"Yes doc, how is she?"
I said.

"She's in a critical condition now. But we successfully get the two bullets in her left lung. But the bad news is, naging malaki ang pinsala sa kanang baga nito. At makina na lang ang sumusuporta sa kanyang paghinga."

Oh my ghad, mom..
Nasapu ko ang bibig ko at agad nangilid ang mga luha sa mata.

"Buti nalang agad siyang nadala dito, kundi-"
He didn't finished what she said and then he look at me, apologizing.

"For now, you don't have to worry. Her condition will going to be stable-"

But I didn't let him finished, 'cause I grab his collar.

"We don't have to worry?? My mother is in a critical condition! Then you will say we don't have to worry?!?"
I shouted. Kita ko din ang pagkagulat sa mga mata nito. And also admiration? Nakatulala lang ito sa akin, habang nakanganga.

Akmang susuntukin ko na sana ito, but dad stopped me.

"Amber, calm down!"
Dad said. Andito na pala siya.

Napasabunot nalang ako sa buhok ko, at napayuko.

"I-im sorry, dad."
I said, and then I sit down.

"I'm so sorry doc, she's just so worried about her mom."
Dad apologized.

"It's okay, Mr. Wilson. I understand."
The doctor said while smiling.

"Okay doc Xio. How about the operations of my wife? Kailan siya magigising?"

"The operation is successful. We will do further tests to check her condition. And for now, Mrs. Wilson is in comatose, and we will just wait for her to wake up."

"Okay doc, thank you."
Dad said, in a sad and low tone.

"Your welcome sir. Huwag po kayong mag-alala. We will pray for Mrs. Wilson's fast recovery. And I'm so sorry Tito, gusto ko po sana kayong makausap, but I have to go now. Excuse me."
They smiled at each other.

When he walk away, dad sit beside me.

"Kilala ko 'yung si Xio, anak ng kumpare ko. Sobrang talino at alam mo bang magna cum laude 'yun? Nagmasteral pa 'yun sa Harvard."
Magiliw na sabi ni dad.

"Who's asking?"
I boringly said.

"Wala. But, he is a nice guy. Gwapo pa, tulad ko."

"Tss! Baka gago."

"Hep! Hep! That is a badword."
Pangangaral pa nito.

"Whatever, dad."

"Kita mo 'yung tingin niya sa'yo kanina? Tinaamaan yata 'yun sa'yo anak! Aba't natulala! Lalo nung hindi ka nakatingin."
Tatawa-tawang sabi ni Dad.

"Alam mo bang d'yan nagsisimula ang lahat?"
Pang-aasar pa nito.

I just roll my eyes, then make face.

"Mukhang nagkakatuwaan kayong mag-ama ah?"

"Tita Elle!"

"Kamusta na si Felice?"
Tanong ni tita kay dad.

"She's in coma right now. She got two shots on her left lung. Kaya kailangan pa nitong i-under go ng iilang test."
Sabi nito na pilit pinapatatag ang boses.

"I hope she will be fine."
Nag-aalalang sabi ni tita.

But I remembered something important, and I glanced at her.

"Dad, can we excuse ourselves? May pag-uusapan lang po kami ni Tita, sa labas."

"Ano naman 'yun? Bakit sa labas pa?"
Nagtatakang tanong nito.

"Ah, tungkol po 'yun sa trabaho ko. May kailangan lang akong kunin sa restaurant ni Tita."
I lied, then glanced at tita Elle.

"Nag-hire na din ako ng mga tauhan para magbantay dito."
Tita said also.

Nakita kong may umaaligid na tauhan ni tita, kanina dito.
Ang ilan pa nga, nagdisguise ng pangdoktor at nurse.

Tumango lang si dad kaya umalis agad kami.

~~~

'Hmm, nagmamadali ya'ta 'yung dalawang 'yun.'
Sa isip-isip ni Fernan, habang nakatingin sa nagmamadaling kapatid at anak nito.

-----------__

"Doon nalang tayo mag-usap sa restaurant ko."
Tita said.

Tumango agad ako at sumakay sa passenger seat. Malapit lang 'yun dito na palagi naming pinupuntahan dati.

When we arrive, her secretary escorted us to her office.
I closed the door and tita Elle immediately open a secret hallway, by pushing the wall and put her thumb to scan her finger prints.

"Azure, confirmed."
The automated voice prompt confirmed.

A blue light blinked.
Bumungad sa'min ang isang mahabang secret passage.

Agad na may green laser light ang nag-scan sa'min habang naglalakad kami.

"Welcome Ms. Azure and Ms. Frost."
An automated voice of a girl, greet us.

She sit on her swivel chair and motion me to sit down.

"Please take a seat, Amber."
Tita said.

"What is the update Ms. Azure? Naabutan mo ba sila?"
Agad kong tanung ng makaupo ako.

She shakes her head and sighed.

"Tauhan ba sila ng mga...."
I stopped while looking at the picture of them on her table.
Their high school picture. Kompleto pa sila nito at masayang nakaakbay sa isa't-isa.

"Exodus?"
Madiin kong sabi sa pangalan ng grupo na sumira sa pamilya ko.

Napakuyom ako ng kamao ng tumango ito habang malungkot na nakatingin din sa litrato nila.

"At hindi si Felice ang target nila."
Sabi nito at tumingin sa'akin.

"What do you mean?"

Hindi si mommy? Kung ganon sino?

"Kundi ako."

~~~~~

Please vote!!! (/^▽^)/