Cord Connection

THE GAME STARTS

Chapter Ten

Zyck's POV

Napayuko na lang si Mom habang patuloy na ikikuwento ang nangyari sa Camp at kung paano ako nahiwalay sa kanila. Ramdam ko ang pait at sakit sa bawat binibigkas nitong salita. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at naupo katabi siya. I caress her back with my right hand.

"It doesn't matter Mom. The most important thing is you're alive. Glad you're here," I said, lifting the emotions of my Mom. Kahit sa totoo lang ay parang gusto ko na ring humagolhul ng iyak.

But, I never did. I was wrap by my shame to cry in front of my fellow friend I must say. Baka bigla na naman nila akong asarin at sabihing iyakin ako. In fact, I have to be strong for my Mom. Ako na lang ang makakapitan niya sa pagkakataong ito kahit pa unti-unti na rin akong nilalamon ng sakit dahil sa pagkawala ni Dad at ng aming campsite.

Pero, wala naman na kaming magagawa, wala rin namang mangyayari kung iiyak pa ako, himdi iyon maibabalik ang buhay ng aking Dad. Wala na ring kuwenta kung magwawala ako. Hindi ko na maibabalik sa maayos ang lahat.

Nagpatuloy na lang ako sa paghaplos ng likod ni Mom habang patuloy siya sa pag-iyak.

Walang kumikibo sa aming lahat at pinagmamasdan lang si Mom na umiiyak. Ang naririnig lang namin sa loob ay ang iyak ng Mom ko.

Narito na naman kami sa gray benches. Ito lang kasi ang lugar na kung saan kami nakakapag-usap ng harapan dahil na rin sa circular ang hugis ng benches kaharap ang isang kulay itim na lamesa at may pabilog itong hugis.

Dr. Faraday won't throw a glanced to my Mom as if being humiliated himself. Kanina pa niya pa rin nilalaro ang kaniyang mga kamay.

Napansin ko rin kanina habang pauwi kami rito ang pangingunig ng buo niyang katawan. He gets his body rigid everytime my Mom near him.

Pinagmasdan ko lang siya at palihim na nangiti nang maalala ko ang mga sinabi niya nakaraan.

He confessed that he fell in love to my Mom. The reason why he left our campsite and built his own. Perhaps, he's being ashamed himself. Maybe... I feel it.

Iniangat ng Mom ko ang ulo niya. Punong-puno ng luha ang mga ito. She wipes the tears from her eyes and compose herself. Mapait siyang ngumiti sa aming lahat. Pinipilit ang kaniyang sarili maging matatag sa kabila ng lahat ng nangyari.

"Yeah... You're right, Honey," she said. Tumingin siya sa akin at kitang-kita ko ang pamumula ng kaniyang mga mata. "We have nothing we can do for this. We should accept this fact even it was hurt," age added.

Napatango na lang ako sa kaniya bilang pagsang-ayon. Unti-unti ko ring nararamdaman ang paglandas ng aking mga luha pababa sa aking pisngi.

She crosses me her arms and kiss my head. Napayakap ito sa akin kaya't yumakap na rin ako sa kaniya.

"Pft." It's Matt.

Napatingin akong bigla sa kaniya. Kitang-kita ko ang pagpipigil nito ng tawa. Maging si Ellina ay tinapunan ako ng mapang-asar ng tingin at ngisi.

Napakunot na lang ako ng aking noo habang pinagmamasdan sila.

Nang ituon ko ang aking mata kay Cedric. Nanlalaki naman ang mata ni nito.

What? Bago lang ba sila makakita ng Mama's boy?

Napasimangot na lang ako at kumalas na mula sa pagkakayakap ko kay Mom.

Napayuko na lang ako habang unti-unti kong nararamdaman ang pang-iinit ng aking pisngi. Ramdam ko pa rin ang mapanukso nilang tingin sa akin. Mga mapang-asar,palibhasa hindi mahal ng Mama.

Mom fixates her eyesights at Dr. Faraday. When their eyes met sudden Dr. Faraday dodged it. Napalunok pa ito bigla ng kaniyang laway at napatingala na lang kasabay ang pagsandal nito sa backrest ng benches na inuupunan niya.

Kaharap kasi nito si Mom, nasa kaliwa ako habang kaharap ko naman si Matt at Ellina.

"So, this is the camp you built, Frances," my Mom uttered and begin to roam her sights to the place. Ramdam sa boses ni Mom na pinipilit nitong maging matatag.

Napatapon bigla ng tingin si Dr. Faraday kay Mom. Napalunok siyang muli ng kaniyang laway. Muling nagtama ang kanilang mga mata, subalit ngayon ay hindi na umiwas si Dr. Faraday at diretso ng tinignan si Mom.

"Hindi ka pa rin nagbabago, tulad ka pa rin ng dati Frances, I wanna know if why you left Holmanians camp? Bakit bigla mo na lang kaming iniwan? Huh?" asked by my Mom.

Tinignan lang siya ni Mom ng hindi nagkukurap ng mga mata. May bahid ng galit ang boses nito, subalit napakalmado niya lang.

My Mom just wait him to answer her question. Napatingin na lang rin ako kay Dr. Faraday.

He looks so uneasy and uncomfortable. Tila naghahanap ito ng lakas ng loob sumagot sa tanong ni Mom.

Napatingin na lang din sina Ellina, Matt at maging si Cedric ay gayon.

Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan nito. Tila humugot ng lakas ng loob. Napapagitnaan ito nina Matt at Cedric.

He cleares his throat and said, "Ammm... Ah... It's a long story to tell Britty," replied by Dr. Faraday.

Tila wala yatang balak sabihin ang totoo kay Mom. Napangiting aso na lang ito.

"So, then tell me. I want to hear your side, bago pa ako tuluyang kamuhian ka. Why you left us there without any consent huh? I feel angry before, all my life alam mo ba iyon? I wanna find you and smashed your face with my pist, gusto kitang bugbugin," my Mom mumbled. But, she doesn't do what she just said. Her tears are now visible again in her eyes. Unti-unti na naman iyong nagbabagsakan sa kaniyang pisngi.

Napayuko na lang si Dr. Faraday. Napipi ito sandali at hindi na nakatingin pa kay Mom.

"If you won't leave us maybe we finish creating a virus which can shut the engine of the Extraterrestrial being. If you won't leave maybe we save the Earth before they successfully invaded it. My Husband is dead, he travel Asymptote Universe everyday to gain some informations where we begin to destruct it, but we failed. We wouldn't made it. The Cyborgs found our hideout. They traced us, Frances, they kill our team, bakit hindi mo kami binalikan? Bakit hindi mo kami kinontact man lang," she explained leaving her tears felling down to her cheeks.

"I'm sorry," he timidly replied. "I didn't meant to left the Holmanians... but, if I won't I might... might..." Napakuyom siya ng kaniyang kamao.

"Might what?" my Mom dowelled.

Nangunot ang mga noo ni Mom kasabay ang pagbahid nito ng kaniyang tuyong palad sa luhang umaagos sa kaniyang pisngi.

Dr. Faraday looks at me as if asking permission if he going to tell the truth or makes some alibay.

Tumango na lang ako sa kaniya, sapagkat mukhang ito na rin ang tamang panahon para malaman niya ang katotohanan makalipas ang ilang taon.

Cedric and Matt grab his shoulder and look at him intently. I saw him gulping, he looks so uncomfortable. Kitang-kita ko ang pamamawis ng kaniyang noo.

"Tell me... why?" my Mom asked again.

"Dad, tell him the truth," Ellina said.

Napatingin ang Mom ko kay Ellina ng nakakunot ang noo. Nagtatanong ang kaniyang mga mata. Siguro ay kung bakit tinawag siya ni Ellina na Dad.

Dr. Faraday deeply sigh and said, "I might... be the one who going to destroy you and your family, Britty," he directly said that left my Mom dumbfounded.

"I can't focus that time, I can't do my jobs well everytime I... I saw you together with your husband... I... I... Fell in love for you that time... So, I decided to left without you knowing... Because I don't want meddling other relationship. In fact, you two are my best friend, kaya mahirap... I left... Sorry..." Dr. Faraday counterpart.

"Ha..." my Mom said and look uo to the ceiling. Mapait itong nangiti sa akin. Tears are continued flowing unto her eyes. It won't stopped.

"Sorry..." Dr. Faraday said, sincerely.

My Mom closed her eyes hard as if contemplating things. She smeares her tears. " Akala mo ba hindi ko napansin iyon dati pa? Zackaria now it too," she said.

Napabuka ang bibig ni Dr. Faraday sa kaniyang narinig at biglang namula ang kaniyang pinsgi at tainga. Tinignan siya ni Mom ng diretso.

"After all, I can't blame you. It's your choice by the way, I know you, matagal na tayong nagkasama sa Campsite. I'll accept naman if you say your feelings to me but, I will refuse to give back the feelings you had. One thing I can assure that our friendship will be last forever. Maybe, I can't reciprocate the feelings you had 'cause I'm in loved with my husband Zackaria, but I will love you as my friend," she said. Ngumiti siya ng mapait kay Dr. Faraday gayon din si Dr. Faraday. Namumula ang buong mukha nito habang nakatingin kat Mom. "By the way, Pass is just pass, I bet you moved on..." she added. "Apologized accepted."

Tumango si Dr. Faraday. "Yeah... When I left the camp I met Centia," he started. Napatingin na kaming lahat sa kaniya. "We fell for each other... and we get married... I decided to built this camp, Years passed by, she gives birth and that is, my Daughter Ellina," he explained to us. Napatingin siya sa gawi ni Ellina, gayon din si Mom.

"Where is she now?" my Mom asked. "Bakit hindi ko aiya makita dito?"

Napayuko na lang si Dr. Faraday saka umusal, "Centia got abducted the time when we go outside the city to find something we can use. We also planning to shut the Asymptote Universe, but we didn't made it," sadness can heard on his voice. "By the way, it happens years ago, we shouldn't talk to it today right," he added. Lifting the atmosphere we had.

Napangiti ito ng tipid habang isa-isa niya kaming tinatapunan ng tingin.

"By the way, what are doing at Holmanians? Why you go there?" My Mom asked baffled.

Napatingin silang lahat sa gawin namin ni Mom.

"We're looking for you and Zackaria. I promised to your Son. I'm gonna recoup you in any cost," replied by Dr. Faraday. Punong-puno ng didikasyon ang kaniyang tinig.

"Thank you, Frances... to be honest, I'm still angry with you, but this anger will be no longer to tolerate at all... we have to team up in order for us to destroy the Asymptote Universe... and Oh my God..." my Mom abruptly widened her eyes when she realized something.

Napatayo pa ito ng bahagya habang nanlalaki ang mga mata.

"What is it Mom?"

We pin our sight to her with our eyes inquiring.

"I need to go back to Holmanians, I had to search for something... the information we gathered are there and also the Asymptote Universe blueprint, all of our inventions are there... It is great help for us..." my Mom uttered flabbergasted.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang tinutukoy ni Mom, pero ramdam kong napaka-importante ng bagat na iyon.

"What is it?" Dr. Faraday asked.

"The Flashdrive! I have to find it there, naitapon ko iyon somewhere," she replied.

Nag-aayos na si Mom ng sarili at naghahanda na para lisanin ang. Campsite.

Nanlaki na lang ang mga mata namin ng malaman ang tinutukoy ni Mom.

Nagsimula siyang humakbang at nagtungo sa pintuan.

"Wait," Dr. Faraday halted my Mom.

He gets the flashdrive inside his pocket and show it to my Mom.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Mom at isang maaliwalas na ngiti ang namutawi sa kaniyang mga labi.

Napangiti na rin kaming lahat sa naging reaksyon niya.

"You found it!" my Mom lively said.

Agad siyang lumapit kay Dr. Faraday.

"Yeah, your Son found it..."

My Mom weakly smiled and gets the flashdrive on her hands.

Isa-isa niya kaming pinukol ng tingin habang may mga ngiti sa labi. "This flashdrive will help us to pulverized the Asymptote Universe and bring here all the people they Abducted!" punong-puno ng didikasyon ang tinig nito habang nagsasalita. "This will be the beginning..." she said with dictions in every words.

--------