Kabanata 3
1766 Words
Hindi nawala sa isip ko ang rebelasyon ng mga dati kong kaklaseng lalaki. Hanggang sa nakauwi ay iyon ang nasa isip ko.
Hindi ako makapaniwala. Totoo ba iyon? But it did make sense.
Tandang-tanda ko noong nasa high school ako. Iñaki was already in college that time. There were guys who hinted their feelings for me. Pero hindi ang mga iyon nagtagal. Sometimes, after confessing to me, kinaumagahan ay bigla na lang silang iiwas.
I even thought maybe I wasn’t good enough or they realized I wasn’t worth it. Ganoon lagi. Sa una, magagaling. But just some days after their ‘panliligaw’, bigla na lang mawawala. It continued until college.
Hindi ko naman masyadong pinansin iyon dahil wala rin nga akong pakialam. I knew back then who my heart wanted. It was Iñaki.
But learning these things, hindi ko talaga maisip ang dahilan niya.
“Mommy!”
I automatically smiled when Pocholo went to me running. He hugged my waist. I squatted for our eyes to level.
Your father is a bad, bad guy, Pocholo.
“Bakit gising ka pa?” marahan kong tanong sa kanya matapos halikan sa pisngi. “It’s late.”
“Oh, nand’yan ka na pala.” It was my mother holding a glass of milk, maybe for our little prince. “Pinapatulog ko na ‘yan kanina pa. He was persistent to wait for you.”
Pocholo pouted. Tumawa ako at ginulo ang kanyang buhok saka hinalikan sa noo.
We were so good at waiting, huh.
“Kumusta ang binyag?” tanong ni Mommy matapos ibigay kay Pocholo ang gatas.
“It was fun. Malaki na ang panganay ni Jarah. Karamihan din sa mga dati kong kaklase ay nando’n. It was a reunion, actually.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed.” She smiled. “Dapat ay sinama mo si Cholo at nang makilala rin nila.”
Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. I wasn’t expecting her to tell me this. I remembered she was one of those who were really up to concealing my pregnancy and Pocholo when I gave birth.
“N-next time, Mom.”
“Addy.” She looked serious. Inipit niya ang takas na buhok sa likod ng aking tainga. “When do you plan to introduce,” she cleared her throat and glanced at Pocholo who was now busy playing in the sofa. “the two? Don’t tell me you changed your mind.”
Huminga ako nang malalim. “Mom, we went home for that purpose. I want them to meet. But I’m still waiting for the perfect time. I haven’t even met Iñaki for the past years so . . .”
She straightened her body, eyes were hopeful. “If you’re worrying how to contact him, I have his number. Wait . . .”
She fished her cell phone from her pocket. Pagod na hinawakan ko ang braso niya.
“Mom, I’ll introduce them to each other, okay?” I assured her. “But please, just leave it to me. I know you just want the best for your grandchild. I want that, too. Pero, please, hayaan niyo ako rito. I can handle this on my own.”
Mommy stared at me for seconds before she sighed as if defeated. “Pasensya ka na, anak. I just really want the best for Cholo. And he has been so excited meeting his father. He always asks me about him.”
Patagilid ko siyang niyakap. “I understand, Mommy.”
“Inaki is still a good man, anak. Kung natatakot ka sa magiging reaksyon niya, ‘wag kang mag-alala. Mabibigla siya. But I assure you, he’ll accept Cholo.”
Sana nga.
When I left the Philippines almost six years ago, I didn’t tell Iñaki about his child because he was just rebuilding the ruins I had caused him. Bukas pa at mahapdi ang mga sugat namin. I declined telling him, too, because I didn’t want him to be responsible and deprive him of his happiness. Ayokong itali siya dahil lang sa may anak kami. Knowing him, kahit ayaw niya, he’d play his part because of responsibility.
Years passed, I didn’t know what changes occured in him. At pinatanda na rin kami ng panahon. I never planned to keep Pocholo a secret from him forever. Ito na ang panahong dapat magkakilala sila.
Lumipas ang mga araw at patuloy kong inisip ang tungkol sa pagpapakilala kay Pocholo sa ama niya. I wanted to take things slow. But whenever Pocholo asked about him, gusto kong magmadali. Pocholo was a bright child. Kaya sa bawat palusot ko, nahihimigan ko na ang pagdududa niya.
“You’re hired.”
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. The woman reached out her hand to me with a smile. It took me seconds before I held it and stood up.
“T-thank you, Madam!”
She smiled and assisted me to another office where a contract was waiting for me. It took me half an hour to study the contract and of course, making myself believe I succeeded.
“I’ll see you next week, then,” the woman said and smiled again at me.
I smiled, too, and waved.
Habang palabas ng building ay hindi mapalis-palis ang ngiti ko. I got hired! Dali-dali kong kinuha ang cell phone ko at tinawagan si Brett para sabihin ang magandang balita.
“Wow, that’s great!” Ramdam ko ang tuwa niya. “Hindi na ‘ko nagtataka, Anaddy. You always slay, you know.”
My heart was filled with pride. “This is a big company, Brett! At ito pa lang ang unang pag-a-apply ko! I can’t believe this! I’m so happy!”
“Well, what can I say. They sure have good eyes. And well, your credentials are great!”
I grinned and opened my car. “You better drop by later. Magluluto ako.”
“Oh, I can’t.”
Natigil ang pagpasok ko sa kotse. “What do you mean you can’t? Kahit gabi ba nasa opisina ka?”
“Well, I have a date.”
Napakurap-kurap ako at napakunot-noo. “With whom? Your girlfriend? So she’s here.”
“Yes and . . . of course, Anaddy! It’s been years since I stopped being a manwhore, you know that!”
Humalakhak ako. “Yeah, whatever.” Binuhay ko ang makina. “So, ‘di ka makakapunta?”
“Yeah. Babawi na lang ako next time, okay?”
“Ano pa bang magagawa ko . . .”
“And please, tell the little prince his Dada still loves him. He called yesterday using Tita’s number. Inaaway ako. Kung love ko pa raw siya.”
“Ang tagal mo na kasing ‘di nagpapakita. No, you tell him personally. Hindi ako makikialam sainyong dalawa.”
He groaned. “That kid. Anong sinasabi mong walang namana sa’yo ang anak mo? He sounds so much like you when he called!”
Tumawa ako. Pocholo was good at waiting, too. “Sino ba kasing girlfriend mo, ha? Ang tagal niyo na pero ‘di mo man lang maipakilala sa’min.”
Hindi siya umimik nang ilang segundo kaya akala ko ay naputol na ang tawag. “In the right time, Anaddy.”
Maraming nangyari sa anim na taon. Brett got closer to my family so as I to his. My father really liked him for me even though he wasn’t saying anything. Malaki ang parte niya sa buhay ko ngayon at ni Pocholo. He was with us through the ups and downs.
We agreed to never ever keep a secret from each other. Ngunit ngayon, hindi ko siya maintindihan. He’d been dating this girl and he didn’t even tell me who was she! Kung hindi pa nabanggit sa akin ng isang kakilala roon sa US na nakita niya si Brett na may kasamang babae, wala akong kaide-ideyang may girlfriend na siya. At kahit anong pagpupumilit ko, ayaw niya sa akin ipakilala. Nakakatampo.
Tuwang-tuwa ang pamilya ko sa balita ko sa kanila. Ang balak kong pagluluto ay napunta na lamang sa pagkain sa isang restaurant. Pocholo was enjoying the Filipino dishes. Kaya tuwang-tuwa si Daddy habang inaasikaso siya.
“Busy si Brett, Dad.”
Tumango-tango si Daddy. “Well, he’s really a busy man. After all, ilang negosyo ang hinahawakan niya.”
“He has a date with his girlfriend.”
Napatingin muli sa akin si Daddy, medyo gulat. I playfully widened my eyes as if asking what was with his reaction. I had told him about it more than once. Baka akala niya noon ay nagbibiro ako.
“So, may girlfriend pala.” Mommy looked pleased.
“You seem pleased with it, Mom,” nakangising puna rito ni Keiffer.
“Of course, I’m pleased! He’s not getting any younger.”
“I thought . . .” I heard Daddy murmured.
I exhaled noisily and looked at Daddy. “Dad, sabi ko naman sa’yo, ‘di ba. He has a girlfriend. Kaya malabo nang maging manugang mo siya.”
“Anaddy Mouera!” sita sa akin ni Mommy na nanlalaki ang mga mata.
“What?” natatawang balik ko.
“Anong ‘manugang’ ang sinasabi mo d’yan, ha.” She looked offended.
“Daddy likes him for me.”
“I-I didn’t say anything!” Daddy defended.
Natawa ako. For the rest of the dinner, hindi binitiwan ni Mommy ang sinabi ko. Panaka-naka niyang binabalikan iyon at tinitingnan ako nang masama, pati rin si Daddy. Nagpapanggap na lang kami na walang naririnig. Until now, she really didn’t like Brett for me.
“Oo nga po pala.” Napatingin sila sa akin. “I’m planning for us to move out.”
“What?” anas ni Mommy. Kunot na kunot ang noo niya. “Bakit?”
“Well,” inayos ko ang pagkakaupo. “malayo sa bahay natin ang pagtatrabahuhan ko. I think it’s practical for me and Pocholo to move out and find a place near my work.”
Nagkatinginan ang mga magulang ko. They looked like they didn’t like my decision. But even if they did, hindi magbabago ang desisyon ko.
“Isa pa, balak kong i-enroll na si Pocholo, Dad, Mom,” dagdag ko. “I don’t like the school near our area. Brett suggested this private school. Do’n ko po siya balak ipasok.”
“I’m going to school na, Mommy?” Pocholo chimed in as his eyes sparkled.
I smiled at him. “Yes, baby.”
“I bet my future classmates are boring.”
Natigilan ako sa sinabi ng anak ko. Maging sina Mommy, Daddy, at Keiffer. After some seconds, tumawa kami.
This kid . . .
- Writer
