A Lonely Track

by Jen Tanedo

The dense, dark, rain-bearing clouds dominated the skies for almost a week. It was because a low pressure area had moved closer to the Philippine area of responsibility. The monsoon trough had been bringing moderate to heavy rains. The Department of Education temporarily suspended the classes for the elementary and secondary levels due to flood threats.

Lola Nita made it a habit to wake up as early as three o’clock in the morning because after making suman and biko, she still had to prepare her granddaughter’s breakfast and baon for school. Angela also made it a habit to get up as early as six o’clock so that she could fix and prepare herself. Before seven o’clock struck, she began her walk to school, but she met her neighbor woman who happened to be the mother of her classmate in the sixth grade. She informed her about the suspension of the classes.

Angela turned and hurried back to the house. “Lola! Lola! ,” she shouted as she was running back home. During weekends or during the days with no classes, she helped Lola Nita to peddle kakanin in the market, but when she had gotten home, Lola Nita had already left. Left with no choice, she had to stay home. She had not yet done changing her clothes when the heavy rain poured. Doing nothing, she turned on the television, but there was a sudden brown out.

Lonesome and bored, she went up to her room, and to entertain herself a little while, she got her books and splayed them out in a small table located beside the bed, and not far away from the window. She got a pencil and a piece of paper. Looking at the pictures in the book, she had sketched any picture that had caught her attention−only to realize that she had already drawn a man and a woman holding a little girl in the middle. They looked perky. She paused for a while and gazed at it, taking a deep sigh. If not because of her empty stomach, she would not be interrupted. She took a glimpse in the clock. It was almost twelve noon.

Since it’s time for her to eat lunch, she took the baon that Lola Nita had prepared for her. Having done eating, she turned back upstairs. From time to time, she glanced on the clock until six o’clock had struck. At that moment, she supposed to have eaten her evening meal. Lola Nita had not yet arrived. It might have due to the traffic and the awful weather. “It’s okay Angel, Lola will be home soon, and she will sure bring you a delicious evening meal,” she tried to comfort herself.

Darkness filled the night. Having felt the cold and awful breeze, she wore the jacket that was given to her by her papa when it was still possible for them to feel each other’s touch. Lola was not yet home, and there were still no lights. In the window, she stared into the darkness. Tears started to fall from her innocent eyes.

A lot of things had come to her thoughts, and they had made her heart sore. Angela could not avoid evoking the tragic events of her life several years had passed. She was born on July 2, 1998 in a c-section. Her mother, Veronica, died of a postpartum hemorrhage after giving birth. Lola Nita was the one taking care of Angela since the death of her mother. Lola Nita was the mother of her father who happened to be a soldier of the Philippine navy. For the family of Angela’s father, she was an angel that’s why she was named Angela, but for Veronica’s family, she was the reason of her death.

Most of her life, she grew up with her Lola because her father was assigned in Lanao del Norte. They used to see each other once or twice every three months, depending on the circumstances. That was during her birthday when they had last spent moments together. He promised that he would be coming home on Christmas, but that was just enough for a promise.

Before November ended, his dead body was discovered in his quarter. At seven, she lost him. The investigators said that he killed himself by shooting his head with his own handgun. Lola Nita was like losing her sanity as the officers were telling them. The innocent child was just holding Lola’s hand, shedding tears. That was a heartrending reality. It’s not because Angela used to be a papa’s girl, but because she had a lot of questions in her head. She wanted to know why he left them, and why he chose to commit suicide if he really did.

          For others, it might be a nightmare, but for Angela who at young age had been tested by time, it was an austere fact that she had to face for the rest of her life. Years had come and gone, but they were not enough to heal the wounds. Staring into the darkness, she wept.

          It was already past nine in the evening, but Lola Nita had not yet arrived. For so long, she had not felt again the fear the she had felt when she lost her parents. She waited and waited until she had fallen asleep. Lola Nita reached her slumbered, embracing the pillow that was about to fall from the bed.

          She watched her closely, caressing her shoulders gently with her hands. “I’m sorry, Angel,” she whispered with tears starting to fall to her cheeks. She brought her her favorite fried chicken, but she was worried to disturb her sleep. She just went to the kitchen to fix things up, but Angela had sensed her presence. “Lola,” she spoke softly. Angela woke up and hugged her tightly saying she’s hungry. Lola Nita could no more avoid her tears from shedding and felt sorry for her beloved grandchild.