DNA Testing

ALL these years, I thought she was the woman I got pregnant. I'm a nincompoop for believing this foolish idea of mine.

After discovering the truth from Rara, I became devastated. Ang lakas ng loob kong paniwalain ang sariling kabaliwan.

I am suffering from the consequences now.

Akala ko talaga kapag umamin na ako, giginhawa na ang pakiramdam ko pero wala pa rin nangyari. Mas lalo pa ngang bumigat ang pakiramdam ko.

"Dawson will pick me up here. You don't have to bring me home," Rara said seriously.

Gusto kong kumontra pero hindi ko na ginawa. Masyado nang seryoso si Rara at natatakot akong baka ang susunod na lumabas sa bibig niya ay mas mahirap tanggapin.

This is my second heartbreak caused by her... and I don't know how to cope up with this pain again.

May babaeng biglang sumulpot sa harapan ko. She smiled seductively at me as her hand flirtatiously brushed my chest. Halos lumuwa na ang nipple niya sa suot niyang black strapless lace top. Not again.

"Hi, Dustin. . ." She quickly straddled on my lap without asking for my signal.

I sighed and pushed her lightly. "I'm not in the mood to fuck around."

Nakita ko kung gaano napahiya ang mukha niya. Napapalibutan ako sa magkabilang gilid nina Jethro at Klinn, kitang-kita nila ang ginawa ko. She made a face and stood up from my lap.

"Why?!"

"I'm not in the mood, Zia. Now if you don't mind, leave me alone," I said coldly.

"Fine! Boring!" she uttered angrily.

I just sighed and drank my beer. "Bitch," I murmured to myself.

"Pre, himala at tumanggi ka sa babae ngayon," wika ni Jethro sa nang-aasar na boses.

Lumingon ako sa kaniya at umismid. Si Klinn ay may akbay na babae. Iyon ang nabingwit niya kanina sa dance floor.

"May iniisip lang," sagot ko at kumuha pa ng isang beer na nakalatag sa pabilog na lamesa sa gitna namin. "Wala bang mas matapang dito? Order another drink. I'll pay for it," I said.

Nagkatinginan sina Jethro at Klinn at sabay na tumango na animo may natuklasan sa akin. Hinayaan ko na lang at chismoso talaga ang dalawang 'to.

Four more bottles for me before Jethro and Klinn successfully take me out of the bar. Pag-uwi ay halos mahulog ako sa hagdan paakyat sa kwarto namin. Mabuti na lang at mabilis kong nahawakan nang mahigpit ang handrails para hindi tuluyang lumagapak ang katawan ko.

When I got my balance right, I slowly sat down on one of the steps.

"Sir? Sir Dustin!"

I heard a raspy with a touch of gentleness in the tone, approaching me. I was too drunk to notice who it was. Lumingon ako nang maramdaman ko ang pag-upo nito sa gilid ko.

"Anyare sa 'yo? Hindi naging maganda ang date niyo ni Miss Rara?"

Si Asherah ang lumapit sa akin. She was already wearing sleepwear, and her long back hair was already in a bun.

"Bakit ganyan ka makatingin sa akin?"

Her eyes widened when I leaned my face closer to her. Hindi ako sumagot at tumitig lang ako sa mukha niya.

"Maganda ka pala sa malapitan," sabi ko.

Hindi ko inaasahan ang bahagya niyang pagtulak sa mukha ko. "Ngayon mo lang natanggap, Sir? Mas nakakapag-isip ka pala ng tama kapag lasing ka," tugon niya.

I snorted in agression.

"Whatever! You are nothing but a liar! Sasabihin mo pang ikaw ang nanay ng anak kahit hindi! Sinungaling ka, A-Asher!" I exploded.

I heard her sighed.

"Hindi naman kita pinipilit na maniwala. Pero hindi ako nagsisinungaling,"

A groan of frustration grips on me. I leaned my head on the staircase, feeling exhausted.

"Maniniwala lang akong ikaw ang nanay ng anak ko kung papayag ka magpa-DNA test bukas ng umaga," diretsong wika ko.

She sighed.

"Kung 'yon ang paraan para maniwala ka sa akin, sige. Pumapayag ako."

The dazzling light coming from the window met my eyes. The sun's rays were sprinkled with hues of positiviness yet I feel like dead. Malabo ang paningin ko habang ang ulo ay labis na mabigat.

I still remember what happened ten hours before I woke up.

Rara was in front of me.

"Rara..."

Napangiti ako at mabilis siyang hinatak sa braso para yakapin. Nahulog naman siya sa dibdib ko.

"Rara, you are lying, right? Ikaw talaga ang nanay ni Thunder. Magkahawig kayo, 'e. Ang dami niyong similarities!" sumbat ko.

"S-sorry..." I heard her say.

Mas lalo lamang bumigat ang dibdib ko.

Bumangon ako mula sa pagkakahiga sa kaniya at hinawakan ang magkabila niyang pisngi.

"Rara, I love you," I muttered before kissing her, expressing all my feelings towards her.

But then... I suddenly felt a heavy and hard slap on my neck, making me groan.

"Sir! Gising, sir! Nananaginip ka!"

Doon tuluyang nagising ang natutulog kong kaluluwa.

My eyes cleared up, and the heaviness in my chest went away. Para akong nagising sa madilim na bangungot.

"Asherah?!"

"Sir! Sa wakas at gising kana! Muntik na kitang sapakin sa mukha, sir! Nagsasalita at nanghihila ka ba naman kasi," reklamo niya.

"What?" Iritado ko namang tugon.

"Wala! Wala akong sinabi," sabi niya habang may malawak na ngiti sa labi.

"Why are you smiling? You look so weird."

She bit her lips, "Ah, kasi ano, 'e. 'Di ba, ano..."

"Ano? Just tell it straight,"

"May usapan tayong magpapa DNA test kami ni Ashiro Thunder ngayon!" sigaw niya.

My eyes widened. Mabilis akong bumangon nang tuluyan sa kama at tinakpan ang bibig niya. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa ginawa ko.

"Sinabi ko ba talaga 'yan? Kailan ko sinabi ang tungkol dyan? Wala akong matandan na sinabi ko ang bagay na 'yan," sunod-sunod kong tanggi.

I groaned when Asherah grabbed my hand that was covering her mouth, twisting it until it reached my back.

"Aray! Aray! Bitiwan mo akong babae ka!"

Mabilis niya akong binitawan. Suminghal ako sa sakit.

"Ano ba?! Ang sakit nu'n, 'a! Amazona ka talaga!"

My forehead creased when she giggled. Her healthy gums take a peek.

"What?" I mouthed.

Umiling ito. "Wala po. Basta mamaya, 'a?! Iyong DNA testing!"

I sighed problematically. "Oo na. Ang kulit mo talagang babae ka,"

She grinned. "Noted po, sir!"

Nang umalis si Asherah ay doon pa lang ako nakahinga nang sobrang lalim. I raked my now-longed hair and sighed. Inayos ko ang pinaghigaan at dumiretso sa banyo para makapag ayos na.

Halos mapatalon ako sa kaba nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng banyo. Bumungad bigla ang maliit na katawan at ang matabang kamay ng anak ko sa pinto, nakasilip sa akin.

"Ashiro Thunder, what are you doing here?" I asked, shaving my stubble.

"Dada," I heard his footsteps approaching me.

"Mhmm? What's up, bud?"

Thunder stood in front of me with his hand on his waist. Napangiti ako.

"Aalish pow ba tayo?"

I nodded. "Opo, aalis po tayo. Pero ayos lang kung hindi ka sumama. Nandito naman ang Uncle Dwight mo, 'di ba? He'll take care of you," I explained gently.

He nodded back. "Okay! Sasama pow ako, Dada!"

I put the razor on the sink and wiped my face. Then, I faced Thunder so I could hold him over my arms.

"Opo. Sige, isasama kita," tugon ko rito at napangiti naman agad siya.

Nag-ayos ako nang susuotin. Nang nakapagbihis na ako, si Thunder naman ang inasikaso ko. Naghihintay sa labas ng kwarto si Asherah. May ngiti sa labi niya nang makita kami. Tumango lamang ako sa kaniya at paatsang inabot ang diaper bag na naglalaman ng mga gamit ni Thunder. Mabilis niya itong nasalo at ngumiti sa akin.

Nang nasa sasakyan na-sina Thunder at Asherah lang ang nagsasalita. Tahimik lamang ako't umaapaw ng mga tanong ang isip ko.

What if the DNA test results are positive? What will happen? If she didn't appear on Thunder's birthday-I didn't even know she existed.

"Dada! We are here!"

I snapped out of my reverie when I heard my son's voice.

Tumingin ako sa labas at napagtantong nakarating na nga kami sa Areno Medical Center. Huminga ako nang malalim at lumingon sa direksyon ng anak ko. I smiled at him.

"Oh, we arrived. Let's go," I quickly parked my car in the private parking area. "Here you go," I muttered after opening the door for them.

"Thank you, Sir." Nakangiting wika ni Asherah.

I didn't respond-I just nodded.

We first went to the nursing station to ask where we could get blood drawn. I saw Nurse Eva, the nurse administrator. She brought us into a private room and explained everything I had to know. She assured me everything was confidential.

She took each Thunder and Asherah strand of hair, then sealed it on the transparent zip lock.

"Okay! Gawin na natin 'yong saliva test," she said, smiling.

May kinuha siya kung ano sa mga gamit na dala niya. Dalawang manipis at maliit na toothbrush ang binunot niya sa bitbit niyang transparent containers.

"This is a buccal swab. It is used to collect cheek cells from the inside of a person's mouth," she explained.

I nodded, "All right. Saglit lang ito, 'di ba?"

"Oo naman. Saglit lang ito."

Tumango na lamang ako. Nagsimula na siya sa dapat niyang gawin.

"Open your mouth, please," Nurse Eva gently told Asherah. The latter obeyed and opened her mouth. "Okay, done."

Ang sumunod ay si Thunder na agad namang kumapit sa leeg ko. "Dada, ayaw," bulong niya.

I smiled subtly. "It's for your own good, bud."

"Hey, hey, hey. It's okay. You don't have to worry, I'll be careful," Nurse Eva assured him.

Lumingon naman sa akin ang anak ko. Napangiti ako at tumango.

"It's okay, bud. She'll be quick, okay?"

Lumabi 'to, "O-Okay po,"

Nurse Eva began to do her job. Thunder opened his mouth while his hand held my thumb. Nurse Eva took the swab and carefully used it on my son. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak sa'kin ng anak ko.

"Okay, well done!" Nurse Eva announced and pulled the swab from Thunder's mouth.

I quickly carried Thunder in my arms, and he immediately embraced me, hiding his face on my neck.

"Are they done?" Nakangiting tanong ko naman.

She nodded. "Yep. Pero dadalhin ko muna ito sa lab. Next week niyo matatanggap ang resulta. Why don't you go to Dra. Kelsea and visit her?" Nakangiting wika niya.

I subtly smiled. "Okay. Thank you, Nurse Eva."

We really went to Ate Kelsea's office. But she wasn't there, according to her secretary, she's in the operating room right now. Ashera excused herself. Sumang-ayon ako at dumiretso na muna sa comfort room.

"Do you want to eat ice cream, bud?" I asked.

He stopped playing the water on the faucet. "I want ice cream, dada! Ahhh, I want chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream!" His voice was full of excitement.

I chuckled, "Okay, okay!"

We jut out of the comfort room and found Asheah talking on the phone. Nakatalikod siya sa banda namin kaya hindi niya napansin na nakamasid na kami sa kaniya.

[Ginawa mo na ba 'yong inuutos ko sa 'yo kagabi? Gawin mo na ngayon din. Ako na rin ang bahala kay Silas. Hahanap lang ako ng tiyempo na supresahin siya]

"Sinong Silas?" I interrupt.

Mabilis siyang humarap sa amin. Nomal lang ang emosyon sa mukha niya pero kapansin-pansin ang kawalan nang kulay dito.

"Mhmm... Is that your boyfriend?" I asked and covered Thunder's ears. "Does he know we fuck each other?"

Her emotion didn't budge. "Wala akong boyfriend. Pinsan ko ang kausap ko kani-kanina. Si Silas... Ah, pinsan din namin."

My eyebrows are still crumpled. "Are you sure?"

She suddenly chuckled. "Grabe naman, Sir. Pati mga kamag-anak ko pinagdududahan mo pa rin? Baka sa susunod pati pangalan ko, itanong mo rin ulit? Asherah talaga ang pangalan ko, 'a."

She said all of that with pure sarcasm.

I scoffed. "Asherah Royales, huh? Then, what's your middle name, Marie?" I retorts.

"Zoleigh."

"What?"

"That's my middle name. It's not Marie, It's Zoleigh."

Ngumiti siya sa akin at binuhat ang anak ko, halatang nang-aasar.

"Let's go, Sir," she said, grinning.

Dumaan kami saglit sa isang ice cream shop para bumili ng ice cream. It's a treat for my son because he did great today. Thunder chose chocolate chip cookie dough-mine was the Gold Medal Ribbon. I also bought another one for Asherah, and she chose the cotton candy flavour.

"Charap! Thank you, Dada!" Thunder said and kissed me on the cheeks.

When I got home, I still hadn't forgotten Asherah's teasing earlier. So, I waited outside her room for a long time with my arms crossed in front of my chest.

Paghinto niya sa harapan nang kwarto ay mabilis ko siyang hinila at sinandal sa pader. I kissed her hard, biting her lower lip as I delved my tongue inside his mouth. She moaned.

"Why are you two kissing?"

Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro akong tinulak ni Asherah. Pinamulahan siya ng mukha nang makita si Thunder. Even me, I suddenly felt ashamed.

"Magiging mommy na ba kita?" he suddenly asked.

I immediately coughed at his question. Mabilis ko siyang nilapitan at binuhat papunta sa kwarto para kausapin nang masinsinan.

"Thunder-"

He cut me off.

"Dada, what about Tata? Bakit mo kiss si Nanny ko? Loloko mo ba sila, Dada?" Inosenteng tanong niya sa akin.

"Hindi," sagot ko kaagad sa tanong niya.

"But you two are kissing! According to Uncle Dwight, when you kiss someone, it means you love him. The kiss was your gift for your lover, Dada." paliwanag niya sa akin.

What?!

I swallowed hard. "It's depends. Forget what you saw earlier, anak. That's not good," sabi ko at inayos ang kanyang buhok.

"Ayaw, Dada! Sagot my question first!" he disagreed.

I sighed.

"Okay, okay. I-I love your Tata, okay? But she doesn't love me like I do... But it's okay-I guess."

Thunder exaggeratedly covered his mouth.

"Dada, hindi ka pala love ni Tata..." he said, pouting.

"Unfortunately," I whispered to myself, hiding the pain I was feeling.

"Mas love niya ako talaga," he suddenly teased me, leaving me on the spot.