Chapter 4

Dahan-dahang bumukas ang p***o.

I expected to see Nathaniel's mother.

Pero hindi ako prepared sa naging reaction niya nang makita niya ako.

Hindi siya agad tumingin kay Nathaniel.

Sa akin agad napako ang mga mata niya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya.

Parang may nakita siyang multo.

“Mia…”

Napaatras ako.

At sa isang segundo, biglang sumakit ang ulo ko.

Isang mabilis na flash.

Apoy.

Usok.

Isang batang umiiyak.

Isang kamay na mahigpit na humahawak sa kamay ko.

Napapikit ako.

“Elena?”

Boses iyon ni Nathaniel.

Pagmulat ko, nakatingin siya sa akin.

Samantalang ang nanay niya, hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa akin.

“You're alive.”

Mahina ang pagkakasabi niya.

Napakunot-noo ako.

“Dapat ba hindi?”

Hindi siya sumagot.

Sa halip, tumingin siya kay Nathaniel.

“What did you do?”

Agad nagbago ang expression ni Nathaniel.

“I didn't do anything.”

“You brought her back.”

“I didn't know who she was.”

Napatingin ako sa kanilang dalawa.

“Wait.”

Pareho silang tumingin sa akin.

“You both know something about me.”

Walang sumagot.

I stepped closer.

“Then tell me.”

Nanatiling tahimik ang babae.

“Who am I?”

Bahagya siyang napailing.

“Hindi mo pa dapat tinatanong 'yan.”

“Why?”

“Because once you remember…”

Huminto siya.

“Remember what?”

Hindi siya sumagot.

Naramdaman kong umiinit ang ulo ko.

“Everyone keeps telling me to stay away from Nathaniel. My mother. Your son. And now you.”

Tinitigan ko siya.

“Pero wala ni isa sa inyo ang nagsasabi kung bakit.”

Lumapit ako.

“Who is Mia?”

Nanginginig ang labi niya.

Then she looked at my wrist.

Sa bracelet.

Bigla siyang namutla.

“Take that off.”

Napatingin ako sa bracelet.

“What?”

“Please.”

Lumapit siya sa akin.

“Take it off.”

Umiling ako.

“No.”

“Please, Elena.”

“Why?”

“Because that bracelet…”

Hindi niya natapos ang sinabi niya.

Tumayo si Nathaniel sa pagitan namin.

“That's enough, Mom.”

His mother looked at him.

“You don't understand.”

“Then explain.”

“You shouldn't have brought her here.”

“I didn't bring her here.”

“Then why is she here?”

Tahimik si Nathaniel.

I looked at him.

Then at his mother.

“Twenty years.”

Napakunot-noo ako.

“Anong ibig mong sabihin kanina?”

Nathaniel looked at his mother.

“Twenty years.”

His mother slowly lowered her eyes.

“Twenty years ago…”

Huminga siya nang malalim.

“…you disappeared.”

Nanlamig ako.

“Who disappeared?”

She looked directly at me.

“You.”

Parang biglang tumahimik ang buong mundo.

I shook my head.

“That's impossible.”

“You were a child.”

“Then why don't I remember?”

“Because your mother made sure you wouldn't.”

Napatigil ako.

“My mother?”

Tumango siya.

“She wanted to protect you.”

“From what?”

Her eyes shifted toward Nathaniel.

“From us.”

Natahimik ako.

“From your family?”

She nodded.

“From mine.”

I looked at Nathaniel.

“Then what happened that night?”

His mother closed her eyes.

“The fire.”

My chest tightened.

“What happened?”

“You were inside the house.”

“I know.”

“No.”

Umiling siya.

“You don't know everything.”

She took a shaky breath.

“Your mother brought you there.”

“Why?”

“She wanted answers from my husband.”

“About what?”

“The truth.”

“What truth?”

Hindi siya sumagot.

Then Nathaniel suddenly grabbed the edge of the table.

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

“Nathaniel?”

His face had gone pale.

His eyes were closed.

“I remember.”

His mother's face immediately changed.

“No.”

Nathaniel shook his head.

“I remember that night.”

“Stop.”

“You were there.”

His mother stepped backward.

“Nathaniel, please.”

“You were holding Mia.”

Bigla akong napatingin sa kanya.

“You saw me?”

His eyes opened.

“Yes.”

Mahina ang boses niya.

“But I couldn't reach you.”

My chest tightened.

“What happened?”

“You were crying.”

He swallowed.

“Then the fire got bigger.”

His eyes dropped to my bracelet.

“And you gave me this.”

I looked at the bracelet.

“You said you gave it to me.”

“I thought I did.”

His mother suddenly spoke.

“No.”

Pareho kaming napalingon sa kanya.

“I gave her that bracelet.”

Nathaniel stared at her.

“What?”

“I gave it to her.”

“Why?”

She looked at me.

“Your father asked me to.”

My heart stopped.

“My father?”

Tumango siya.

“But my father died when I was young.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I know.”

“Then why are you saying he asked you?”

She hesitated.

Then—

“Because he wasn't dead when you disappeared.”

Nanigas ako.

Nathaniel stared at his mother.

“Mom…”

“He was alive.”

I couldn't breathe.

“But…”

My voice trembled.

“Who died then?”

Walang sumagot.

I looked from Nathaniel to his mother.

“Who did you bury?”

His mother's eyes filled with tears.

Then she whispered—

“Someone who was supposed to make everyone believe your father was dead.”

Naramdaman kong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

“So my father was alive?”

“Yes.”

“Where is he now?”

Hindi siya sumagot.

“Where is my father?”

She looked toward the hallway.

Biglang nagbago ang expression niya.

“Someone is coming.”

Napalingon si Nathaniel sa p***o.

“What?”

She grabbed my arm.

“Listen to me.”

Her fingers were trembling.

“Whatever you remember next…”

Tumingin siya kay Nathaniel.

“…don't trust the person who tells you they saved you.”

Napakunot-noo ako.

“What does that mean?”

Hindi siya sumagot.

May narinig kaming footsteps sa hallway.

Isa.

Dalawa.

Tatlo.

Palapit nang palapit.

Nathaniel immediately stepped in front of me.

“Stay behind me.”

Mas lalo akong kinabahan.

The footsteps stopped outside the room.

The door handle slowly moved.

My mother wasn't here.

Nathaniel's mother was trembling.

And Nathaniel—

was staring at the door like he already knew who was on the other side.

The door opened.

At unang nakita ko ang isang lalaking matagal ko nang pinaniwalaang patay.

My father.

Pero hindi iyon ang pinakanakakatakot.

Dahil sa unang pagkakataon na makita ko siya—

ngumiti siya sa akin na parang alam niyang naalala ko na ang lahat.