Chapter 13

"Explain," I demanded to Bok.

I looked at him. He's sitting on his chair when we barged into his office. Writan silently walked past me and sat on the chair. He ushered me to sit as well but I decline. We never talk again after our last. I refused to. I want to get this over with, come home to Grandma, and live a happy ending with someone else. That hit me hard.

"Anong ipaliliwanag ko, Claudia?"

I gritted my teeth. "That you're my grandfather and Penna, your first love who left you is my grandmother."

I watched his jaw opened. He glanced at Writan. So, he knew too? I smiled bitterly. These two demons just played me.

"Explain! Bakit hindi mo agad sinabi sa akin na ikaw ang lolo ko? How?"

Naupo ako sa dismaya at pagkabigo. Napailing na lang ako at napasapo sa mukha ko.

"I didn't know until I saw the statue too," simpleng paliwanag ni Bok.

Nangunot ang noo ko. "So, you knew and you never told me sooner?"

"Nakalimutan kong ako si Boston. I already forgot about that name when Penna left. You told me it's Penya, your grandmother. Everything was messed up and if I only knew you're going to the end of the road I should've told you."

I licked my lips and sighed. "So, she left you. Why? Why would she leave you?"

"Did she remarry?"

"I don't know! Ang sinabi lang sa 'kin ni Grandma ay ang tungkol sa inyo. Ikaw raw ang first and last love niya."

Nakita ko ang pamumula ng pisngi niya. Mas lalo akong napanganga. Nagbibinata ba 'tong lolo ko? Pakinig ko ang tawa ni Writan. Pinaningkitan ko siya bigla ng mata bago tumingin ulit kay Bok.

"Anong sinabi ni Grandma sa poem? Ang sabi mo nag-iwan siya no'n, 'di ba? At saka, why didn't you got the hint on the book? What's in it?"

Kinuha ni Bok ang libro sa bookshelf at inilapag 'yon sa desk niya. Hinaplos ko 'yon.

"It's the first book we had read together. Our favorite."

My forehead creased. "Pero hindi mo agad na-realized?"

Umiling siya. "I already forgot about her. It's forty-five years ago for Pete's sake."

"You've gone mad. As far as I know, she never forgot about you!"

He slammed his desk and stood. "She left me, Claudia! What do you think I should have done? Yearn for her to come back? Chase her?"

I could see his veins almost gonna popped from his forehead and neck. I gulped and calmed down.

"Maybe she had reasons to."

"Yeah. Everything has a fucking reason. Still, she fled without explaining. If she just told me, I could've understood," he said in pain.

I let out a huge sigh and formed a fist.

"I'm going back," I declared.

In my peripheral vision, I saw Writan's eyes widened, and I could comprehend that he's hurt. I pressed my lips together. This is the only thing that I could do for Grandma. A closure for both of them.

"I'll ask her why did she leave you."

Naupo si Bok at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

"Are you sure? It's all in the past, Claudia. I could just deal with it for another decade."

I chewed my bottom lip and stared at my grandfather. This guy almost has the same age as mine. That's so messed up. I scoffed.

"My grandmother will not live forever like you, Bok. She needs closure more than you do." I stood. "Take care of your apo."

I glanced at Writan. I smiled at him before I stepped out of my grandfather's office. I walked out of the house and went straight to the road where our door is located.

I looked at the door. I remembered the day we stepped into this world. It's funny that that day I was so impatient to get this over with but now, I'm wanting to stay. This world has given me a new life, a new experience, and new learning. I don't want to take all of that for granted. If there will be a time that I have to leave, I will never forget everything that happened here unlike my grandmother.

How could she leave Bok? As much as I want to understand her, I still can't. She was selfish too.

"Claudia!"

I faced Writan. He ran to me. He smiled at me and slammed his body to me. I hugged him back.

"'I'll miss you," he mumbled.

I smirked and patted his shoulder. "Babalik din ako, 'wag kang mema r'yan."

We laughed together. I got off of our hug. I pointed to the door.

"I'm going. See you soon." Sumaludo ako sa kanya.

He chuckled before waving. I turned the doorknob and waved at him too. I saw him smiling before I entered my world again.

I got tired after getting inside the attic. It was in the same state as we left it. Ang mga kahon ay nakakalat pa rin.

"Claudia!"

Nagulat ako nang pumasok si Jason. Lumapit ako sa kanya.

"How's Grandma?"

His face was full of sweats and he was panting.

"Maayos naman ang lagay niya. Teka, ang kapatid mo?"

Tiningnan ko ang pintong pinagpasukan ko kanina. Writan was behind that. My heart aches, I wish I could've stayed there for him.

"Nasa kwarto niya, natutulog. Puntahan natin si Grandma. I want to ask her something. Can you drive?"

Umiling siya. I bit my bottom lip and went outside of the attic.

"Ako ang magda-drive," sambit ko bago kinuha sa kwarto nina Mommy ang susi ng sasakyan namin.

We went outside grandma's house. I locked the door before entering the car. Sumunod naman sa akin si Jason.

"May lisensya ka ba?"

Napakurap ako. "Wala." I started the engine and maneuvered the car.

"Paano kung mahuli tayo ng pulis? Malilintikan ka na naman sa nanay mo."

"I don't care. I just need to talk to Grandma. Sasama ka ba o hindi?"

Sa huli ay sumama na rin siya sa akin. He showed me the way to the hospital.

"Ano raw ang nangyari kay Grandma? Is she sick?"

"Naninikip daw ang dibdib niya. Hindi makahinga dahil do'n. Kailangan daw ng pahinga. Kung maaari daw 'wag nang maggagalaw. Alam mo naman si Lola Penya, patanda ay mas lalong gustong gumalaw."

My mouth curved into a smile. I wish I've been there for Grandma. She was all alone in that big house. I wonder if she didn't leave the world of writers, she might have lived a very long time because I can't fathom saying goodbye to her when she's gone.

I drew in a long breath.

"Takte," biglang bulong ni Jason.

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Nanlamig ang buong katawan ko nang makita ang checkpoint sa gilid ng kalsada. Oh, my.

Sinenyasan kami ng pulis na tumigil sa gilid ng kalsada. Napalunok ako nang hingin nila sa akin ang lisensya pero wala akong maibigay sa kanila.

"Ilan taon ka na, hija?" tanong nila sa akin.

Nagpunas ako ng pawis sa noo at tumingin kay Jason. Pumikit ako nang mariin sa inis. Bakit ngayon pa?

"Hija?"

I bit my bottom lip. "Nineteen."

"Bakit wala kang dalang lisensya?"

Umiling ako. "I've no driver's license."

Tumango sa akin ang pulis. "Labas ka, hija."

I pouted and my eyes turned blurry. I was about to open the door when Jason interrupted me. I glanced at him.

"Iwan mo na ako rito. Ako na ang bahala. Sige na."

Pinanood ko ang mabilis niyang paglabas. Hindi ko na siya nagawang pigilan nang siya na ang kumausap sa mga pulis. I maneuvered the car on the road and drove to the hospital.

Tumigil ako sa harap at lumabas kaagad. Pagpasok ko ro'n ay pumunta ako sa clerk at nagtanong.

"Fourth floor, room 207."

Tumakbo ako patungo sa elevator. Nagulat ako nang makita si Writan sa loob. Lalabas na sana siya nang hilahin ko ang suot niya at ipinasok ulit siya sa loob ng elevator.

"Bakit ka nandito? At ano 'yang suot mo?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

Nakasuot siya ng pang-doktor. Oh, my gosh. Tinitigan ko si Writan. May suot siyang salamin, may balbas sa mukha, at mukhang pagod na pagod.

"I'm sorry, Miss. I don't know you."

Napanganga ako. Umalis lang ako sandali, kinalimutan niya agad ako? What a douchebag. Sinampal ko si Writan.

"Damn you! Buti na lang iniwan kita ro'n! I hate you!"

Pinagsasampal ko ang mukha niya hanggang sa mamanhid ang palad ko. Hingal na hingal ako nang tumigil. Nangilid ang luha ko.

"You forgot me already?" I sobbed and covered my face.

"Miss? Sorry. I don't know you, to be honest. But you know my brother?"

Brother? What the heck? Napabalik ang tingin ko sa lalaking nasa harapan ko. Nangunot ang noo ko. Mukhang totoo ang sinasabi niyang hindi niya ako kilala. Who's this guy then?

"Totoo 'yong story na ikuniwento niya sa 'kin?"

My jaw dropped as I looked at him. Writan changed the story to a happy ending. Though, it wasn't a happy ending for me. His twin brother's alive!

"He told you about us, huh? How's he?"

Pinunasan ko ang mata ko at huminga nang malalim. Napapikit ako sa hiya. Why am I so impulsive? Napasapo ako sa noo ko.

Nanatili siya sa loob ng elevator kasama ko. Humarap ako sa pintuan bago tumingin sa lalaki. Tumango ako.

"He's doing good on the other side."

Tumango ang kakambal ni Writan. Alam niya na wala rito ang kapatid niya. So, he left his twin brother for his passion. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang totoo sa ikuwento sa akin ni Writan. Alin do'n ang ginawa lamang niya? That writer...

"What's your name?" he asked.

I gulped. He's so different than Writan. Napakaseryoso ng isang 'to kahit na magkamukhang-magkamukha sila.

"I'm Claudia. You? You're a doctor here? Pasyente mo ba si Penna San Pedro?" pagtatanong ko.

"Penna? The old woman...yes. She's resting. She's your grandmother?"

Tumango at tipid na ngumiti. Nagbukas ang pintuan ng elevator. I clasped my hands.

"Sorry kung nasaktan kita. Sorry."

"It's okay. It's nice to learn about Writan. I'm Wryan, by the way."

Nakipagkamay siya sa akin. Tinanggap ko 'yon bago ko pinanood ang pagpindot niya sa controls at nagsarado ang pinto. I waved my hand before I turned around and went to my grandmother's room.

My thoughts flew with Writan. What would be his life if he didn't go to the world of writers? What if he didn't pursue his passion? Would it be easy for us to have a happy ending if he's not on the other side? Would it make a difference?