Crushed 2

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

BRIE

MULA sa pagkakahiga sa kanyang kama ay bumangon si Brie nang makita niya ang kanyang Mommy na pumasok sa pintuan. Nakangiti ito at may dalang tray ng gatas at prutas.

“Hi darling. I have a surprise or rather, Daddy's surprise.” ani Bridget sa dalaga na naghihintay.

Surprise ng Daddy niya? Ano? A husband for Tam-Tam?

Ouch.

Mauuna pa yata sa kanyang mag-asawa ang alaga niya. Siya hindi na siya mag-aasawa. Tatanda na lang siya na ang mga little Tommies niya ang kasama.

“What is it Mom?” she asked and felt a bit excited.

Kadarating pa lang din niya galing sa ospital at parang excited na excited ang Mommy niya sa kanyang pagbubuntis. Gusto niyang itanong kung hindi ba ito galit pero nakaramdam siya ng hiya kaya hindi na siya nagtanong pa kanina.

“I'll let you see the surprise after drinking your milk.” nakalapit na si Bridget sa kama ni Brie at ang titig nito sa kanya ay hindi mapunit.

Naupo ito sa tabi niya at hinawakan siya sa ulo, hinalikan sa noo. “My baby girl. Did I miss telling you how much I love you?”

Her eyes welled. “Sorty.” she frets and her mother chuckled.

“Well, I love you so much. I know you want to ask me so many things but I can't answer some for I don't want to deprive your Dad's rights. I want him to speak. I want you to talk to him.” isinalipit nito ang buhok niya sa tainga.

“I will, Mommy. Pupunta na nga ako ngayon sana. Ikaw, galit ka ba?”

Umiling ito sa kanya at ngumiti. “Tommy called me after you called. He told me that it wasn't your fault and he chose to hide the truth so he could have you. You were both victims of love but of course, Daddy has a different insight. You know he holds a reputation in this country and remember that he's a pure Filipino. He disagrees to divorce and annulment. He believes in the matrimony of marriage. He's such a believer, if you don't know. Simpleng tao lang din naman ang Daddy mo na naniniwala sa, forever.”

“And you're his forever...while I don't have.” she sadly looked down. “Just these babies. Mommy…” Brie started to sob. “Why do I feel incomplete? I'm happy for having these babies but why am I still feeling awful? I feel so shy. I feel sorry. I want to tell myself that it's okay. Uso na ang may kabit ngayon at may affair sa iba ang isang lalaki o babae, but…I still feel so shy.”

“Because we raised you with good morals. Kahit na paulit-ulit na sumabay ang lahat ng tao sa pauso ng mundo, tandaan mo na hindi lahat ng tao pabor sa mga bagay na nauuso. Some are still conservative and maybe you're one of those few people who believe in the Bible, who believe in immorality but not all women who became mistresses were immoral. Being a spokesperson of Women's Foundation, I learned that many were completely just lost and some were victims. Naniniwala ka na mortal na kasalanan ang nagawa mo at nagsisisi ka kaya ka ganyan mag-isip. You know yourself better than anyone do. Your kids know you better than anybody else. I know you. Your Dad knows you. We know that you are a good person.”  hinaplos nito ang pisngi niya at niyakap siya. “I'm still so thankful that you came back. You lifted your dignity. I lacked guidance, too. I know I was not beside you all the time to guide you but despite all these things, you still made me so proud. You decided on your own.”

“Thanks, Mommy. I love you so much.” niyakap niya ito nang mas mahigpit at saka siya pumikit.

“I feel the same, sweetheart. The surprise is waiting outside your door. Drink you milk and see it for yourself.” mabilis siyang sumunod at ininom ang gatas niya para makalabas na siya.

“May I now?”

“Yes, of course.”

Parang bata siyang bumaba sa kama at isnuot ang tsinelas.

“Careful, your babies.” paalala ni Bridget sa anak na biglang binagalan ang paghakbang.

“Sorry.” Brie covered her lips. “I thought walang laman. Kamukha sila ni Tommy, Mommy at mag-aasawa sila ng marami.” she giggled and her Mom's eyes widened.

Tuloy-tuloy naman siyang lumapit sa pintuan at binuksan iyon para makita ang surpresa raw.

Sumilip siya at napatili sa gulat, sapo ang dibdib nang bulagain siya ng isang tao. “Surprise!” nakabungisngis na sabi ni Mariana kaya lumaki ang mga mata niya.

“Omg! You're real! You're here! How'd you? Where did you…?” halos mapatalon siya sa tuwa pero naalala niya ang mga anak niya kaya kunwari na lang ay tatalon-talon siya nang magyakap sila.

“May tumawag sa akin last week, Atty. Fournier. Utos daw ng PM na mag-send ako ng bank account at papadalhan ako ng pera at sila na ang bahala sa mga ahensya na kukunan ko ng papeles. Pinaasikaso niya ako ng papeles sa loob lang ng isang linggo tapos pasado lahat ng papers ko at ‘yong VISA ko, ang bilis. Yaya ang in-apply-an kong trabaho, best friend. Yaya ako ni, mo.”

Napatikal si Brie. “Me?”

Humalakhak ito. “Joke lang. Waitress sa isang restaurant pero sabi sa akin ng Daddy mo, dito ako tutuloy sa inyo para may kasama ka. Nakakahiya pero ang saya ko.” kinilig ito sa tuwa at maluha-luha.

She's so touched. Her Dad did it for her? Sa Mommy niya siya nagsabi na gusto niyang tulungan si Mariana isang araw na makapuntang Canada tapos ay isusunod niya sina Becca. Hindi niya inakala na ginastusan na ng Daddy niya ang kaisa-isang best friend na talagang best friend ang tingin sa kanya at hindi tulad ng mga kaibigan niya noon na lumalapit lang dahil anak siya ng Prime Minister.

Ngumiti si Mariana ay yumuko nang kaunti kaya napalingon siya at naroon na ang Mommy niya, nakangiti sa kanila.

She looked at her friend again but her eyes caught an old man's figure just at the door of her Dad's office.

Kalahati lang ang nakita niya pero alam niyang nakangiti iyon nang kaunti bago pumasok sa opisina matapos yatang pagmasdan siya.

“Mamaya, dadalhin kita sa room mo. I just have to leave you for a while. I haven't talked to my Dad pa kasi.” paalam niya sa kaibigan na agad naman na tumango.

“Sige, sige. Dito na muna ako sa Mommy mo. Ang ganda ng Mommy mo, parang ikaw lang kapag bata.”

She giggled and pinched Mariana's cheeks.

Iniwan niya ito kasama ang ina niya at naglakad siya papunta sa office ng kanyang ama.

She's so happy. Parang may kung anong nawawalang parte sa buhay niya ang naibalik kahit paano. Kahit na may kulang pa rin, masaya pa rin siya sa pagdating ni Mariana. Naghirap man siya sa Pilipinas at natutong kumain ng halos mapapanis na pagkain para lang mabuhay, iyon ang mga sandali na hindi niya makakalimutan.

She learned the value of life. She learned a lot and if she will soon ask her Dad to do something, it's for the benefit of the young children who aren't blessed with fortune.

Brie slowly takes a step in and saw her father facing the window with a wine glass in his hand.

“Dad…” malambing na tawag niya sa ama na naipilig lang nang kaunti ang ulo.

Lumapit pa siya at mula sa likod ay niyakap ito sa tiyan. “I'm sorry. I can't be a PM anymore. It's such a shame that your only daughter suddenly turned your life controversial.”

Naramdaman niya ang paghawak nito sa kamay niya tapos ay inakbayan siya at inilipat sa harap nito.

Samuel looked in her eyes and caressed her cheek. “I wasn't ashamed. I am silent because I'm trying to sort out the things which could possibly still make you happy. I could see what you've sacrificed to repay what you've done. I could feel pain here.” dinutdot nito ang tapat ng puso niya. “It hurts because we've given you all the things that you wanted or maybe some weren't really what you wanted. Perhaps,your mom and I just fed you the things what we think are the best for you, and here you are…broken.” maluha-luha ang ama niya.

“Mas importante sa akin ang anak ko kaysa sa sinasabi ng ibang tao. What's inside your heart still matters above anything else, Addie. We're afraid of this first heartbreak of yours, sweetheart. We're afraid that it wouldn't end. Tommy's real wife talked to me. She told me something that truly dreaded me. She's never letting go. She's mad. She's jealous and she said that death is the only thing that could separate them.”

Tumango siya kahit pakiramdam niya ay gabundok ang bumara sa kanyang lalamunan.

“Tommy has to make a move but we’re not sure what will happen. As long as Genesis doesn't sign the divorce papers, there's no assurance that you two can be together. Kawawa naman ang mga apo ko.” anito at mapait na ngumiti.

Tumulo ang mga luha ni Brie habang kaharap ang ama.

Hudyat ba ‘yon na hindi na siya maniwala na may forever?

Hudyat din ba ito na gusto ng Daddy niya na tanggapin niya ang alok na kasal ni Liam?

“Daddy, I can be a single Mom but if you will ask me to marry Liam because of our ruined reputation, I will. I just…” humikbi ang dalaga. “I just want to show you how sorry I am. Ako lang ang meron ka pero parang hindi naman kita napasaya. Pakiramdam ko hindi nga dapat yata ako ang anak mo. I even ran away. I left you and Mommy. I don't have the right to defy any of your decisions from now on.” umiling siya pero natawa nang mahina si Samuel kaya napanganga si Brie.

Naudlot ang pagluha niya.

“I made a child not to have someone who would repay me for the good things that I've done. I made a child because I wanted a family, a baby to make me smile at times I'm stressed and worn out. I never agreed to Liam though it was a brilliant idea but the decision is still yours. I lost you once when I forced you to join politics. This time, I don't want to lose you and my grandchildren when I push you to marry the man you don't even love. We both had a lot of realizations, darling and I also learned a lot of things when you left us. You're more precious than my dreams. You are my dream. Will you marry him for my sake?” tanong nito at saka pinahid ang luha niya. “No you must not. If you will, you have to marry him for the sake of your heart and not because I told you so. Will you?”

Sumimangot siya at umiling. “I've seen perfect example of a failed marriage, Daddy and it crushed a person’s whole being very badly. I don't want to end up experiencing the same in the future, knowing that…I don't know whether I can still love…another...man, but… who knows.” she looked down but her father chinned her up.

“You're young. There's a lot in the store for you. I trust you. You helped me trust you. You did something wrong but I know that if you knew what the real situation is, you wouldn't let happen what had happened. Forget it and leave the rest to me. I can handle gossips and I won't care. As long as you're here and you're safe, I don't mind those bad comments about you. Are you okay with these two?” ipinatong ni Samuel ang kamay sa tiyan niya kaya napangiti siya.

“They're making me feel so nauseous. I told Dr. Walker that I tested just three weeks ago and the result was negative. He said that maybe the implantation hasn't yet completely done in its process that's why it was negative. And the spotting which I've had was the proof. I thought it was menstruation. I…thought I had none but now I have two.” she showed her fingers in front of Samuel's face.

Agad itong tumango .“That proves Tommy's a nasty fucker. That son of a f*****g old agent. He hitted my daughter in the spot.” parang dumilim ang mukha ng Daddy ni Brie kaya sumimangot siya.

“Daddy. He's still your apos’ Dad.” saway niya rito na nailing lang naman tapos ay napangiti nang tumingin sa tiyan niya na wala pa naman kahit kaunting umbok.

“Will you let him know?” tanong ng ama sa dalaga na malungkot na umiling.

Yumakap siya rito at sumandal sa dibdib nito. “Natatakot ako kay Ate Genesis. If she did that thing to me and even said that she should've poisoned me when I was ten, what more to my babies? She's mad at me, so mad at me. She even blamed me for her lost child. She will envy me for having kids with Tommy. I want to protect them, Dad. I want to save them from cruelty. That's my job as their Mom and besides, I don't want to totally shatter what is already cracked. If she's trying to fix everything between the two of them, I won't meddle. I will make these kids just plain Robinson though I want them to be Villaverde. Di ba, Villaverde naman sila sa puso at sa dugo?” tingala ni Brie sa ama.

“Of course. Villaverde ang gumawa, Villaverde ang bunga—dalawa pa agad! Bad if they're both d***s and as good looking as their fucker Dad! History will repeat itself twice. Magsasabong na naman ang mga babae.” papaismid na turan ni Samuel kaya mahinang napahagikhik si Brie.

May kilig pa rin siya kapag naiisip niya pero naroon pa rin ang kurot sa puso na magiging kakambal na siguro ng mga ngiti niya.