Apollo's Crib: A Sinister Fate

EP.23

Tahimik ang unit ng mga Wang. Parehas nagpapakiramdaman ang mag-ama. Ilang minuto nang magkaharap sina Cyla at Stephen ngunit walang gustong magsalita. Tanging tunog ng kubyertos lang ang naririnig sa paligid. Himalang hindi umalis ng crib ang ama, kaya nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na usisain ito tungkol sa babaeng nakita niya nang nakaraang araw.

Cyla gaze at her father and she saw how peaceful he is, as if he didn't hurt anyone in his life, specially her mom. Nakailang lunok muna ang dalaga para tanggalin ang tila bikig sa kanyang lalamunan. Kapagkakuwa'y mahinahon siyang nagsalita para basagin ang katahimikan nilang mag-ama.

"Dad, can I ask you something?" ani Cyla, nilalaro-laro pa niya ang taro cake na nasa platito niya. Her father never know what she really want in life that he isn't aware that she hates taro of all the edible root crops in the world.

"Sure thing, what is it?" sagot ng ama na hindi man lang siya tinapunan ng tingin. Patuloy ito sa pagsubo ng cake na waring sarap na sarap sa kinakain.

"How much do you love your wife?" tanong niya. Hindi siya humihiwalay ng titig sa ama dahil gusto niyang basahin ang reaksiyon nito sa tanong niya.

"Huh? What kind of question is that?" kunot-noong tanong nito. "Are you sick or something?" muling wika nito sabay dampi ng palad sa noo niya na parang tinitingnan kung mataas ang temperatura niya.

"Please just answer me, Dad." aniya sabay tabig sa kamay nito mula sa kanyang noo.

"Of course, I love your mom, that's the reason why we had you... and even now that she's already gone, I still love her as much as before." confident nitong sagot.

"If I was a product of your affection with mom, could it be possibly gone after years of being together?"

"Who told you that it was lost?" kunot-noong tanong nito.

"Is it?"

"Stop beating around the bush, Cyla. What is it?" tila aburidong tanong ng ama. He glares at her like there is no tomorrow and surprisingly, she's not scared anymore.

"Did you ever cheat on her?" diretsahang tanong niya na ikinagulat ng labis ng ama. Kaagad itong tumingin sa kanya ng may halong pagkabigla.

"W-what?" kandautal na tanong nito.

"Don't make me repeat the words that I just said, dad..."

"Of course not! Why would I cheat on your mom? Cheating does not exist in our marriage, why would I?" kaila ng ama.

Lihim na nasaktan si Cyla sa sagot ng ama dahil kahit alam niyang may karelasyon ito ay hindi pa rin ito nagsabi ng totoo. Bagkus ay mas pinili pa nito na muling magsinungaling sa kanya.

"You're telling a lie without even batting an eye, dad!" pigil ang emosyon na wika ni Cyla. She was deeply hurt and heart broken. How could her family suffers a heartbreak after another?

"C-cyla, I don't know where you'd get the idea, but... I never cheat on your mom. Never!"

"Really? Then tell me who is Connie?" tahasang tanong ng dalaga sa ama.

"Who's that?" maang-maangan nito.

Cyla never blink an eye when she give her phone to her father and made him take a look at it. There was a photo of Stephen and Connie together that was saved in her gallery and that is her evidence of his infidelity so far.

"Darling, did you know that photoshop does exist? I don't even know who she was!" galit nitong sabi sa kanya.

Napangiti ng mapait si Cyla sa inasal ng ama, the chances that she gave hhim to come clean is now gone with the wind. "You won't really admit it, do you?"

"Because there is nothing to own here, what you have right now is just a baseless accusation and I really feel hurt for what you did! How could you do this to me, Cyla?! Is this what I get from raising you like a princess?" gigil na sigaw sa kanya ng ama. Instead of saying an apology, paninigaw pa ang napala niya.

"Alright, maybe I was really wrong right now. I do apologize for what I said," aniya, tumayo na siya mula sa silya at tumalikod sa ama. Ngunit nakakadalawang hakbang palang siya ay muli siyang nagsalita. "By the way, that lady approach me the other day and deliberately showed me your photos with her. And that lady also resides here in the crib, just in case you don't know..."

Napaawang ang mga labi ni Stephen sa sinabi ng anak, malakas ang loob niya na kagagawan ni Connie ang lahat. Hindi iyon maaari, kailangan niyang pigilan si Connie sa mga posible pa nitong gagawin sa hinaharap. He can't lose his daughter's trust right at this moment, and aside from that, kailangan niya ring maghintay pa ng ilang buwan bago tuluyang makalaya sa anino ni Veronica. Lalo na at isa siya sa beneficiary ng insurance nito. He pick up his phone and dialed Connie's number, but unfortunately, his calls was proceeded to a voicemail. Marahil ay iniiwasan siya nito dahil alam nitong may mali itong ginawa sa kanya.

"Don't try to run around like that. You are ruining everything. I know what you did to my daughter, and I'm telling you Connie. Do that again and you'll know how much you are going to lose this time." babala niya sa ginang. Whatever the situation may be, he has to push through all of his plan on getting more money on his pocket.

Samantala, walang kamalay-malay si Stephen na sa mga oras na iyon ay nasa hindi magandang kalagayan si Connie. Nasa harapan niya ang kanyang estranged husband na si Arthur. Bigla itong sumulpot sa unit niya at wala siyang nagawa nang magpulit itong pasukin siya sa kanyang bahay.

"Please leave now, you already get what you want, did you?" ani Connie. Nangangatal ang katawan nito habang paisa-isang pinulot ang nawarak niyang saplot sa lapag.

"The party has just begun, why are sending your husband away?" patuyang tanong nito. "Why? Did you invite your lover for a quickie? You don't need to do that, I can give you that a thousand times better than him."

"We're separated already, you're not my husband anymore." mariing wika ni Connie.

"Not in my books, our divorce is not yet granted by the court. Technically, you're still my wife, Connie. Accept it!."

"No, I don't!" singhal ni Connie sa lalaki.

Tila napikon ang lalaki sa ginawa ng ginang kaya kaagad itong naglakad patungo sa kinaroroonan ng ginang at mabilis na hinawakan ng mahigpit sa pisngi nito. "The mere fact, that you're still using my name is enough reason for you to believe that I'm still your husband! And no matter how you deny it, the law can prove it otherwise!" gigil nitong singhal. Mas lalo pa nitong hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa pisngi ni Connie at pagkatapos ay kinaladkad itong muli sa kama at marahas na itinulak.

"Stay away from me, you son of a gun!" hintakot na wika ni Connie. Alam niya na ang kasunod na mangyayari at ayaw niya na sanang ibigay ang sarili kay Arthur. Nandidiri siya rito, ngunit kahit anong pagpupumiglas niya ay wala siyang panama sa lakas nito kaya sa huli, ito pa rin ang nasunod sa kanilang dalawa.