“MARRYING MY EX'S UNCLE"

Chapter 3: THE TRUTH UNFOLDS

I stood frozen, the weight of the revelation crushing into me. I felt a whirlwind of emotions - disbelief, confusion, anger, and a flicker of hope. My life, the life I'd built, was suddenly thrown into chaos.

The party around me faded into a blur. I could hear the excited chatter, the clinking of glasses, the strains of music, but it all seemed distant, like a dream. My mind was consumed by a single question: why?

"Anya, are you okay?" Lindsay's voice, filled with concern, kaya nabalik ako sa ulirat

I shook my head, unable to speak. I felt a lump forming in my throat, threatening to spill over into tears.

"It's alright, Anya," Lindsay said softly, taking my hand. "It's a lot to process. We'll figure this out together tsaka sigurado naman akong may dahilan kung bakit nawalay ka sa piling nila ni auntie Hindi ko lang nalaman"

I looked at Lindsay,my best friend, my confidante. She was the only one who truly knew me, who had been there through thick and thin.

"Hindi ko maintindihan" I whispered, my voice trembling. "Why would they leave me? Why did they abandon me?"

Lindsay's eyes softened. "I don't know the answers yet, Anya," she said gently. "But we'll find out. We'll get to the bottom of this alam kong may paliwanag sila auntie sayo h'wag ka munang mag overthink okay? Alam kong hinahanap hanap ka nila at namiss ka nila ng subra ."

I nodded, clinging to Lindsay's hand for support. I felt a surge of gratitude for my friend, for her unwavering loyalty and love.

The party continued, but I was lost in my own world. I watched as my supposed parents, Arlan and his wife, interacted with their guests, their faces radiating joy and contentment.

"Anya, come with me," Lindsay said, leading her away from the crowd. "Let's get some fresh air."

They stepped out onto the balcony, the cool night air a welcome relief. The moon hung high in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the sprawling gardens.

"What are you going to do?" Lindsay asked, her voice filled with concern.

I sighed. "Hindi ko pa alam," I admitted. "I need time to think. I need to understand what happened, why they left me."

"You're not alone, Anya," Lindsay said, squeezing my hand. "We'll face this together. Whatever happens, I'll be here for you tsaka kaibigan mo ako no at mag pinsan pa kung Tama nga" nakangiti niyong sabi

I looked into Lindsay's eyes, finding solace in her unwavering support. I knew that whatever the future held, I wouldn't have to face it alone.

***

The days that followed were a blur of anticipation and anxiety. I waited for the results of the paternity test, my heart pounding with every passing hour. I had tried to distract myself, to immerse myself in the familiar routine of my life, but the uncertainty gnawed at me, a constant reminder of the impending truth.

Finally, the day arrived. I sat across from my supposed parents, Arlan and his wife,

A sealed envelope lay on the table between us holding the answer to the question that had haunted me for so long.

"Anya," Arlan began, his voice trembling slightly. "We know this has been a lot to take in. We understand if you need time to process everything."

I just nodded, my eyes fixed on the envelope. I felt a strange sense of detachment, as if I were watching a scene unfold in a movie, not my own life.

"We just want you to know," Arlan continued, "that we've always loved you. We never stopped thinking about you."

My heart ached. I wanted to believe them, but the years of abandonment, the pain of feeling unwanted, were deeply ingrained in her soul.

"We're ready to hear the results," I said, parang bulong nalang na sabi ko.

Arlan reached for the envelope, his hand shaking. He opened it slowly, revealing the results. He glanced at his wife, then back at me.

"Anya," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "The test confirms it. You are our daughter."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The years of uncertainty, the longing for a family, were finally answered. But the relief was quickly overshadowed by a surge of anger.

"Why?" tanong ko, my voice laced with bitterness. "Why did you leave me? Why did you abandon me?"

Arlan and his wife exchanged a look, their eyes filled with sorrow. "Hindi Ka namin iniwan anak, mawala ka ng yaya mo at Hindi kana niya nakita Kay tagal Ka naming hinanap anak, patawarin mo kami ng mama mo," umiiyak na sambit nito na pati ako'y naiiyak narin

,"Hinanap Ka namin kung saan² pero Hindi Ka talaga namin nahanap anak patawarin mo kami kung napabayaan Ka namin all these years" my mom added, her voice choked with tears.

I listened, my anger slowly subsiding, replaced by a deep sense of sadness. So this is the truth whole years being alone

"I understand," I said, with voice soft. "It doesn't excuse what happened, but I understand."

I now reached out and took my parents' hands, feeling a connection I had never known before. "I'm your daughter," I said, my voice trembling. "And I'm here now."

Arlan and his wife embraced me tightly, tears streaming down their faces. Alam kong mahirap ulit magsimula sa bagong buhay pero ngayong alam ko na kung sino ang totoo Kong magulang ay masaya na Rin Ako...Hindi ko talaga inaasahan na mangyayari ito samin...

"Mahal Ka namin anak, Anya mahal na mahal" nakayakap nagsasalita si mama

"Alam ko po, mahal ko din Po kayo syempreee magulang ko Po kayo Hindi ko nga inexpect to eh" tanging sabi ko habang humihikbi pa

"Tawagin mo na kaming mama and papa okay?" sabi nman ni papa

"opo papa" nakangiting tugon ko, we hugged each other in a moment

Nagyakapan lang kami at nagkwentuhan , tinanong Rin nila Ang nangyari sa buhay ko at kinwento ko lahat pati na Ang pagtrato sakin ng umampon sakin...na Hindi talaga maganda Lalo na si Lizzy ang Ang anak din nito dahil subrang inis Yun palagi sakin...kahit Hindi inaano

"Subra Naman pala talaga ang pinagdaanan mo anak,sorry talaga Hindi naging maayos Ang buhay mo noon pero hayaan mo babawi kami Sayo anak, pangako Yan" sambit ni mama

"salamat ma, pa pero uuwi na muna ako sa Bahay Ng umampon sakin dahil kukunin ko lang Yung ibang gamit ko" sabi ko sa kanila siguro bukas uuwi Muna ako sa bahay tsaka mag paalam na Rin Ako...

"samahan ka na namin anak," sabi pa ni papa

"ok lang po, Ako nalang po mag Isa pupunta, tsaka kaya ko naman papa" I said

"Alright then, let's go kain muna tayo sa labas bonding na Rin natin dahil sa wakas kompleto na tayo, tsaka mag shopping tayo anak, gusto mo ba?" mama asked, with excitement in her voice

"yes, ma" I smiled at them

ganito pala Ang pakiramdam kapag may mga magulang Kang tunay na nagmamahal Sayo...

Gaya nga ng sabi ni mama, Kumain kami sa labas ang isinama na Rin namin si Lindsay para bonding Rin kami bilang mag pinsan at kaibigan Hindi ko akalain na Ang kaibigan ko Ng matagal ay pinsan ko rin pala....I'm so happy to know that they' really are my family,

"Anya, cousin, first bonding natin to bilang mag pinsan subrang saya ko talaga" nakangiting sabi pa ni Lindsay sakin habang naglakad kami papasok sa mall dahil ibibili raw kami ni Lindsay ni mama ng mga damit tumanggi pa sana si Lindsay dahil Ang dami na raw niyang gamit kaya pinilit Siya ni mama kaya Hindi na nakaimik pa....

"Anak, ito bagay to sayo oh?" turo ni mama sa isang fitted dress na blue Ang Ganda nga pero Ang mahal ng presyo ganito ba talaga kamahal Dito naku...

"Naku, ma magsayang ka lang po ng Pera may mga damit pa naman po Ako eh tsaka mahal po dito" sabi ko ngumuti lamang ito sakin tsaka hinihimas Ang buhok ko

"No worries anak, para sayo it's worth it " sa ni mama

Wala si papa Ngayon Dito dahil may inasikaso Siya sa kompanya pagkatapos kasi naming Kumain may tumawag sa kanya galing daw sa kompanya kaya kami nalng tatlo nag shopping....babawi namn daw siya...pero sinabi ko rin na ok lng naintindihan ko Naman...

Namimili lang kami ng damit lumayo Ako sa kanilang mama dahil busy Rin Sila kakatingin Ng mga bibilhin...

"Yohhhhh is this my sister, Anya?" napalingon ako ng marinig Ang boses na iyon...Hindi nga Ako nagkamali dahil si Lizzy pala talaga ito...Kasama ang mga kaibigan niyang kagaya niya...

tiningnan ko lang sila at hindi nalang pinansin dahil ayoko ng gulo palagi pa naman tong naghahamon ng gulo ehhh....kaya hayaan ko na...ayuko ng makipagplastikan pa

"Hey, b*tch are you ignoring me? Ang kapal naman Ng mukha mo akala mo naman kung sino, huh" she snort

"Ano ba ang gusto mo, Lizzy di na nga kita pinakiaalaman eh naghanap ka parin Ng gulo" sagot ko dito

"Ohh marunong Ka na palang sumagot, tsaka bakit Ka ba nandito naligaw ka yata hindi mo naman afford?" natawa nalang ako sa reaction niya dahil wala talagang magawa sa buhay pinapakialaman pa Ako palagi...

"Do you really think, I can't?" pabalik Kong tanong tsaka tinaasan ko Siya ng kilay

"Ohhh, who do you think you are Isa ka lang namang hampas lupa na napulot namin sa basurahan?" sabi nito kaya mas Lalo lang nag init ulo ko kung di lang talaga public to sinabunutan ko na

"ohhhh? kahit itong buong store pa bilhin ko para sayo*" sabi ko nalang para tumigil na

"HAHAHAHAHAHA nagpapatawa Ka talaga eh no? hindi ka nga nakakabili ng Sariliong perfume amoy basura Ka parin" nagtawanan pa sila...

Hindi ko nalang pinansin at nagpatuloy lang akong mamili ng damit ng may mapansin akong maganda lumapit Naman Ang sales lady at itinuro ko Ang nagustuhan ko...

"Ito Po ba ma'am?" tanong nito tinanguan ko namn

"Hepp hepp, Akin yan I saw it first so that belong to me" anas pa ni Lizzy kahit Ako Naman Ang nakauna nambabara talaga to ehh

"I picked it first, Lizzy don't you have manners?" sabi ko pa

"Ohhh sa pagkaka alam ko mahal Yan, Hindi mo afford baka makulong ka pa pag di mo nabayaran" sabi pa nito

mahina naman akong natawa dahil sa sabi nito ...

"Ibigay mo sakin Yan" utos pa niya sa sales lady

"are you sure kaya niyong bayaran to? " Tanong pa nito sakin ng sales lady

"Kaya ko" sabi ko

"Whoaaaa nagpanggap Ka pa ...wag kang maniwala diyan dahil alam ko dahil Kilala ko yan" sabi pa ni Lizzy nagtawanan Naman Ang mga minions nito sa likod niya

"Wala Ka palang ibabayad eh, pumili-pili Ka pa umalis ka nga nakakaisturbo Ka lang pala Dito eh, ito na nga Po pala ma'am " sabay bigay niya Ng dress na napilo ko Kay Lizzy nadala talaga sa babaeng impakta

"Ako ang nakapili niyan diba bat mo binigay?" gulat na Tanong ko dahil sa ginawa nito

"Nagbibinta Po kami hindi pinapautang" sambit nito ganito ba talaga dito Ang mga tao Hindi marunong makisama

"See? look at you? you don't even have a money to buy ba't Ka pa pumunta rito" di ko nalang Siya pinakinggan at namili nalang ulit

Ituturo ko na sana pero agad din naman nambabara si Lizzy dahil sa kanya raw iyon ..' huh tingnan natin kaya mo bang bilhin lahat Ng to?' sabi ko nalang sa isip

Turo ako ng turo Ng mga mamahaling damit at binabara Naman iyon ni Lizzy dahil sya Ang bibili dahil sa kaniya raw kaya pinabayaan ko na...tingnan lang natin kung kaya mo pa?

"The total of 500k Po ma'am" sabi ng sales lady

"What?" gulat na tanong ni Lizzy napangiti Naman ako ng makita ang itsura niya

"Ano hindi mo kaya?" Tanong ko sa kaniya

"Who says? I have my money" sabi pa nito

natawa nalang ako dahil sa reaksiyon niya...

"Oh ba't parang naging Isang lantang gulay Ka don't tell me kapos Ka na sa Pera?" natatawa Kong sabi

"May Meron ba talaga kayong maibabayad?" Tanong ng sales lady

"Of course" sabi pa nito sabay lingon niya sa mga minions na

"What the f*ck Lizzy Hindi ko pwede gastusin Ang Pera ko dahil malalagot Ako baka Hindi na ako bigyan Ng Pera ni daddy kapag gasto ako ng gastos

Huh, subra kasi Kong makapag react kala mo naman kung sino....