"You lied? You lied all along!"

Kabanata 2

(Third Person)

HABANG iniinom ang lemonade na dinala kanina ni Manang Minda ay patuloy na nag-uusap ang mag-tiyohin. Napailing nalang ang uncle ni Syl dahil sa kalokohan nito ngunit napangiti na rin sa sarili dahil minsan lamang ito umaakto ng ganito, yung totoo ang mga ngiting pinapakita nito at yung mga bihirang pagbibiro nito.

Mula nung mamatay ang kapatid niyang si Sylvie, na mama nito tatlong taon na ang nakalipas, sa mura nitong edad ay nawala ang diwa ng kanyang pamangkin. Hindi ito nakikinig sa ibang tao at nawalan ito ng interes sa mga bagay.

Naalala pa niya nung lamay ng kapatid niya, di sila nag-imikan ng asawa ng kapatid niya dahil bago lamang niya nalaman ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng kapatid niya. Grabe ang pagpipigil niya na suntukin ang gagong asawa ng kapatid niya nang malamang niya noon ang dahilan.

Ngunit pinili niyang itago ang galit dito at pati na rin dahilan ng pagkamamatay ng kapatid niya lalong-lalo na sa harapan ng bata. Para kay Syl. Well, lahat naman ng ginagawa niya ay para sa batang ito— para matupad niya ang pangakong binitawan niya sa kapatid bago ito nawala. Also, Syl will be horn-mad at her father. Surely, her hatred for her father would only grow much bigger that it already is now, if and only if she knows. He doesn't want that.

He is well aware that keeping a secret is never good, but he can't let this one slide as he had promised to bring everything in his own grave. He does not want her niece to grow in hatred and anger throughout her life, hating her father to the core. Kahit naman kasi galit siya sa ama nito ay di pa rin magbabago na ito ay ama ng dalaga. But if he could just let the law punish those leeches, he would have done it before. He really would without any setbacks and remorse.

But he had promised her before the unexpected incident. Hindi nga niya alam na gagawin ng kapatid niya ang bagay na iyon. Kaya mas mabuting manatiling lihim muna ang lahat habang hindi pa tuluyang nahihilom ang sugat ng pamangkin niya. 

Ngunit kung hindi lang siya ulit nangako sa kapatid niya o naawa sa pamangkin niya tiyak na kinasuhan na niya ang mga iyon. His niece was shocked and in angst the whole time up until the day her mom was buried, she never talked to anyone and just locked herself in her bedroom the whole time. He pitied this child. Importante ito sa kaniya katulad ng kapatid niyang si Sylvie, kaya galit na galit siya sa ama nito.

Wala man lang itong pakialam kung magmukmok ang bata, ni hindi man lang ito nagsikap na suyuin at patahanin ang bata and just grieve in his own accord. Ni hindi nga maayos ang tulog at kain nito ng ilang araw kaya sinikap nalang niyang suyuin at pilitin itong kumain.

She never spoke nor open up with him at first, she sometimes ends up crying and staring at some blank spaces still crying. Hindi nito matanggap-tanggap ang nangyari. She was so young that time and at a young age, she develops something a child shouldn't be feeling at that moment, the independency and self-determination.

She wouldn't even talk to her own father. Gladly she talked to him, her uncle, a little yet slowly. Up until her father brought another family – her hatred only grew bigger and at the same time she became close to him. And he is glad that somehow, she became optimistic in some things when she is with him.

Though, her, being persistent is a tough topic. Since she got used to it, she is so determined to maintain to be one until the end and she won't budge or two if tormented otherwise. He cannot deny too that there are so many things he have learned from her and one of it was when she doesn't need help, she wouldn't receive one.

Sometimes he finds it frustrating— like today, but he just let himself get used to it, because when the time comes and his niece would need help, he would gladly lend a hand. On the other hand, he can gladly rest well knowing that she can carry herself well. Yeah, specifically, his only problem is that his niece is so persistent to want to receive money from him.

Which is also good— being independent is good in many ways, but the way of her living and getting money is a great business and dangerous. Although, it was him to be blame for since he tolerated her in the first place.

But who can blame him? He just wants his niece to be happy somehow. Yeah, he is a doting uncle. He wants to spoil his niece so much, so that in some way or even in a little way she will feel a fatherly affection from him. Walang kwenta ang ama nito.

He, personally, has no family of his own and it's his own choice. But since he has a niece now he wouldn't feel so alone and he didn't regret that he didn't find a family of his own, even a single bit. His niece is like a daughter to him and her being in his side is already enough.

He can even give her all his time just to make her happy, that's how he loves his niece. Wala na ang kapatid niya para alagaan ang anak nito, kaya pinangako niya ditong aalagaan niya ang anak nito hanggang sa mamatay siya at hindi siya nagsising pinangako niya iyon.

"Uncle, look at this." Napatingin siya sa pamangkin niya ng binuksan nito ang kulay abong bag nito at kinuha ang isang box at nilapag sa mesa. He stood up and head on the coffee table and sat on the single sofa.

That was the box she stole from the Salvador syndicate.

NAKATINGIN lang ang uncle niya sa box na inilapag niya sa coffee table. Nakangiti siya dito, alam niyang interesado ito sa sa lahat ng bagay na dinadala niya dito kahit na nakaw lang ang lahat ng iyon. Wala naman siyang paki kung nakaw iyon eh, she thinks that it's right somehow because she is not stealing goods from innocent people and she only does this thing towards people who've done something bad in the community.

It's not that heroic, yeah. If stealing something from a person is bad, how much more if she is stealing something from bad people, of course it is also downright bad. What is she? The baddest of the bad? But neither of them, she does not care anymore.

"What's that?" tanong ng uncle niya. Kahit na sinabi nito kanina na ayaw nito sa mga ginagawa niya ay masasabi niyang interesado pa rin ito sa mga ginagawa niya at ito na naman yung tonong parang kinukunsinte siya nito sa paraan ng pagtanong nito.

Binuksan naman niya ang box at tumambad sa paningin nila ang isang kuwintas. Even though her uncle loves tech things and information about tech things, her uncle also loves this kind of things. Kayamanan.

Nagtataka nga siya minsan kung kanino siyang anak minsan eh, di naman kasi mahilig sa ganito ang mama niya. Her uncle loves this thing and also, she loves collecting these things.

Palagi nga siyang binibigyan ng mga ganitong bagay ng uncle niya tuwing kaarawan niya o kaya naman kung gusto lang nito para sa dalawang bagay: ang maibenta niya ito tuwing kailangan niya ng pera dahil nga di siya tumatanggap ng perang ibinibigay nito— which is a useless move by the way— o kaya naman ay ituring lang itong mahalagang bagay na sa tuwing nakikita niya ito ay maalala ng dalaga ang tiyuhin niya. Yeah, she is that sentimental.

"A necklace?" he asked while eyeing the necklace and creasing his forehead, obviously confused. He then stretched his hand to gather the necklace in his palm while has a fascinated looks in his eyes. She smiled at his reaction. It never fails.

"Yeah."

She watched him closely and she saw how engage he was in the necklace that his hands seem to unknowingly touching the necklace's golden laces. The word beautiful is not enough to describe the necklace, the necklace's design was out of the world. Utterly gorgeous. As for its lace, it was golden and shiny. The pendant was even more stunning, it reminded her the ornaments worn by the Chinese people of the 17th century. She is a good picker, yeah.

It has a golden stem-y frame and has a gem inside, the color of the gem was even more beautiful and also peculiar. It was mint and sunny orange combined. The orange color seems to dominate the gem and the mint color was stringy shattered. It has a jet-black and white pigment distorted dot all over, but it's not that many. Moreover, it is stunningly shining when it got hit by a light coming from the window.

"What do you think?" she asked.

"What the hell, Syl?" napalingon naman siya agad dito. "What, Uncle?"

"This is beautiful." Turan nito na nagpabalik sa ngisi niya. Yes, of course he would say that. Panandalian namang nawala sa isipan ng uncle niya ang sermon dapat na inabot niya dito. She sipped her lemonade and put it in the table after.

"It's the Celestial Necklace, uncle."

"The jewel which is known to be the perfect illustration of the celestial phenomena, fictional but utterly near to reality impression." He added as he glide his fingers to the jem, I looked at the jewel too and see what he was trying to say. It was indeed the perfect illustration of a celestial phenomenon, not in same color as the normal white color but more innovative. It is in a minty green with orange pigments. In short, it was beautiful.

Her uncle seems engrossed at the beautiful jewel in his hand and he even hold it so careful like it was about to fall or break. She chuckled. It's not like she got this jewel for him though, just for fascinating reasons but she also has a thing for jewels too. Just like her uncle, it also fascinates her since she also has read an article about this jewel, it is not just costly but also has an intriguing background story.

It was said that it was a gift from a god of water, in a certain very old mythology, to a maiden that was once the god's center of affection. She was a mortal so their love was utterly forbidden of course, and just like typical tragic love story with forbidden love as topic, their story didn't end well.

The maiden vanished after sleeping with the god one night in a particular cave. There were no specific reasons about how she just vanished, some says, she was killed by the gods since they believed a god was a god and they wouldn't stoop low just for a lowlife like a mortal.

Some says she killed herself because of a certain circumstance, and some says she was consumed by this necklace since an object given by the god it nothing compare to the life of a maiden with no power. Which makes necklace then found in that cave which the people where so certain that they have slept in. That is why this necklace was so special, or maybe fictionally special. A celestial necklace.

Just a background, both the people and Gods were not just envious with the fact that this happened, so many tried to argue and contrast their affection for each other.

"Want to keep it, Uncle?" she smirked at her uncle because she thought it was so impossible her uncle would deny keeping a beautiful thing like that.

Tumingin naman ang uncle niya sa sa kaniya at sinamaan siya nito ng tingin. She mouthed him 'what' innocently and he just smack the back of head. Napaaray naman siya dahil dito. "What was that for?"

"I'll keep this, but my decision is final. You will keep lowkey from now on, young lady." She pouted at him and he just ignored her at pinagpatuloy ang pagsuri sa kwintas. "So, mean." She said but he just smiled at her playfully. Then sipped his share of lemonade.

"By the way, you good? Is Elinda treating you well?" He asked out of nowhere. She rolled her eyes.

"She is treating me just like the usual. Same as I treat her like I usually do." She said nonchalantly, she heard him sigh. He knows that she does not like talking about her so-called step mother and brother much as she hated talking about her father.

"I wish I could crack some sense to you father about it, but he is much of a jerk until now. I am sorry, Syl." Tumingin naman siya dito, bakit naman ito magso-sorry?

"It is not your fault, uncle. You shouldn't feel sorry." She said and looked at him, he then glanced sideward avoiding her gaze. "If I could just get you of there." He said. Yes, she also wished for that too. If she could only. But her jerk of a father is still a bastard, he continues to keep her even though he hardly gives her time and affection. She even doubts if he even considers her as a real daughter after her mother died. But crap, their relationship does not dig that deep like a rabbit hole; their relationship clearly ends with them being biologically related. Nothing more.

Mahabang kwetuhan pa ang napag-usapan nilang dalawa at hindi irin niya napansing hapon na pala. Kapag talaga silang dalawa ay marami-rami rin ang napapag-usapan nila, they share the same interest in some things kasi, and she can't help to feel entertained. On the other hand, her uncle gives her his time and always listens to her rants and thoughts even if it doesn't make sense of even when she is lashing out her anger.

Unlike her father, mas marami pa ata siyang memories kasama yung uncle niya kesa sa tunay niyang ama. She thought, it's all okay. It was better to be like that because she wouldn't have this certain bond with her uncle if ever she was close to her bastard of a father. She can't even imagine herself telling stories to her father with her father actually listening to her. Thanks to her uncle life was so much easier.

Naputol ang magandang kuwentuhan nilang dalawa ng kumatok ang kasambahay ng uncle niya at sinabing tumatawag ang stepmother niya. Kumunot agad ang noo niya, ano nanaman ang kailangan ng babaeng to? It was almost unbelievable that she is calling right now, unless it is about her father or about money.

"What?" pabalang na sagot niya at naglakad papalapit sa bintana ng silid. Alam nito kung paano niya it tratuhin at pereho na silang nasanay sa turingang iyon. Alam rin ito ng Uncle niya, he never said a thing about it, though so she guesses it was all right to treat her like that. For all they know, she was just the new wife and so-called new mother her father has introduced her to be.

"Your father is home, he is looking for you. Come home this instant." She said firmly and void with care at all. Like the usual.

"Tell him, I am not coming home today. I am with Uncle Tim or maybe make up some stories about me being a rebel since you are good at that, remember?" she said disrespectfully.

"What did you say? Hey, listen here you little brat. I don't care about you leaving this house or being with your crazy uncle. I even want you to scram away from here and if not for your father, you are long gone in this house." She said with slightly elevated voice. She bet she is afraid dad might hear it. Like hell she cares.

"Whatever." She then hanged the phone up. It was downright disrespectful but when she says it towards this stepmother of hers she doesn't care about these heavenly morals. She put the telephone down and glanced at her uncle that she didn't noticed was looking at her the whole time she was talking to her stepmother. His eyes look wary and he seem bothered by something. It is weird. Is he pitying the hell out of me?

She looks at her uncle while glaring, nag-iwas ng tingin ang uncle niya. Napasimanggot siya at iginiya ang sarili paupo ulit sa sofa. Amgsasalita sana siya ng nauna ang uncle niya. "I guess you have to go home now." He said, umiling naman siya.

"Bahala sila." She said her uncle looked at her at umiling. "Hindi ka ba excited na makita ang papa mo?" she scoffs at his remarks.

"You know very well about how I feel about my father, uncle."

"Of course, I know. So, you should go home use the unused car in the garage, baka gabihin ka sa daan." Napatiim ang titig niya sa uncle niya at napasimangot. Does that even make sense?

"Tinataboy niyo po ba ako?" she tilted her head.

"What? No! I bet he is waiting for you, you know. He was away from home for quite a while, he might miss his daughter."

Inikot niya ang mga mata sa naging biro nito. "That is impossible uncle." Natawa naman ito.

"Ayoko pang umuwi." She said at dinukdok ang ulo sa armrest ng sofa. Naramdaman niyang tumayo ang uncle niya. "Sige na, Syl. You have to go home and let's talk more the other time. You know you can visit me anytime or in my office just tell me beforehand though. But now you have to go home, gabi na rin pala. Also, I have things to finish too." He reasoned out and even fixing the paper works on his table as he sits in his swivel chair. She shook her head, tinataboy nga siya nito at para pang nilalapit siya nito sa papa niya. Ut that will be impossible since her uncle hates his father more than she hates her father.

"I thought, I am more important than those works?" she jokily whined. Napatingin naman ang uncle niya sa kaniya. "Of course, you are! But you are needed at home, your father is at home and he is waiting for you. I just thought even though you hate him you still want to check on him, diba?" he said, clearly persuading her to go home.

"Tinataboy mo po talaga ako." She said. Umiling naman ang uncle niya at sumimangot. Inikot niya ang mga mata saka tumayo na. "Iiwan ko muna ang bag ko dito. It would be crazy shit if my hell of a stepbrother get a hold of it." She said.

"Di kita tinataboy, Syl." Pahabol pa nito bago pa siya lumabas sa nakabukas ng pinto ng silid. "Whatever, uncle." Sabi niya at huminto muna sa paglalakad at nilignon ito, na napagalaman niyang nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Uncle, you know very well that about how I feel towards my father. Gusto ko lang malaman mo ulit na huwag mo akong piliting makipagbati sa kaniya, kasi di ko alam kung anong magagawa ko kung pati ikaw ay pipilitin akong makipagsundo at tuluyan siyang patawarin sa mga ginawa niya." Sabi niya sa mababang boses. Nanatili namang nakatingin sa kaniya ang tiyuhin.

"Hindi kita pinipilit, Syl. I was just giving you an option." Napasimangot siya dito. "I don't need some options, uncle. Alam mo na ang desisyon ko." Napabuntong hininga ang uncle niya.

"Yes, of course. I am sorry. You should get going, it is already late. Take care and drive safely." He said and smile. Napatingin siya dito saka tumakbo papalapit dito, nagulat naman ito ng yakapin niya ito. Pero nang makahuma at niyakap naman siya nito pabalik saka hinalikan siya sa noo.

"It's getting late, you have to go home now." Tumango naman siya saka kumalas sa yakap dito saka siya tumakbo palabas saka kumaway sa tiyuhin.

Nang makalabas siya sa garahe agad siyang pumasok sa kotseng di na ginagamit ng uncle niya. Saka ipinasok ang susi na inabot kanina ng kasambahay habang palabas siya ng bahay ng tiyuhin at saka lang bumuhay ang makina nito.

Uuwi na naman siya sa bahay na iyon, crap. Nasa bahay na ang papa niya. Napabuntong hininga siya at agad minaneho ang sasakyan palabas sa garahe ng uncle niya. She doesn't know what to expect at home, contemplating what she should do or think. Whether she should welcome her father or should she be happy he came back home after years.

Susumbatan niya ba ito dahil binilin siya nito sa dalawang taong kinamumuhian niya? That would sound so bitter for a person who haven't forgotten a situation that has happened a long time ago. She even bet and doubts he remember what day was the day before yesterday. Hindi nga ito umuwi eh.

The day before yesterday was her mother's death anniversary, for all you know. And everyone might think why was she not celebrating it despite mourning still about it. You know I read this somewhere else that, you can't just love a person that has been honest with you and then fades just because that certain someone lied to you.

She never celebrates her mother's death anniversary, she does not have enough reason why. But then, she believes that celebrating her mother's death anniversary was a mockery to why her mother died. It is a death anniversary not a birthday party, it is supposed to be remembering why it has happened and not thanking it has happened.

Nang makarating ang dalaga sa gate ng kanilang bahay ay agad siyang nakita ng kanilang guard at dali dali siyang pinagbuksan nito kaya minaneho niya ang sasakyan papasok sa garaha nila. Nang makalabas ay napansin naman niyang wala ang sasakyan ng kuya-kuyahan niya na siyang agad niya naman binalewala. It is the least of her concern.

She then escorts herself inside the house. Walang tao at kasambahay na nagroronda pagkapasok niya sa sala ng kanilang bahay na siyang pinagtaka niya. Nahihita niya sa kaniyang isipan kanina na busy ang mga kasama niya sa bahay dahil darating ang kaniyang ama. Na siya namang kaduda-duda na wala kasi hindi ito palalagpasin ng kaniyang ina-inahan. Parang kanina lamang ay dali-dali siya nitong hinahanap at pinapauwi pero wala pala ang mga ito ngayon.

Agad siyang pumunta ng kusina at hinanap ang kanilang mayordoma na si Manang Selly. Ngunit waal ito roon kaya kumuha na lamang siya ng malamig na tubig sa ref, at sa kaniyang pagsara ng pinto nito ay siya namang pagkarinig niya ng ingay sa labas ng kusina, sa sala. Tila nag-aaway.

"Pinangalan mo ang lahat ng ari-arian mo sa suwail mong anak? Nababaliw ka na ba Frederic? Ako ang nagpalago ng mga ari-arian mo dito at ang suwail mong anak ang magmamana ng lahat ng iyon?" mariing sabi ng ina-inahan ng dalaga habang tinuturo ang kaniyang ama. Tumaas ang kilay ng dalaga.

"You better not forget how I saved you from your lawsuit, Frederic! Ako ang tumulong sa iyo sa panahong iyon at hindi si Sylvie, wala siya sa pahahong malapit kang makulong dahil sa letseng kapatid ng namatay mong asawa. Sa akin ka rin kumuha ng pera nung pumalya ang investment mo sa kompanya! Ako! At anong ginawa ng asawa mo? Ayun kumampi sa baliw na iyon!"

What the fuck? Anong ibig sabihing ng mga ito?

"Ipamamana mo ang mga ari-arian mo sa suwail mong anak na wala rin namang alam kung paano palalaguin ang mga ito, babagsak lamang ang mga pinaghirapan mo Frederic! Sinasabi ko sayo babagsak ang mga ito sa walang katuturan na dahilan! Gusto mo ba iyon?"

"Shut it, Anastancia! Anak ko pa rin si Syl at dapat lamang na ipamana ko ang mga ari-arian ni Sylvie sa kaniya! Karapatan din ng anak kong makuha ang mga iyon!"

"At ano naman ang matitira sa amin ng anak kong si Andrew? Kami na nagpalago ng perang matagal na sanang nawala kung pinabayaan mo na lamang mawala! Ano to? Ni isang kusing wala kaming mahihita? Pabayaan mo na ang anak mo Frederic! Wala naman iyong alam kundi ang magrebelde!"

"Naririnig mo ba ang sinasabi mo, Ana? Ang perang iyon ay kay Sylvie at hindi ko basta bastang ibigay sa iba iyon dahil alam kong mas lalong magagalit lamang ang anak ko pagginawa ko iyon!"

Tumawa ng parang baliw ang ina-inahan ko, "Why are you trying so hard to please that ungrateful child, Frederic? Hindi mo ba nakikita na wala 'yong pake sa mga ari-ariang iyon? Saka hayaan mo nang sumama ang rebeldeng batang yong sa baliw niyang uncle, total nakikita ko na nakikita mong wala nang pake ang batang yon sa iyo! She rebels every time she feels like it at ni minsan di iyon nagpakita ng respeto sa iyo! Di mo ba nakikita na mas lalo lang pinapatunayan ng batang yon na hindi siya karapat-dapat magmana ng mga iyon kundi kami? Kami ang nagpalago ng perang iyon, tayo! At kung tutuusin, sa amin na ang perang iyon! Di mo ba nakikita kung ano ang ginagawa ng batang yan? Inilulustay sa mga walang katuturang bagay at nagbubulakbol din at palaging napupunta sa precinto na siya namang pibabayaan ng kaniyang baliw na uncle!"

"Kahit pa gawin ko iyon Ana, di natin mabubura sa will ni Sylvie na ang mga ari-ariang iyon ay sa kaniyang anak lamang! At nakapangalan na iyon sa kay Syl!"

"Madali lang namang gawan ng paraan iyan, Frederic, kung gusto mong gawin."

Nakita ng dalaga ang pag-iwas ng tingin ng kaniyang ama. At anong gusto ng mga itong gawin? Sa kanila na ang pera ng ina niya? She does not know how to deal with these kinds of matter but she sure knows that it is her right to claim her share, her mother's share at that! Ano naman ang karapatan nila? Kahit na sial ang nagpalago hindi sila ang anak ng ina niya at hindi nakapangalan sa kanila ang mga ari-ariang iyon.

How dare they? Akmang lalabas siya at magpapakita sa mga ito upang sumabat ng magsalita ang kaniyang inia-inahan.

"Bakit ka nag-aalinlangan, Frederic? Hindi ba nagawa mo na ito noon? Bakit hirap kang gawin ang mga bagay na ito ngayon?"

"Shut it, Ana." Mariing sabi ng kaniyang ama.

Kumunot ang noo ng dalaga. Anong ibig sabihing ng ina-inahan niya?

"Nagawa mo nang pagtaksilan ang asawa mo noon diba?"

"Tumahimik ka, Anastancia!" Nagulat ang dalaga sa biglaang pagsigaw ng kaniyang ama, ngunit tumawa lamang ang kaniyang ina-inahan. Anong ibig sabihing ng babaeng ito sa sinabi nito. Pinagtaksilan ang mama niya?

"I was with you in your tough times, Frederic! At tila nakalimutan mo ang utang na loob mo sa akin! Pwes ipapa-alala ko sayo na dahil sa akin malaya ka pa rin ngayon! Galit na galit si Sylvie noon, diba? Nakita niyang may iba ka na. Pero napakakapal naman ng mukha ni Sylvie na magalit eh siya naman ang nauna! Kaya magsaya ka dahil nakaganti ka na sa kaniya. Bakit di mo pa lubusin, Frederic? Ano pa bang pumipigil sa iyo?"

What? Anong ibig nilang sabihing? Iba? Sinong may iba? Nakakunot ang noo ng dalaga at kitang-kita ang kaguluhan sa kaniyang mukha sa narinig. hIndi niya mahabi ang mga pinagsasabi ng mga ito.

"Naging akin ka, diba? May pinagkasunduan tayong di mo kayang baliin, Frederic. At kahit alam kong may kulang pa rin sa binibigay mong atensyon sa akin ay balewala na iyon. Wala na ang asawa mo dahil doon. Kaya bumalik sa iyong sarili at magsaya dahil tiyak hanggang ngayon ay nagluluksa kahit sa kabilang buhay ang pinakamamahal mong asawa sa panghihinayang na kung bakit siya nauna."

Syl's body went numb after she heard her stepmom says her statement. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig. Ano? Hindi man diretsong sinabi ng stepmom niya ay alam niya ang pinapahiwatig nito. Namatay si mama dahil sa kanila? May iba? Si papa may iba sa panahong sila ng ina niya, at ang ina-inahan niya iyon? May kasunduan ang mga ito, pinatay ni mama ang kaniyang sarili?

Agad nagngilid ang luha sa gilid ng kaniyang mga mata, napakurap siya at naramdaman na naman ang sakit na kay tagal na niyang binaon sa limot. Luha rin na kay tagal ng di na ginagawa ng mga ata niya. She cannot process it all. At parang kani-kanila lamang at nag-uusap sila tungkol sa pera't ari-arian.

Dahil sa masidhing emosyon di niya namalayan na lumakad pala siya papalapit sa mga ito, at nagulat naman ang mga ito nang malamang nandito pala siya. Nag-iwas ng tingin ang ina-inahan niya pero walang bakas na pagsisisi dito. 

"Syl..."

Tumingin ang dalaga sa kaniyang gulat ngayong ama, na kita niya ring kumikislap na tila nauluha. She finds it very hard to construct a word at the moment, it is such a shock and she is angry too. What the fuck did she just heard?

"What does she mean by that, dad?" saad niya habang diretsong nakatingin sa kaniyang ama. Hindi ito makaimik habang nakatining sa kaniya at tila gulat pa rin na nandito siya at narinig niya ang mga pinag-usapan ng mga ito.

"Anong ibig sabihin niya, dad?" she stepped forward at him and looked at him with her eyes slowly tearing up because of anticipation. She somehow hopes it is not true, that her assumptions are not true and she was just overthinking.

Biglang tumawa ang ina-inahan niya nasiyang kinalingon niya dito. She twitched her eyebrows, confused. 

"Oh! Andito pala ang magaling mong anak! Tutal naman andito na ang anak mong suwail, sasabihing ko nalang ang mga bagay na di mo kayang sabihin sa kaniya, Frederic!" mariin siyang tiningnan ng dalaga pero tila baliw itong nakangisi sa kaniya.

"Shut up, Ana!" sigaw ulit ng ama niya, ngunit sa pagkakataong ito ay nanatili ang kaniyang atensyon sa kaniyang ina-inahan. Anticipating her grand announcement that can either torn her or make her mad and rigid. She wants clarifications and she want the truth. It is about her mom and from what she heard it is such a waste not to know the truth behind her death. What really happened? What the fuck happened to her mother?

"Anong aaminin?" mariing tanong niya dito hindi pinapansin ang pigil ng kaniyang ama.

"Syl, this is an adult conversation. Go back to your room for a second and later, we'll talk." napatingin siya dito. Bakit mamaya pa?

"No dad, talk to me now."

"Syl!" mariing sigaw nito habang matalim ang tingin nito sa kaniya. "No, Frederic! Tell her the truth! Ano pa bang kinakatakot mo? Wala na si Sylvie at mukhang namang mas masaya naang batang ito ngayong wala na si Sylvie! Wala na nga yang pake eh, at winawaldas niyan ang pera mo!"

"Shut up, bitch!" She blurted out which made her stepmom's eyes popped out. How dare she say that! She does not know things about her! At ang kapal naman ng mukha nitong baliktarin siya ngayon? Siya pa talaga ang nagwawaldas? Putangina nila! Pera niya rin naman niya iyon! Kinukuha pa ng ng kuya niya ang pera sa kaniya eh. Bakit di nila tanungin iyong lalaking yun? Bakit di nito tanungin ang sarili?

Diba, ginigipit siya nito? At talagang mas kumapal pa ang mukha nito para sabihing wala siyang pake sa kaniyang ina? Pero bakit nagtaka pa siya diba? Eh wala nga ang mga itong pake. Sampid lang siya dahil anak siya ng ama niya sa yumao niyang ina. Howdare she say that in front of her face?

Naikuyom niya ang kaniyang kamao at nangangati itong manutok ng kung sino. "Kita mo na Frederic? Kita mo na kung paano ako saguting niyang anak mo!" Umarte pa itong hinahapo at nakahawak na siya sa kaniyang dibdib na parang hindi makahinga. 

Mariin siyang tumingin dito. "Oh! Oh, look at her eyes, Frederic!" she even said that while pointing at her na tila ba siya pa ang may kasalanan ngayon?

"That is enough, Ana."

"Syl.." napalingon siya sa kaniyang ama, di makapaniwala na tila pinapanigan nito ang pesteng ina-inahan niya ngayon. At sa pangalawang pagkakataon naman ay nabigo siya dito. She is very disappointed. 

Napailing na lamang siya, dismayado. Her mother died because of them! They have betrayed her deeply that it reached the point she took her life in pain and hatred! She pitied he mom, ang kawawang ina niya na may masidhing tiwala sa mga ito, sa ama niya, pero tila balewala lamang ang naging tiwala nito. "Tell me, dad. Paano nangyari kay mom yun?" nagngilid na naman ang luha niya pagkasambit niya sa ina niya.

Hindi ito nagsalita. Tumingin niya dito at alam niyang bakas sa kaniyang mukha ang antisipasyong malaman ang katotohanan dahil sa pamumula ng kaniyang mga mata sa pagpipigil sa pagtulo ng kaniyang nga luha.

"Answer me now, dad." mariin niyang sabi. Umiling ang ama niya, at doon pa lamang ay alam na niyang totoo ang mga iniisip niya kanina lamang. They have led her mom to her deathbed! HIndi man nila ito physically na pinatay pero sa katotohanang dahil sa emosyonal na sakit ay nagawa nitong kitlin ang buhay nito! 

"It is true?" she asked, wanting to preserve the chance for her father to speak up his excuses that she knows she cannot accept.

"Syl, it is a misunderstanding," sinubukan nitong lumapit sa kaniya na siya namang kinakurap niya. 

"What misunderstanding?" di ito tumugon kaya nang salita siya ulit. "Why can't you explain to me what she just said awhile ago?" she blurted feeling angry second by second dahil sa kakahintay ng mga aaminin nito sa kaniya.

"Does that mean totoo yun? Bakit di kayo makapagsalita," 

"Syl, I know-" 

"Cut the crap, dad and tell me straight to the point! 'Wag na kayong magpaligoy-ligoy pa! Totoo ba yun? Oo at hindi lang ang gusto kong marinig!"

"Tingnan mo yang anak mo, Frederic," naputol ang sasabihin nito ng magsalita siya, "Shut up!"

"Totoo ba? Pinatay mo, niyo, si mommy?" kumurap-kurap ang ama niya habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

"No, Syl.."

"Pinatay niyo siya?!" sigaw niya dito. Agad umalma ang stepmom niya, "Don't be absurd! We did not kill her, brat! She took her life on her own. Kung di lang naman kasi siya mababaw na nilalang at inisip nalang ang kaniyang sarili at ikaw, kesa kitilin ang buhay niya. Pero ano pa ba ang aasahan ko diba, sa isang santong tanga." napabaling siya sa ina-inahan dahil sa tinuran nito. Di siya makapagsalita at tanging galit lamang ang kaniyang nararamdaman at punong puno na rin ito sa kaniyang mga mata. Tumulo ang butil ng luha sa kaniyang kanang mata.

Masyado nang nakakuyom ang mga kamao niya at atat na atat nang dumapo sa mga posbleng bagay sa paligid niya. "Mababaw? Tanga?" ulit niya sa mga sinabi nito sa hindi makapaniwalang tono. Umirap ito at umiwas ng tingin. 

Todo ang pagpipigil niyang magwala. Iniisip iyang ang mabait niyang mama, ang maamo nitong mga mukha. Na namatay lamang dahil mas pinili nitong mawala na lamang dahil sa sakit na naramdaman. At dahil iyon sa mga taong nasa harap niya. Hindi niya alam kung paano mag react, her mind was just bombarded with a sad angsty news. Niyuko niyang ulo na tila nanghihina.

"Syl, listen,"

Tumulo ulit ang mga luha niya. "What else do I have to listen, dad? Na kasalanan ng ina kong mas pinili niyang magpahinga? Na dapat kalimutan ko na kasi matagal na? Nawala nang silbi ang mga dahilan?"

"Ang sabi niyo may sakit siya, sabi niyo di na niya kaya. Na wala nang solusyon sa sakit niya. Yun pala, di na niya kailangan pang magpagamot kasi nauna na siyang mawala! At ano ang dahilan? Dahil sa inyo?" she paused and laugh emotionlessly habang nagngingilid ang luha. "Kahit pa di ninyo sabihin sa akin ng buo kung bakit, nahihita ko na ang dahilan."

Tinuro niya ang mga ito at tumango tango, "Dahil pala sa inyo! Dahil sa inyo kaya nawala si mommy! Pinagtaksilan niyo siya at hinding-hindi ko kayo mapapatawad dahil don! Kaya pala ang dali niyong makalimutan siya, kaya pala ang dali niyong maghanap ng kerida at ang kapal di nang mukha niyong dalhin sila sa bahay na minsan nang pagmamay-ari ni mommy!" nakita niya ang pagtulog ng luha ng kaniyang ama. Ngayon pa talaga nito nagawang umiyak?

Wala na siyang nakakapa pang respeto para dito ngayon, kung noon ay meron pa kahit maliit nalang ngayon ay tuluyan ng nawala at kinakahiya niyang anak siya nito. She is ashamed that they got this biological attachment! Now, entirely, she will now believe and live that they are no longer people part of a family but just only pure biological responsibility.

"How dare you all tarnish my mom's name in this house! In front of me and even dare saying it! How dare you try to take her memories away and how dare you all still smiling and sleep at night like nobody has been hurt because of you two, like nobody died. Wala kayong konsensya! Tila nakalimutan niyong kayo ang may atraso! Kayong dalawa ang may kasalanan ng lahat ng ito! Kung bakit kinitil ni mom ang buhay niya, kung bakit niya ako iniwan. Kayong dalawa ang pumatay sa kaniya!" lumingon siya sa keridang pabida na nagkibit balikat. "My great stepmom, umaarteng parang may dangal, pero kabit pala at pilit nagsusumiksik sa isang pamilyadong lalaki. Heto naman si lalaki ang daling pasundin, isang haplos lang at naakit agad." Tumawa siya nang makitang umigting ang panga ngkaniyang ama.

"Sylvester!" mariing tawag sa kaniyang ng ama niya, na tila hindi nagustuhan ang tinuran niya tiningnan niya ito ng diresto.

"Ano? Mali ba ako? Hindi ba totoo naman?" she swallowed the lump on her throat and sigh, "Wala kayong kwentang asawa! Walang kwentang ama! Wala kang kwentang tao! Kinakahiya kong ikaw ang naging ama ko! Kinakahiya ko na nagmula ako sayo, kasi wala kang kwenta!" sigaw niya rito abang tinuturo ito, puno ng galit at hinanakit. Napayuko ito at patuloy na lumuluha.

"Kita mo ang anak mo, Frederic? Walang utang na loob! Para bang hindi mo siya pinapalamon araw-araw,"

"Tumahimik ka! Hindi ka kasali dito kaya tumahimik ka! 'Wag kang magmarunong na para bang malinis ka kesa sa akin! Palamunin ka rin naman ah! Kanino bang pera ang ginagamit mo araw-araw? Sa mommy ko yan! Pera namin yan! Kaya wala kang karapatang manghimasok dito. Asawa ka lang ng papa ko, pero di mo pagmamay-ari ang mga bagay na amin na nung wala ka pa."

Tumawa ito. "You brat, you think your so-called money will be yours if not for me? Ako ang nagpalago ng mga ari-arian at pera ninyo, kaya kasali ako didto at akin iyon kasama ng anak ko. Ano ba ang ginawa mo kundi maglustay ng pera," lumingon siya dito.

Tumawa akang dalaga ng napakalakas, "Nilulustay ko? Eh ginigipit mo nga ako diba? Wala akong nahihita sa perang dapat ay sa akin. Saka bakit di mo tanungin yong magaling mong anak nakinukupitan ako at ninanakaw ang credit card ko para lustayin ang PERA MO? Pero oo nga naman, pera mo yun at sampid lang ako, kaya ano ba ang karapatan ko diba? Anak lang rin naman ako ng lalakeng nagdala sayo sa panibagong karangyaan." Nag-igting ang panga ng stepmom niya at hindi ito nagsalita habang mariin ang tingin sa kaniya.

"Ito bang klase ng babae ang pinili mo dad? Isang wala ring kwenta katulad mo?" akmang susugod ang kaniyang stepmom para sana higitin ang buhok niya ay agad niyang sinangga ang braso nito at sinamaan ito ng tingin at saka tinulak. Agad naman itong natumba at tumama ang balakang sa tiles na sahig na siyang kinahiyaw nito sa sakit. Pero balewala ito sa kaniya ngayong. Wala ni isang katuong sa bahay nila kaya walang tumulong dito.

"My mom died because of your infidelity! Pinatay niya ang kaniyang sarili dahil di na niya kaya ang sakit ng pagtataksil ninyo sa kaniya at tila wala pa kayong pinapakitang konting simpatya sa kaniya." Tiningnan niya ang kaniyang ama. "Di ko kailangan ng walang kwentang ama, at mas lalong di ko kikilalaning naging ama kita. Kinakahiya kong minsan na kitang tiningala at hinangaan, na minsan nang naging idolo at aking tagapagligtas. Kakalimutan ko rin ang pangako mo samin ni mommy na kami lang ang mamahalin mo dahil matagal ko nang tangap na purong kasinungalingan lang ang lahat. Na walang katuturan lamang ang lahat!"

"Simula ngayon you are not my father anymore, kaya kalimutan mo nang may anak ka! Tutal naman andiyan ang kerida mong pabida na palaging tama sa mga mata mo samahan na rin ng anak niyang batugan at walang kwenta."

Umiiling ito sa kaniya habang nagmamakaawa ang mga mata nitong nakatitig sa kaniya. "No. You have to listen to me, Syl. Please listen to me first. I have my reason at hindi ko maipapaliwanag nang maayos iyon kung galit at sarado ang utak mo. Huminahon ka muna, anak..." napailing siya dito.

"You have lied to me over and over. You lied about mom, you lied about everything! You lied? You lied all along! Now, how am I supposed to believe what you will say, now?" kita niyang bumagsak ang balikat ng ama niya. Na para bang natalo sa gyera. Ama niyang minsan na rin niyang tiningala at hinangaan ngunit nagbago ito noong nangyari yun. At mas lalo lamang lumala ngayon. Kinamumuhian niya ito! At hinding-hindi niya ito mapapatawad pa.

[BlazeHood]