Ken's POV
We have arrived. I stare at the house, it is old but we'd hired a caretaker of this house. It is a two-story, blue, and with porch house. This is our college house. There are many memories here that I won't forget ever.
"I'll open the door for you." I heard Thad said, I did not bother to look at him.
"Okay." I answered. He walked around the car and opened the door to my side. He offered his hand and I put my hand over it. He helped me get into my wheel chair.
"By the way, may susi ka ba, Ken?"
"Of course, we had our duplicate of the original one back then, right? You don't have yours on you?"
"I forgot about it. When I heard you were in an accident, I flew all the way here."
"How thoughtful you are." I teased as I fished my keychain out, and give it to him.
"But what had really happened? Bakit ka ba talaga nabangga? Bukod doon sa alam mo na."
"I didn't notice that the lights are red because I was looking at them, Ianne and my boyfriend kissing, and there were kids, innocent kids, instead of crashing them down, I turned my car, and I couldn't breathe well so I crashed my car onto the light post next to the restaurant." I explained. I am shocked when Thaddeus suddenly hugged me. I am bewildered.
"I wish I did not give up on you, Ken."
"What do you mean?" I said while trying to let go. I'm thinking that there might be a spy or a gossiper or something that may jump into conclusions.
Well, he let me go. "Oh, nevermind." He backed away and trailed behind me and help me toward to the door. "Okay." I thought to say.
He finally got to open the door and we went inside. I wander my eyes around and got amazed when I realized it's still the same.
Suddenly, there is a light from outside. "Sino nandiyan?" Saad ng lalaki. Ang caretaker.
We turned. "Oh, Mr. Evangelista, kami ho ito. Kumusta po?" Matandang lalaki siya na malapit ang bahay rito kaya siya ang kinuha namin bilang taga-pamahala rito sa bahay.
"Oh, kayo pala 'yan, Ken. Aba, ayos naman ako. Kayo?"
"Pasok po tayo, ipaghahanda ko po kayo ng tsaa. Ikukuwento ko po sa inyo."
Pumasok siya at tinanguan ko si Thad, tumango rin siya, which means na nakuha niya na. I mouthed tea and motioned to the kitchen.
May tsaa ba kami?
Kumuha ako ng tasa sa cupboard at pinatong ito sa counter para kunin ang tsaa sa dish drawer, buti naman ay mayroon pa. Buti na lang ay abot ko ang counter habang nasa wheel chair.
May nakuha akong balat na lamang at wala nang laman na tsaa. "Huh? May iba bang pumunta rito? Ah baka isa sa mga kaibigan ko lang." I mumbled to myself and continue to make a tea.
Pagkatapos kong mag-timpla ng tsaa ay binuhat ko na ang tray na pinaglagyan ko, saka naman ang pagdating ni Thad. "Ako na, Ken." Saad niya. Tumango na lamang ako at umuna na sa living room.
"Salamat po sa pag-aasikaso ng bahay, Mr. Evangelista." Pagsisimula ko at tumapat sa kaniya.
"Wala iyun, anak, pinapasahod ako ni Mr. Emerson."
"Si Chan po?"
"Oo, Hija. Mabait na bata iyun."
Biglang tumayo si Thad at pansin kong naka-ikom ang kaniyang kamao. "Kukuha lang po ako ng cake."
Cake?
"Wala tayong cake, Thad."
"Basta kahit ano, babalik ako."
"Okay, sige." Saad ko kahit na-a-amoy ko na kung bakit siya ganyan. He never likes Chan for me.
"Oh, Hija. Kumusta kayo?"
Tumango ako at sinimulan ang kuwento. Sa kalagitnaan ay hindi ko mapigilang umiyak, kaya gusto ni Mr. Evangelista na tumigil na ako pero sabi ko ay ayos lang. Besides, malapit sa kaniya at siya ang naging tatay namin noon kapag kailangan namin siya. Kahit hindi nga 'e. Kaya sinabi ko na lahat pati na rin ang pagpapanggap ko.
"Tama ba narinig ko?"
"...opo." Saad ko habang nangingiyak-ngiyak.
"Napatunayan kong mahal na mahal mo si Chandler na aabot sa puntong kaya mo i-sakripisyo kasiyahan mo, Hija. Hanga ako sa'yo, Ken."
"Tama po kayo, mahal na mahal ko po siya mula noon pa man."
"Kita ko nga. O sige, hija. Gabi na pala, aalis na ako ha? Sa tingin ko ay hinahanap na ako ng pamilya ko. Salamat at 'di ka nag-alangan na ikuwento sa akin ito. Pagaling ka, hija. Ipagdarasal kita!" Saad niya at kinamayan ako.
"Walang anuman po, mas malaki po ang pasasalamat namin sa inyo, ingat po!" Ihahatid ko sana siya kaso huwag na raw dahil mahirap daw para sa akin.
"Buti na lang inalagaan niya ito. Hindi rin pala pinabayaan ito ni Chandler. That guy, indeed, my man."
Nang maalala ko ang ingay na mula siguro kay Thad ay pinuntahan ko siya sa kusina.
I saw him, his fist is bleeding, and the wall has a crack on it. It seems that he punched his fist on the wall. He got shocked when he saw me, as if he saw a ghost.
"Thad? What are you doing? Are you hurt!? Wait, let me get a bandage."
"No, Ken. It's nothing, I'm just testing the wall if it's hard."
"Of course, it is! Do you think I will buy that? C'mon and we'll take care of that, it's bleeding, silly."
"It's okay, Ken. I can always manage myself..." Tears fell down from his eyes.