Chapter Six

Orphanage

The party turned out fine. It was exactly eight PM when the group on our table decided to call it a night. I stayed for a while because of Ma'am Anna.

I was indecisive of what to do with her because she was drunk. She knew she had low alcohol tolerance but still she drank so much. Tiningnan ko siya at halos sumubsob na ang mukha sa lamesa.

Ngumiwi ako. She was really stubborn.

Sir Nathan offered a ride but he was also drunk so I asked Sir Harold to drive him off.

"I can drive!" he insisted but when he stood up and took a step forward, he couldn't even walk properly. Sir Harold helped him but he held his hands up to stop him.

Umiling ako. He was too stubborn, as well.

Magta-tricycle na lang siguro kami. I'll accompany Ma'am Anna first, before I would go home. I tried to wake Ma'am Anna up but my eyes turned to Sir Genus' table when I heard them exchanged goodbyes. My eyes widened when he immediately found my eyes and took a step towards me.

While walking, I clearly saw how different he was from the guys in San Isidro. His short-sleeved polo shirt and dark gray trousers hugged his body perfectly—showing his lean but muscular built.

He walked confidently like he owned the place but his eyes reflected something I couldn't fully decipher. More like pain or maybe... longing?

But in an instant, those emotions disappeared when he met Sir Nathan halfway. Instead, his face became indifferent. "You should go home," malamig na sabi nito.

"Who are y-you?" Sir Nathan asked in a drunk tone. Naningkit ang mga mata at hinawakan ang kuwelyo ni Sir Genus.

Nanatili namang tahimik na nakatingin si Sir Genus dito.

"Ah! You are that mighty Rann!" Sir Nathan exclaimed.

"Sir Genus, pasensiya na." Sir Harold quickly held Sir Nathan away.

Hindi ko na nasundan ang mga sumunod na nangyari dahil natigilan ako sa tagpong nagdaan sa utak ko.

"Walang hiya ka!" Mabilis na hinawakan ng isang lalaki ang kuwelyo ng isa pang lalaki at galit na galit na iniamba ang kamao sa mukha ng kaharap. Walang emosyong tumingin ang huli, nagpapaubaya sa kung anuman ang gawin sa kaniya.

Nalilito ako kung ano ang nangyayari. Pamilyar ang mga mukhang iyon ngunit hindi ko makita nang maayos dahil sa bilis ng mga pangyayari. Gusto kong awatin ang mga ito ngunit hindi ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa biglaang pag-atake ng kirot sa ulo ko. Napahawak ako sa aking sentido at padarag na naupo. Sinapo ko ng dalawang kamay ang ulo ko nang 'di na nakayanan ang sakit. The pain was too much that I felt like my head would explode!

Someone touched my shoulder. Hindi ko na sana papansinin dahil sa sakit but I wanted to divert my attention from the pain. Sumalubong sa akin ang nag-aalalang mukha ni Sir Genus. May sinasabi siya ngunit hindi ko na iyon marinig nang maayos dahil sa mga alaalang parang gripong nabuksan.

Nakita kong tumayo ang lalaking natumba at mabilis na pinunasan ang dugo sa gilid ng labi nito. Hindi man lang lumaban ang lalaki kahit minsan pa itong sinuntok. Para akong nanunuod ng isang pelikula dahil wala akong magawa... Hindi ko alam bakit wala akong magawa!

"Kulang pa 'yan sa ginawa mong gago ka!" sigaw ng lalaking nanuntok at umambang susugod ulit ngunit may ibang taong pumigil dito.

Hindi ko rin makita ang mukha ng taong 'yon ngunit malinaw kong narinig ang sinabi nito.

"Umalis ka na, Rann!"

Rann...

Parang sirang plakang nagpaulit-ulit ang pangalang iyon sa utak ko. Pumikit ako nang mariin para tumigil ang pagdaloy ng alaala. The excruciating pain was too much!

Biglang nagdilim ang paningin ko pero bago ako tuluyang natumba, naramdaman kong may sumalo sa akin.

"Rann..." nanghihina kong bulong bago tuluyang mawalan ng malay...

I found myself walking on a small cemented pathway. My right hand was holding some folders and on my left hand was a bag full of coloring books and crayons.

I briefly checked myself. I was wearing a pencil cut gray skirt paired with a white blouse and a skin-toned pointed flat shoes. I looked around and saw some children playing on a small playground not far from where I was. I didn't know what I was doing in here exactly but I couldn't stop my feet on taking a step forward.

I continued to walk slowly as I examined the place. There were small trees at the sides of the pathway that served as a shade from the rays of the sun for the people who will walk on here. Hindi pa naman gaanong mainit ang sikat ng araw kaya hula ko'y maaga pa.

I looked ahead to see where I was heading. A three-story complex house filled my view. I saw a big poster that says 'Salvosa Home for Children' in front of the house. The house looked simple but well-designed with its white color accentuated with wooden brick designs. It had a home vibe but I know it wasn't.

Wait. Is this an orphanage?

I felt the excitement that was gradually enveloping my heart. I fastened my pace to reach the house. Sa tanggapan nito ay may nag-aabang na matandang ginang. Nakasuot siya ng tulad ng sa isang madre. I couldn't seem to clearly see her face fully but I felt like she was someone I know.

She smiled at me and I smiled back.

"Sister Tessa," I uttered like I really knew her.

"Pasok ka, hija." She guided me inside the orphanage. Rooms with a small glass window in front filled my sight. I mentally counted the rooms. There were six in total. Three in each side and on the middle was a small corridor that will lead to the stairs at end of it. That was probably the way to the second floor.

I looked at her when she pointed the first door on our left side.

"Kanina ka pa hinihintay ng mga bata," she said warmly.

"Thank you," I nodded and smiled at her like I knew what to do.

I held the door knob and opened the door. Tumambad sa akin ang mga bata na agarang tumayo nang makita ako.

"Good morning, Teacher," sabay-sabay na bati ng mga ito sa akin.

I smiled and let them sit. Kinumusta ko ang mga ito bago nagpatuloy sa gagawin sa araw na 'yon. It was like a normal day for me. I distributed the coloring story books that I've brought. I animatedly narrate to them the story that was found from the book. I feel light and enthusiastic of what I was doing.

I seemed to know the children very well. I interacted and laughed with them and they seemed to be very comfortable with me. After the story telling, I gave each of them the coloring materials that they would need for the next activity. I watched them as they excitedly checked the crayons. I felt genuinely happy, I realized.

"Miss, the President wanted to meet you." One of the staff approached me when I was about to leave. She told me to wait for Sister Tessa in the reception who will escort me to the office of the president.

"Let's go?" ani Sister Tessa pagkaraan ng ilang sandaling paghihintay.

I nodded and paused. Is it my first time to meet the president?

"Gusto kang makilala ni sir noon pa ngunit ngayon lang kayo nagpang-abot." She confirmed what I was thinking. 

We went out of the orphanage and took a different path that would lead to the back. I was in awe on how the orphanage was designed. Looking at the front, I didn't notice that there would be a three-story building at the back that seemed to be the offices and on the far end was a small farm, probably owned by the orphanage. 

The receptionist greeted us upon entering the lobby of the building. I followed Sister Tessa inside the elevator. She pressed the button for the third floor and smiled at me. Pagkaraan ng ilang segundo ay hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtatanong.

"Is he now the owner of the orphanage, Sister? I thought that the owner was Ma'am Carlotta?" I remember the woman whom I met months ago. I think she was in her early fifties but based on what I remember, there was no sign that she would step down from the position.

Nakita ko ang lungkot sa mukha ni Sister Tessa pagkabanggit ng pangalan ni Ma'am Carlotta.

Malungkot siyang ngumiti sa akin. "Si Ma'am Carlotta ay nasa ospital. Mag-iisang buwan na siyang naka-confine."

She lowered her voice.

"The family kept it private kaya walang masyadong nakakaalam maliban sa ilang mga staff," she added.

I wanted to ask for more information but she already said that the family kept it private so I just nodded and smiled sadly.

I wonder who the president was. Was he the husband of Ma'am Carlotta?

Tumunog ang elevator hudyat na nasa tamang palapag na kami. We stepped out of the elevator. Bumungad sa amin ang nag-iisang opisina sa palapag na iyon. Kumatok si Sister Tessa at ipinarating sa loob ang pagdating ko.

"Thank you," I said when she held the door wider for me.

"Walang anuman," nakangiting saad niya at iniwan na ako roon.

I immediately entered the office and was greeted by a cold atmosphere. The office was huge. May dalawang magkaharap na sofa sa bungad nito—na para sa bisita—at isang kahoy na coffee table sa gitna. The wooden floor complimented the simple and spacious, almost empty feel of the office.

There was also a small pantry at the right side separated by a glass door. My eyes drifted on the far left and was amazed by a tall glass wall overlooking the small farm that I saw a while ago. It was the only part that seemed welcoming.

I got distracted when the person on the table moved. Taliwas sa pakiramdam kanina ay bigla akong kinabahan nang husto nang makita ang pag-angat ng kaniyang mukha. I heaved a sigh and greet him. I was wrong. He was too young to be Ma'am Carlotta's husband.

I tried to discern his face but it was a blur. I moved towards him to see his face clearly but I couldn't. However, I noticed the cleft chin and the perfectly angled jaw.

"What are you doing in the orphanage, Miss Antonio?" I heard his low voice, almost a growl.

Natigilan ako, hindi inasahan ang narinig. What was he insinuating?

Huminga ako nang malalim at tumingin nang diretso sa kaniyang mga mata. For a moment I was taken aback when I clearly saw his deep set eyes looking at me mockingly. Nagtiim-bagang ako.

"I was here to help the children. Kung minamasama n'yo ang intensyon ko ay wala na akong magagawa." I paused and smiled bitterly.

"Hindi ako titigil sa ginagawa dahil lang sa maling pagkakaintindi n'yo. Excuse me." Walang pag-aalinlangan akong tumalikod. Hindi ko pa man siya lubusang kilala pero matindi na ang inis ko sa kaniya. I sneered. The loud beating of my heart explained the intensity of my emotions.

"Lisa." A voice distracted me from that dream. The images I saw was slowly drifting away from my memory.

Kumunot ang aking noo. I tried to go back to that place but the image of the orphanage was fading.

"Lisa!" Tatay voice completely woke me up. Hindi pa man ako dumidilat, alam ko na kung nasaan ako. I have been in the hospital for long that I couldn't forget the familiar scent of it. I calmed myself down and slowly opened my eyes.

Bumungad sa akin ang isang maliwanag at puting silid. I looked at my side and saw Tatay's worried face. Hindi pa nakakabawi sa panaginip, pumikit ako nang mariin.

The image of the man flashed on my mind but it was a blur. I couldn't remember the details vividly but I could remember the orphanage.

"Tawagin ko lang ang doctor, anak." Naramdaman kong tumayo siya at umalis sa tabi ko.

Habang nakapikit ay dinama ko ang noo. Was it just a dream or something from my past?

I felt like a lost child searching for something that I didn't know... or maybe, something that I do know.

Naramdaman kong bumukas ang pintuan ngunit hindi ko pinansin dahil akala ko si Tatay. Nang mabilis din itong sumara napadilat ako. Naabutan ko ang likod ni Sir Genus palabas ng pinto!

Ano'ng ginagawa niya rito?