By Ardy & Dave
I was most insistent this time, “Ma’am, ngano man lagi? Ngano man?”
All of a sudden, Ma’am Ardy had a 360-degree turnaround in her actuation.
I have been with Ma’am Ardy for nearly six years now and that was the first time that I saw her outward bearing changing suddenly without any apparent provocation.
I noticed that moment that Ma’am Ardy was not in her best element all of a sudden. I was looking for some hints that may have caused her sudden change of attitude. Was it my fault, I asked myself.
I did not want to push Ma’am Ardy to tell me the reason. I know her. When she is not comfortable with the situation, she prefers to be left alone for a short while. I am also aware that, in a few minutes, she will “recover” and will be back to her bubbly self. In other words, I swam with the tide and let her go of what and how she wanted things to be – at that moment. I consoled myself with the thought that, anyway, we were heading home and was hoping that some “statements” from her would be revealed along the way or as soon as we shall have been home in Tagbilaran
We were about to leave. I had mixed feelings especially that I saw Mary Joy constanly following Ma’am Ardy wherever the latter was headed to. I noticed that Mary Joy wanted to tell something to Ma’am Ardy. Or maybe, the other way around: that Mary Joy wanted to get an answer from Ma’am Ardy for a question I was not aware of.
I had mixed feelings because it seemed as though there was something incomplete in our trip. Were we heading home in spite of the fact that I really wanted to meet the alleged perpetrator? Ma’am Ardy joined the trip to know the story from Mary Joy; but, I was there to really dig deeper into the reason for the alleged crime. And there was only one person who could tell me or even just hint to me the answers to my questions, the alleged perpetrator himself.
Honestly, I wanted to insist to Ma’am Ardy that we stay behind for a little while as I wanted to inch our way into the cell where the alleged perpetrator was put – in jail. Anyway, we had our own convenient and comfortable van courtesy of Mr. Cylwin Bomediano, the President/CEO of Ashira Properties Development Corporation.
The “adto na mi” and the “salamat ha” and the “stay safe” words were exchanged between the parties.
I looked at Mary Joy. I looked at her mother. I looked at Ma’am Ardy. Mary Joy’s mother, Laura, stayed cool and calm. But I could see tears kept at the corners of the eyes of Mary Joy. And those tears were ready to fall. I could feel that the young girl was trying her best to hold back those tears. She was standing by the door of their nipa hut. And I saw Ma’am Ardy approach Mary Joy.
“Adto na mi, ha. Mary Joy, pagbinuotan ha!” These were the words of Ma’am Ardy addressed to Mary Joy. And with these words, Mary Joy let go of her tears. She was in tears as we bade goodbye to her. She could not help it anymore. The eyes of Mary Joy and her tears spoke of all the “unforgivable” and “unforgettable” events that struck her young llife.
“Balik Ma’am Ardy, ha! Ang radyo? Maminaw ko ninyo! Basta balik Ma’am, ha… Ayaw kalimot sa akong gisulti nimo,” Joy said these words as she looked at Ma’am Ardy and she she spoke to my boss in faint words.
I stretched my neck and kept a close ear to what Ma’am Ardy would say as an answer to what Mary Joy said. I waited for a nod from Ma’am Ardy as a confirmation of the request of Mary Joy. I did not see any. I waited for a “Yes” from Ma’am Ardy in response to what Mary Joy said.
But I failed to see any of those I expected. Instead, I saw Ma’am Ardy’s pair of glasses getting wet from the tears she also shed as she bade goodbye to Mary Joy. I know Ma’am Ardy wanted to hug the young girl. I know Ma’am Ardy very well. She is very warm as a person. But I also knew, then, that the face mask she was wearing told her not to hug nor touch Mary Joy due to this Covid thing.
And we proceeded to the Ashira van parked just in front of the nipa hut of Mary Joy.
“Tana, muadto ta sa munisipyo,” Ma’am Ardy said.
I immediately answered, “Munisipyo sa Pilar?”
“Yes. Adtoon nato tong ama-ama ni Mary Joy. Ato siyang tulisukon ug nganong naka-ako siya ug panamastamas sa iyang kaugalingon nga anak. Ako siyang singgitan ug ako siyang pangutan-on ug unsa siyang klaseha sa pagka amahan. Ako ang mangutana niya kung unsay nasulod sa iyang alimpatakan ug balatian nga naka-ako man siya sa pag himo niadtong walay puangod ug animal nga binuhatan. Tana!” This was what Ma’am Ardy said in a strong, definite, daring and straightforward manner.
I asked myself: “Ha? Muadto mi sa prisohan?” (To be continued)