Wretched Choices

Chapter 27

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Chapter 27
Forgiveness

Despite of the disturbing thoughts which should had kept me awake last night, I was able to sleep soundly knowing that I was able to let everything out. It felt nice to have a long and heartwarming talk with my mother. Why I only did it now, I had no idea. But it was one of the best decisions I had ever made.

And because of the arrival of my grandmother and close relatives, I spent the next morning in bliss. Hindi ko rin napigilan ang sarili kong maiyak sa tuwa dahil sa pag-uwi ni lola sa bahay. It felt like only good things would happen from then on which made me look at life so positively.

Habang kumakain ang mga kalapit na kamag-anak sa kusina ay tumulong kami ni Mommy sa mga staff mula sa ospital na nag-aayos ng kuwarto ni lola. Magandang desisyon na pinauna na rito ang ibang mga gamit kaya kaunti na lang ang aayusin ngayon.

I stayed beside my grandmother the whole time. She kept on saying that she was in a very good mood since she was finally out of the hospital after a long time of being confined. Kung alam niya lang ay mas masaya ako ngayon para sa kanya. Sobrang dami kong plinano na gawin kasama siya. Pero syempre ay pinaalala sa akin ni Mommy na kailangang magdahan-dahan. Hindi puwedeng biglain ang katawan ni lola. Also, her Sundays were reserved to visit the hospital for a weekly check-up.

"E, bakit pala wala rito si Archer?"

Halos masamid ako kahit na walang iniinom dahil sa tanong ni lola. Si Mommy naman ay gulat ding napalingon sa aming dalawa kahit na abala kasama ang mga staff galing sa ospital.

"Hindi ba't malapit lang ang bahay nila sa atin?" kuryosong tanong nito at tila punong-puno ng pagtataka. "Hindi ninyo ba inimbita? Alam ba na uuwi ako?"

I frowned, hearing my grandmother's endless questions about Archer. Struggling to think of an excuse that would sate my grandmother's curiosity, I opened my mouth but no words came out. Good thing I was saved by my mother.

"Inimbita ko, Ma, pero busy ata sa mga school works," paliwanag ni Mommy. "Sa pagkakaalam ko ay kandidato siya bilang Magna Cum Laude kaya talagang abala sa eskuwela."

Curious if it was true that she really invited Archer, I glanced at my mother to find the answer but she wasn't looking at us anymore and continued attending to the staffs. However, I doubted if my mother really did invite Archer because she knew how I felt about him last night. Also, it would be impossible for Archer to decline the invitation, right?

Napailing na lang ako sa sariling iniisip at hinarap muli si lola. Kita sa kanyang mukha ngayon ang pagkadismaya dahil sa narinig. Parang may mainit na kamay na marahang humaplos sa aking puso nang makita siyang malungkot.

"Sayang naman kung ganoon..." Bumuntong hininga si lola ng malalim bago muling sumilay ang kanyang ngiti. "Alam ko na! Imbitahin na lang natin siya rito sa susunod. Aba'y namimiss ko na rin ang binatang 'yon."

There was this slight jealousy I felt, hearing my grandmother's eagerness to meet Archer again. I didn't know how he managed to capture my grandmother's heart that fast which made her long for him, but it amazes and frustrates me at the same time.

"Of course, Ma. We will invite him soon," Mommy assured her.

And because of that promise and assurance, my grandmother finally stopped talking about Archer. Not long after, she was asked by her private nurse to take a rest since she woke up very early in the morning. Ang sabi pa nga ay hindi pa sumisikat ang araw ay gising na si lola dahil sa sobrang excitement na lalabas na siya sa ospital at uuwi rito sa bahay.

When she was finally resting, Mom and I went out of her room—not to be a disturbance while she was sleeping. I took that opportunity as well to ask her about what she said earlier.