KABANATA 04

KABANATA 04 

Nakaupo si Ultear at ang kaniyang anak sa harap ng hapagkainan at kaharap ang buong kabanda ni Vince kasama na rin ang mga asawa't anak nito.

Masaya ang mga ito sa patuloy na pagkukwentuhan habang si Ultear naman ay pinapanood ang kaniyang anak na tahimik at hindi kumikibo. Sasagutin niya lang sa maikling pangungusap sina Nate kung kinakausap o tatanungin lang siya ng mga ito. Ngunit hindi niya na sinubukan na mag-open ng ano man topic.

Since they got to Vince's house, Kajic did not even try to move a lil bit of his  body. And even try to feed his own, either touch the food Ultear gave to him, he wouldn't budge. He was silent.

Kajic's eyes with a sharp looked was just focused on his leg, as his arms crossed, and his lips pouted as well.

Kajic was angry. She knows it because she can feel it. Her son hates her as well as Kylie and Vince, especially Sting.

Kajic does not expect that he will crossed his path again with Sting.  The only person who dared to hurt Ginno.

When she caught the two of them, Ultear didn't even heard Kajic to greet him instead her son just throw punches against Sting.

Sting did nothing or say anything to defend himself. But from the bottom of his heart, Sting accepted all the punishments Kajic gave him.

She breathed heavenly, to gain more courageously on what she plans to make. The noise continued going on.

She tried to feed Kajic. But his head just avoided the spoon she put in his mouth.

A woman with a concerned face looked at Kajic who's seating next to her. It's Kylie.

Kylie gave her an idea with her lips pointed to a bowl of salad in front of them. That’s also one of Kajic’s favorites. She gave her thanks then nodded.

"How about this, baby." Ultear tried to get his attention again. "Your favorite deserts."

Lihim siyang napalunok dahil sa sumunod na nangyari. Nakatutok na ang buong atensyon ni Kajic sa kaniya ngayon. Ito na naman ang pakiramdam niya habang pinagmamasdan siya ng mga mata ng kaniyang anak. Pakiramdam niya ay kaharap niya ang isang Sting. Ang bawat parte ng mukha ni Kajic ay hulmang-hulma sa mukha ng ama nito. Mula sa kilay hanggang sa panga nito.

"I want to go home. I want to see my Uncle Daddy and hug him tightly." That was not a request but a command.

Ang mga salita na lumabas sa bibig ni Kajic ang nakapagpatigil sa ingay sa buong paligid nila. Lahat ng mata ay nasa kaniya lang, kahit ang mga batang malayang kumakain ay natigil din.

Ultear looked down for a moment. Ayaw niyang makita ng dalawa niyang mga mata ang naging epekto ni Kajic sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanila. It makes her shame.

"But, my handsome nephew, the party doesn't even started," sagot ni Kylie.

Kajic  takes off Kylie's arms on his shoulder and spoke.

"I hate parties! I hate this place! There is a monster hanging on." Lumingon si Kajic sa kanang bahagi ng mesa. Matatalim ang mga tingin na ibinabato niya kay Sting. "And I badly hate him."

"Kajic, we talk about this right?" said Ultear.

Panandalian nilingon ni Ultear si Sting na hindi maalis ang tingin sa kanila. Nakasintas na ang mga mata nito sa kanila at walang sino man ang makakasubok na makapatid.

Stop looking at us, and you make him upset! Her eyes said on Sting, but it looked like he does not understand what does her eye was trying to say.

She looked at Kajic's eyes and spoke. "I told you before, be nice to Vince's friend."

"But, Mommy, it was coming from your mouth. If you knew he was a bad person, do not dare to come near him. He will put you in danger. So why could we let him join this party? And why not the police take him and put him in jail? He needs to pay for what he has done."

Yeah. Kajic is right. Why does Ginno stopped the case? It looks like he is scared of Sting even though he tastes cruelty on his fist.

"Baby, there is no sign that bad people are not allowed at the party," she explained in a calm voice. She wished her son will listen to her. "Ginno gave a mercy on him."

Nahihiya na si Ultear sa bawat kinikilos at ginagawa ni Kajic. Ano na lang ang iisipin sa kaniya ng mga taong kaharap niya, na ganito niya pinalaki ang kaniyang anak?

Her eyes turned to a vase. It was behind Sting. She knew in herself that she could not afford to make eye contact with the young man.

"Go ask him why he laid his arms on Ginno, and if you think his answer will be bad on your hearing. You have the right to be mad at him, then."

"He will tell lies, Mommy! I know a person like him, he is acting as a good person, but he is a real monster," Kajic answered rudely and still did not take off his glaring eyes to Sting.

"I'm sorry for what I have done before, but I'm not saying sorry for Ginno," sagot ni Sting at walang makikita sa mga mata nito na pagsisisi sa kaniyang sinabi. "He deserves that punches, and it is still not enough."

"Can you throw him outside of this house, Uncle Vince? I promised I will eat my breakfast. I lost my appetite every time I see his face." Kajic has never been like this.

"Kajic, tone down your bad words," saway niya.

"Mommy, being honest is not a bad thing."

"But losing respect and manners to someone who is older than you is still a bad thing."

Kajic sighed. "Okay, I'm sorry."

"Do not say sorry for me."

"Okay." Kajic lips pouted, and he looked at Sting. "I'm sorry, but still... I hate you."

Narinig ni Ultear ang pagtawa ng mga kalalakihan sa harapan nila at ang ilang bulungan pa na narinig naman ng lahat.

"May pinagmanahan talaga," umiiling-iling pa na sabi ni Jake.

"Yeah. His version number 2," sang-ayon ni Vince at nang may pang-aasar na tingin pa na lumingon kay Sting.

"No, Uncle Vince. I inherited it from Uncle Daddy."

Muling bumalik sa katahimikan ang lahat.

Palihim na lang niyuko ni Ultear ang kaniyang ulo at sinampal ang sariling noo. Gusto niya na lang kainin siya at ng anak niya ng lupa. Iyong hindi na susubukan pa na iluwa.

The embarrassing moment ended, and their group headed to the swimming pool area. Ultear felt relieved.

Masaya ang lahat maliban lang kay Ultear. Wala siyang ganang makipag-hangouts kina Nate, dahil na rin sa hiya at pagkailang na ma-open ang topic tungkol sa kanila ni Sting. Muntikan nang mangyari ang bagay na iyon kanina, mabuti na lang at nandiyan si Nate para magsingit ng panibagong topic.

Ultear sat on the edge of the swimming pool area and gently kicked the water to divert the annoyance she was feeling on.

She had prayed, again and again, that this party would end up already and they can go home. In that way, she would not have to take another sneak peek at Sting. Those were the forbidden things she did this day.

Dammit! How could she divert her feelings for Ginno if she knew it's for Sting only?

Pinagmasdan niya ang kaniyang anak na masayang nakikipaglaro kay Josh na anak ni Jake. Silang dalawa lang ang mga batang lalaki rito. Kaya sila lang talaga ang magkakasudo. 

"Uh-huh. My mom trained me. In just a week, I learned quickly," Kajic said proudly and looked at her with a smile.

She smiled at him back. Kajic is intelligent and talented. Kaya hindi na siya magugulat pa sa pagdating ng panahon ay marami itong bagay na maaaring magawa.

"My Dad taught me as well. He also taught me how to float my body under the water," Josh said at itinuro pa ang Daddy niya na masayang nakikipagkuwentuhan habang pinapahiran ng sunblock ang likod ng asawa. Muling siyang bumaling kay Kajic at nagsalita muli, "Do you had a Daddy?"

"Yes. Of course," Kajic said with a confident voice as his head nodded. "You have a Daddy. So, I have one too."

"But where is he?" Josh travel his eyes at their surrounding to find out his dad. "Why he is not with you?"

"He was resting. There is someone who hurt him. He has a wound on his lips and his face were swollen," answered Kajic while pointing his face where Ginno got injuries. "Later, I will bring him here, and let me introduce to you my Uncle Daddy."

"Uncle Daddy?" Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Josh. "I thought it's your Daddy?"

"Yes, his is."

"If he is your real Daddy, you need to call him Daddy, not Uncle Daddy."

"He is my father soon. My Mommy and Uncle Daddy are getting married, and we got a happy family." Masigla ang bawat ngiti na ibinato ni Kajic sa batang kalaro.

Kumunot ang noo ng bata. Halata rin sa mukha nito ang hindi pagsang-ayon sa sinabi ng kaniyang anak.

"If he is your Uncle Daddy, where is your real Daddy? Your dad should be the one who your Mommy should marry, not your Uncle Daddy."

Kajic smiley face vanished quickly. Napagtanto niya ang nais na ipahiwatig ni Josh. "But Uncle Daddy is my real Daddy."

Gusto man na lapitan ni Ultear ang kaniyang anak ngunit hindi niya na ginawa pa. Natatakot siya  sa bagay na maaari rin itanong sa kaniya ni Josh.

"Then, why not both of them get married when you are still a baby or right now?" Lumingon si Josh sa Daddy niya panandalian at tinuro ang kaniyang mukha. "Look at my face, hindi malayo ang mukha namin. We're both same face, Uncle Vince said I'm his version two. Do your Uncle Daddy have the same face as you or not?"

Nagbaba ng tingin sa tubig si Kajic na para bang nahihiya sa susunod na isasatinig ng kaniyang bibig. "No..."

"He is not your real Daddy, he is just acting like he is !" Josh forced him to believe.

"I see..."  walang kaligayahan sa boses ni Kajic. Nakayuko sumulong sa tubig si Kajic at tinahak ang loob ng bahay.

"I want to pee, mommy," paalam nito at hindi na hinintay pa ang sagot niya.

Ang batang kasama ni Kajic ay sumulong na rin at masayang nagtatakbo patungon sa kaniyang mga magulang.

Walang lakas ng loob si Ultear para tumayo at sundan ang kaniyang anak. Natatakot siyang tanungin siya ni Kajic tungkol sa totoo nitong ama at natatakot din siya na ma-open ang topic tungkol kay Sting. Paano kung malaman ni Kajic na si Sting ang totoong ama niya? Ngayon pa na galit na galit ang kaniyang anak sa tunay na ama nito?

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang maaari niyang isagot o kung may maisasagot ba siya. What if that thing will happen this day or the next day.

Nilingon ni Ultear si Kylie na nakatayo at pinapanood ang bawat galaw na maaari niyang gawin. Her friend asked her without a sound. "What happened to him?"

She twitched her shoulder. Her mouth is too tired to even speak.

There are things we can not stop. Things we wish will never happen and come true. And those are the things that ran through Ultear's mind. If she could manipulate some stuff, she will do it without any doubt.

She stayed by the side of the swimming pool area for a few hours. Even though both of her legs were trembling from cold, she still could not get up.

Matagal din ang oras na hinintay niya na bumalik si Kajic at nakakapagtaka dahil wala na ang kalungkot sa mukha ng kaniyang anak. Walang pasidlan nang kaligayahan ang mga mata ni Kajic na wari'y nanalo sa isang patimpalak. Ang labi nito na sa kaunting panahon na lang na ginagawa niyang pagngiti ay mapupunit na.

She was amazed at what happened to Kajic? And what happened when he peed.

Hindi inalis ni Ultear ang kaniyang mga mata na nakatingin sa anak. Kahit ang kaibigan niyang si Kylie ay pinapanood din ang ginagawa ni Kajic.

Hindi makapaniwalang lumingon si Ultear kay Kylie at nagkibit balikat lang nang muli siya nitong nilingon para magtanong sa nangyari.

Tinungo ni Kajic ang daan kung saan nakaupo ang anak ni Jake na lalaki. Ngayon ay nakikipaglaro na si Josh sa mga batang babae.

Hindi naman ganoon kalayo ang pagitan nila kaya nasisiguro siya na maririnig niya ang pag-uusapan nila lalo na sa tulong ng boses ng anak niya.

"Josh hear me out," Kajic spoken. The smile was still on him. "I have a Daddy, a real one."

Mas inilapit pa ni Kajic ang bibig niya sa taenga ng kalaro.

Ultear expects that she would hear what Kajic was about to say even though he was going to whisper it to his playmate. She was mistaken this time.

Tumingin si Josh sa kay Kajic nang hindi makapaniwalang tingin. Sandali pa silang nag-usap bago tuluyan nang tumakbo ang anak ni Jake patungo sa kaniya at binulungan ang ama.

Ultear was even more confused when Jake turned around and looked at her. Not in the place where Kajic stands but in the area where she was. She felt nervous because of that stare. Can someone or can Jake explain what his son said to him?

Lumuhod si Jake sa anak niya at mayroon ilang salita pang lumabas sa bibig nito bago nagtatakbo ang bata pabalik kay Kajic. Hindi pa rin naaalis ang ngiti sa labi ni Kajic.

May paniniwala ang mukhang tumango si Josh.

"See? I told you," Kajic said with pride in his voice.

"You are so lucky," Josh said. Bakas sa mukha ng kalaro ang ingit na nararamdaman para rito.