Unordinary Pleasure (Book 5)

"What's the matter, little one?" The old lady with eyes intense as fire asked, while there's this predator smile attached to her beautiful face. "M-my mother. I-i can't find my mother. Did you see her?" Her intense eyes flicker, something I can't really pinpoint. With my young age of ten, I will say that I'm more mature than any other kids with the same age as me. My mom always tells me that I'm more like my father than her. Though she told me about my Dad, she never told me who and where he was. She just said that my Dad has a family back in Italy, where we lived for four years. I never asked nor even cared who my father is. All I care about is my mother. "What's your name, little one?" She said the words little one like she had just finished a verse of a harp lesson. Speaking of harps, I think I knew this lady in front of me... I just can't pinpoint when and where I exactly saw her. My genius mind is cloudy, I need to refresh it by playing my harp instrument. "Helena..." She smiled at me and kneels in front of me so that we can see each other better. She holds my both arms and I can clearly feel her warm palm that radiates something in me. "You're quite a fighter, Helena. You've been in here for like what? 2 hours? And still you didn't cry huh..." I found myself furrowing my eyebrow at her. "You're watching me then?" She chuckles, and I can't help but to think that her laugh is like a melodious classical music to my ears. "You know a lot. I see that you're not the only one cursed with knowledge." With that statement of hers, I smiled. The lady offers her hand to me, but my eyes are bore into her steely ones. "Come. I'll help you." "Help me with what?" Her smiles only elevated. "I see something in you that you didn't know yet. Would you care to find out?" I didn't react. My eyes are still glued to her steele grey eyes. "I'm Morgan, by the way. Morgan Annesley..." My mom told me about strangers. And she also told me about not talking with one of them and I'm more than aware that this lady in front of me is a total stranger to me, but I feel something strange with her presence. For the first time in my life, I am able to feel something and it feels... good... like a pleasure... "I'm Helena De Laurentis..." She curtly nods. "I know, Helena. I'm your mother's best friend..." *** "Yes, please call me right away if you get any report, officer. Thank you." Rinig ko ang sobrang pag-alala sa boses ng Mommy ko habang ito ay nasa telepono. Bumaba ang ginang na nagngangalang Morgan para magka-eye level na lang kami saka ito ngumiti sa akin. "Are you ready to get in?" she asked soothingly. Hindi ako sumagot bagkus tumango-tango lang ako. Tumayo na rin s'ya at kumatok ng tatlong beses. And when my mom opened the door, the first thing she did is hug me tightly as she burst into tears. She's very scared based on her embrace of me. "Oh, Helena, baby! Where have you been?! Oh, God! I am so worried about you!" Bumitaw ako sa yakap n'ya sa akin saka ko ito hinawakan sa maganda at nag-aalala niyang mukha and wiped away her tears. "Hush, Mom. I'm fine. Your friend; Mrs. Annesley found me," Turo ko sa babaeng halos kaedaran lang ng Mommy ko na nasa thirty-five years old. My Mom looked up at Mrs. Annesley then she sigh in relief. "Oh, thank you so much, Morgan! Hindi mo alam kung gaano ako nakahinga ng maluwag na ikaw ang nakatagpo sa anak ko. Kung iba siguro 'yon, baka kung ano nang nagawa nila kay Helena, my fragile baby." My Mom stroked my cheek lovingly and I can see right through her brown eyes the worry and suffering. I gently chewed the inside of my cheeks, careful that I might probably pierce my skin. I hate to see my mom like this because of me. I know she loves me too much and she just wants me safe. But we also know that no matter what she does to keep me safe, she can't because I have this condition called Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis, in short CIPA. With this condition, I can't feel pain or temperature and my doctors said that I may or may not live over the age of 25 or more kaya naman ganito na lang mag-worry si Mommy sa akin at sa health ko. She promised me na gagawin n'ya ang lahat para lang mabuhay ako nang higit pa sa taning sa akin ng doctor. So that is why she never let me get away from her sight ever since I was diagnosed with CIPA. "Mom, can I play my harp instrument, please? I want to make you happy. You know I hate to see you like this." seryosong saad ko habang nakatitig sa mga nagniningning niyang mga mata. Playing my classical music is my way to make my Mom happy, or at least to distract her from her emotions because of me. So, when I busted my ass to learn all the instruments and see on which my mom forget all the sadness she felt. At doon ko naman napansin na mas kumakalma s'ya kapag nag-pe-play ako ng harp. At doon din nagsimula ang pagkahumaling ko sa pagpapatugtog nito. It makes me calm too and harp can make me feel some emotions as well... Tumango-tango si Mama at bahagya akong itinulak patungo sa kinalalagyan ng harp instrument ko-sa living room, kung nasaan kami ngayon. "Sure, baby. Go on. May pag-uusapan lang din kami ng Tita Morgan mo. Remember, be careful with the strings, anak, ha?" palagi niyang paalala sa akin. Ngumiti ako ng tipid at saka tumango-tango. After that, naglakad na ako patungo sa harp instrument ko then play my favorite classical music na Chopin Nocturne in C-sharp minor. Nang pinusisyon ko ang aking mga daliri sa strings nito, napapikit ang mga mata ko at dinama ang masarap na sensasyong hatid ng musikang nililikha nito. Alam ko, nakatingin sa akin ang Mama pati na ang best friend nito, I can also feel their heavy gazes, especially Mrs. Annesley. And aside from the symphony of my harp, I can also hear their discussion about me. It breaks my heart to hear the cry of my Mom, especially if I'm the reason behind her tears. "Hindi ko na alam, Morgan kung anong gagawin ko para lang maprotektahan si Helena at para lang matupad ko ang pangako ko sa kanya na mabubuhay s'ya nang matagal." umiiyak na sambit ni Mama habang magkayakap sila ng bestfriend n'ya. I heard Mrs. Annesley hush my mom. "Hush, Margareth. Calm down. Walang magagawa ang iyak mo sa kundisyon ni Helena." Napapikit ako nang mariin at hindi ko na napapansin na napapariin na rin pala ang paghila ko sa bawat string ng harp instrument ko. "I know, I know. Alam ko naman lahat 'yan. Pero ano? Subukan ko na kayang contact-kin ang Ama n'ya? Alam kong malaki ang maitutulong nito kay Helena." I could hear the desperation in my Mom's voice. Napaisip tuloy ako, gano'n na ba talaga ako kalala at ka-hopeless para maging deperada ang Mommy ko? I know that she hates asking for someone's help. Lalo na kung manggagaling ito sa aking Ama na kailanman ay ayokong makilala. "No, Margareth." Mariing pagtutol ng best friend nito. "Don't ever think about running to that man and asking for his help. Just don't, Margareth. Kinaya mong wala s'ya sa buhay mo. Trust me, kakayanin mo ulit. At ngayong nandito na ako, hindi ko kayo pababayaan, lalong-lalo na si Helena. Pangako 'yan." What I didn't know yet is that promise of hers to my mother led me to a world na pinapangarap ko lang marating simula nang malaman ko ang tungkol sa kundisyon ko. To be continued...