"YOUR BABA IS dying, Kaan."
Hindi alam ni Dashiell kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya ng mga sandaling marinig iyon sa kaniyang anne. He couldn't say anything. Pakiramdam niya ay nalunok niya ang kaniyang dila.
Ibinaba niya ang kaniyang cellphone kapagkuwan ay kumuha ng isang sigarilyo sa case at isinubo iyon bago sinindihan gamit ang lighter. Humithit muna si Dashiell bago ibinalik sa kaniyang tainga ang cellphone.
"I will book a flight later. I will go there, anne."
"You don't need to, Kaan. You don't need to come here. I know you're busy with the company, so don't bother flying all the way to Turkey."
Mariing ipinikit ni Dashiell ang mga mata bago muling humithit sa sigarilyong hawak. Ibinuga niya ang usok mula sa loob ng kaniyang bibig bago sinagot ang kaniyang anne.
"I'm not busy, anne. Even without me, the company continues to run. I will go there. I want to see baba even just this once. It has been years since I last saw him, so please don't stop me, anne."
"Kaan… I'm doing this for your sake, okay? Kasama ko ang pamilya ng baba mo, and I don't think gusto ka nilang makita. You know, binigyan lang nila ako ng pagkakataon na makita ang baba mo. Mamayang gabi, uuwi na rin ako pabalik diyan sa Pilipinas. Hindi tayo kailangan ng pamilya ng baba mo kaya sana ay maintindihan mo ako."
Inilagay ni Dashiell sa ashtray ang hawak na sigarilyo bago ikinuyom ang kaliwang kamay dahil sa galit. "Are they still angry with us? They've been holding a grudge against us for decades. I've grown up with their family issues, anne. I'm sick of them. If they don't need us, I don't care. We don't need them either. I'm sorry, anne, but I don't care about them. I will go there right no—"
Dashiell was interrupted by his mother before he could finish.
"Ako na ang nagmamakaawa, Kaan. Please, listen to me. You can't go here. I hope you can understand that. Here, your baba wants to talk to you. I'm giving this phone to him."
Mas lalong nagalit si Dashiell ng mga sandaling iyon. Nagtagis na ang mga panga niya at unti-unti nang lumalabas ang mga ugat sa kaniyang leeg.
Kalahating minutong naging tahimik ang pagitan nila ng kaniyang mga magulang nang marinig niya ang boses ng kaniyang baba.
"Kaan…"
Dashiell quickly became emotional when he heard his second name being called. He also didn't notice that warm tears were slowly welling up in his eyes.
"B-Baba…"
"Kaan, tek oğlum, listen to your mother, okay? I know that our situation is not easy right now, so I am asking for forgiveness. You know the issues in our family and in my family, so I hope you can understand your anne."
Dashiell shook his head. "You're dying, baba. I want to see you even just for the last time. It has been years since I last saw you, held you, and embraced you. Baba, please, let me see y—"
"Yes, I'm dying. And I don't think you'll ever see me alive again. Let's just talk here on the cellphone, Kaan."
"B-Baba…" Dashiell couldn't speak properly.
"Kaan, as you know, cancer runs in our family. The doctor told me yesterday that I only have 36 hours to live. I promised myself that before I leave this world, I want to bid farewell to my loved ones. Kaan, take care of your mother. You are our only child together, and I hope you will be the one to take care of her. Thank you for being such a good son to me. You are a true blessing to us, Kaan. When you were born, my only wish was for you to be kind-hearted, and I thank God because He gave us a son like you. You always listen to me whenever you have problems, and it makes me feel so special. I wish you will remain like this forever, Kaan. Whoever will marry you will be very lucky."
"Baba, don't say that. Don't listen to the doctor who said that to you. You will live. You will still see me marrying the woman I love, and you will still be able to hold our child. Please, dad, don't say that. Don't lose hope."
Sunod-sunod at walang humpay sa pagtagas ang luha mula sa mga mata ni Dashiell ng mga sandaling iyon. Hindi na niya namalayan na nakaupo na siya sa sahig habang nakasandal sa kaniyang kama.
"I hope the miracle is true."
"Yes, it is. Miracle is true, baba. You will live, okay? You will live…"
"Many times we were apart. I'm sorry I couldn't attend your college graduation. I apologize for needing to come back to Turkey for my cancer treatment. I'm sorry, Kaan, that we have only a few memories together. If only I could turn back time, I would make the most of our moments together as a family. Kaan, don't forget the advice I've given you. Because of you, our company has thrived. When I handed over Prime Properties to you, I knew it was in good hands. I know you, Kaan. You excel in everything you do. No matter what it is, you can handle it. You've managed the company so well, and I truly admire you. You deserve to be the CEO of Prime Properties."
Dashiell wants to speak, but he can't. He doesn't know what to say. He tries to speak, but it's as if something is holding him back. All he does is cry uncontrollably. His face is soaked with tears, and his nose is almost dripping with mucus.
Hindi niya matanggap na dumating na sila sa ganitong sitwasyon. Nang malaman ni Dashiell noon na may sakit na cancer ang baba niya, natakot agad siya dahil alam niyang delikado at nakakamatay ang sakit na iyon. Pero ngayong nandito na sila, hindi niya ito matanggap.
He wants to close his eyes and, upon opening them again, realize that everything is just a dream. He hopes that the current situation is not real, but no matter what he does, he still feels himself crying while his chest tightens with emotions.
"B-B-Ba-b-b-baba…" he stuttered.
"Take care, tek oğlum. Seni seviyorum."
"Ben de seni seviyorum, baba."
Matapos noon, binitiwan ni Dashiell ang kaniyang cellphone at mas lalong lumakas ang pag-iyak niya. Tumayo siya mula sa kinatatayuan at kinuha ang alak na inilabas niya kanina. Binuksan niya iyon at uminom na mismo sa bote. Sunod-sunod ang naging paglagok ni Dashiell at nang mangalahti na ang bote, ibinaba niya iyon bago nagwala.
Dashiell throws everything he touches. He doesn't let anything pass by without notice. He doesn't care if things get broken; he just wants to release the anger he's feeling.
Losing hurts. Dashiell feels like his heart is slowly breaking into pieces. It's not just his heart that's shattered, even his whole being feels broken.
"Kaan, w-what are you doing?"
Mabilis na nilingon ni Dashiell ang pinanggagalingan ng boses at mula sa pinto ng kuwarto niya, nakita niya ang babaeng dinala niya rito kagabi.
With anger, he rushed towards the woman while clenching his fists. "I already told you to leave, didn't I? What are you still doing here? And who told you to call me by that name? You have no right to call me that way. Only my parents have that right. Do you understand me?!" bulyaw niya sa babae at halos tumalsik na ang mga laway niya sa mukha nito.
"I'm sorry, Dashiell. Naiwan ko ang bag ko rito sa kuwarto mo pero nang bumalik ako, narinig kong may kausap ka na. Alam kong hindi maganda ang ginawa kong pakikinig sa pag-uusap niyo. I'm really sorry, Dashiell."
"Take your bag then leave!"
The woman nodded. Pumasok ito sa kuwarto niya at kinuha ang sling bag nito sa kama bago bumalik sa harap niya.
"I'm here, Dashiell. If you need me, nandito lang ak—"
"I don't need anyone right now!" nakatagis pangang anas niya sa babae. "Umalis ka na bago pa mag-init ang ulo ko sa iyo, Stella."
"Dashiell…" Stella held his hand and gently caressed it. "Alam kong kagabi lang tayo nagkakilala. We enjoyed the night together. We talked about ourselves. Kaya nandito lang ako kapag kailangan mo ako. You can trust me, Dashiell."
Dashiell shook his head. "Leav—"
Before he could finish what he was saying, Stella suddenly grabbed him and kissed him on the lips.
Hindi maintindihan ni Dashiell kung bakit hindi niya naitulak ang babae. What happened to both of them last night is in the past, but now, Dashiell feels like he still wants more. Stella caught him again.
Nakipaghalikan si Dashiell sa babae. Malalim ang paghahalikan nilang dalawa hanggang sa binuhat niya ito at dinala sa kaniyang kama. Ibinaba niya ang babae sa kama at pumatong dito. Hindi na niya kailangan pang maghubad dahil kanina pa siyang nakahubad, simula nang magising siya kanina.
Pinakatitigan niya ang babae sa mukha bago ito nilukumos ng halik sa mga labi nito bago niya isinagad ang kahabaan niya sa lagusan ng babae.
Baba - father
Anne - mother
Tek oğlum - my only son
Seni seviyorum - i love you
Ben de seni seviyorum - i love you too