I was in the make-up chair and getting ready for a glamorous party scene ng lumapit si Marie.

Ang akala ko, she was going to show me the current episode for The Chosen but when she got closer, nakita ko na she had a worried look on her face.

"Ellis, it's the hospital." Sabi niya sabay abot ng phone.

It was one of the nurses calling.

Nagwawala daw si Tita Glenda at ayaw tumigil.

Tinanong ko kung anong nangyari pero sinabi niya na kung puwede, pumunta ako.

"I'm in the middle of taping."

"Pero Mam Ellis, baka po kung ano ang mangyari kay Mam Glenda. Kanina pa po siya naghi-hysterical." Nag-aalalang sabi ng nurse.

These calls are few and far between.

Very capable ang mga health workers sa facility kung saan nakaconfine si Tita.

Alam nila na hectic ang schedule ko.

Kapag tumawag sila, it means they need me to be there.

Against the protestations of the make-up artists and Direk Bertie, I quickly put on my clothes and drove like a maniac to the hospital.

For sure masesermonan na naman ako ni Direk but it's not important right now.

Kailangan kong mapuntahan si Tita Glenda.

Pagkakita sa akin ng receptionist, ni hindi niya na ako tinanong kung bakit ako nandoon.

Dumiretso ako sa kuwarto niya.

Pagbukas ng pinto, kalmado akong pinapasok ng personal nurse.

Tulog na si Tita.

She was given a tranquilizer dahil ayaw tumigil sa pagwawala.

When I asked what happened, ang sabi ng nurse, nasa kuwarto sila at nanonood ng TV.

Nang nilipat niya daw ang channel sa The Chosen, bigla na lang tumayo si Tita at tinuro ang isa sa contestant.

"Which one?" Kinabahan ako pero hindi ko pinahalata.

"Si Rio po, Mam."

"Paulit-ulit po niyang binabanggit ang pangalan nito. Riordan daw po. Hindi ko po alam kung saan niya nakuha ang pangalan na iyon. Nagtataka nga po ako kung bakit niya kilala si Rio eh ngayon niya lang naman ito nakita."

"Is she okay now?"

"Yes, Mam. Pero dalawang oras din po siyang nagwawala kaya binigyan na siya ng tranquilizer."

I didn't know what to say.

I don't have to explain anything either.

No one can know why Tita recognized Rio.

Nagpasalamat ako sa nurse and requested to give me a moment with my aunt.

Tumango siya at iniwan ako.

I pulled a chair and sat close to the bed.

Tita looked so peaceful.

Kabaliktaran ng nararamdaman ko.

"I'm sorry, Tita." Napaluha ako.

I took her hand at hindi man lang siya gumalaw.

"I promise that once the show is over, you will see Rio and Len."

Naguguilty ako sa paglilihim ko sa kanya.

But without a clear plan, I have to stick to what Tito Kin and I agreed on.

"You don't have to worry. I will look after them for you."

"Right now, just know that they're okay."

Nag-ring ang phone ko.

It was Direk Bertie on the other line.

I went outside the room para sagutin ang tawag.

He was so mad sa ginawa ko.

Bumalik daw ako sa studio or else.

"Or else what?" I asked haughtily.

"Basta bumalik ka na lang dito."

Hindi naman niya maituloy ang banta.

I'm not unprofessional.

Pagdating sa trabaho, I always give it my all.

But lately, things have changed.

My family has to come first.

Pagbalik ko sa kuwarto, Tita was still sound asleep.

I kissed her on the forehead.

Bago ako umalis, hinabilin ko sa nurse na tawagan ako once Tita wakes up.

Pagparada ko ng sasakyan sa parking lot ng Studio 5, I saw Rio sitting on the pavement.

Mag-isa lang siya and she looked worried.

I checked my watch.

It was past ten in the evening.

Kanina pa natapos ang show nila.

I hope the worried look in her eyes had nothing to do with her being booted off the show.

Bumaba ako sa sasakyan at nilapitan ko siya.

She looked up from her phone when she noticed that she wasn't alone.

"Are you okay?"

"Okay lang." Pilit siyang ngumiti.

"Bakit nandito ka pa?"

"Hinihintay ko ang sundo ko."

"How long have you been waiting?"

Hindi siya sumagot.

"Rio?" I gave her a knowing look.

Iyong tingin na nagsasabi na she has to tell me the truth or else she'll be in trouble.

"Mahigit isang oras na."

"What happened?"

"Nasiraan daw eh."

"Iyong driver o ang sasakyan?"

Tumawa siya.

"Good. Masyado kang seryoso eh."

"Natatakot kasi ako."

"Bakit naman?"

"Hindi ko kasi alam kung paano uuwi?"

"Can't you take a taxi?"

"Malayo eh."

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

Hindi ko pinansin.

"Saan ka ba nakatira?"

"Sa Cavite."

Isa pang patunay na siya talaga ang anak ni Tita Glenda.

At least para sa akin, the pieces are falling into place.

I don't have to search for clues.

"I'm sure papayag naman ang driver to drive you all the way there."

"Eh kasi..."

"Eh kasi?"

She looked at me with her big brown eyes.

In it, I saw fear.

But I didn't want to put words in her mouth.

I want to hear her tell me why.

"Di bale, okay lang. Hintayin ko na lang iyong sundo ko. Maaayos din naman siguro ang sasakyan."

"What if hindi maayos? It's getting late."

Rio was sitting under the lamp post.

The amber light was dim.

It made her eyes darker.

"Natatakot kasi ako. Hindi ako sanay magbiyahe ng ako lang."

Lalo siyang bumata sa paningin ko.

Nakaramdam ako ng awa.

I don't really know her.

Other than the stories that Tita Glenda mentioned before she had a breakdown, I don't know anything else.

It must be hard for her to admit that she was afraid.

Hindi pa niya ako masyadong kilala pero siguro naman may tiwala siya sa akin para aminin ang tunay na nararamdaman niya.

My phone buzzed again.

I took it out of my pocket.

Tumatawag ulit si Direk.

I ignored the call and put the phone back in my pocket.

He can wait.

"Hatid na kita."

"Naku, huwag na. Nakakahiya." May pag-aalinlangan sa boses niya.

"Sige na. Besides, wala naman akong gagawin."

"Bakit ka nandito kung wala kang gagawin?"

"May nakalimutan lang ako that's why I came back."

"Huwag na, Ellis. Okay lang ako."

"I will count to three. Kapag hindi ka pumayag, it's your loss."

Inangat ko ang kanang kamay and raised my pinkie finger before counting.

Rio was looking at me.

Her resolved was melting after I blurted two.

"Sure ka na okay lang?"

"I wouldn't offer kung hindi."

"Okay."

"Good. Let's go." Nauna akong lumakad pabalik sa sasakyan.

I unlocked the doors at pumasok na si Rio sa sasakyan.