29

"Mommy," halos pabulong kong tawag. Nagmamadali akong bumaba ng sasakyan, hindi ko na hinintay pa si Leif.

Binuksan ko ang pintuan. They were sitting on the couch. Magkatabi si Canary at ang Daddy ni Leif, while Mom is on the opposite side. Napalingon sila sa akin nang magsalita ako, maliban kay Canary.

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad palapit sa kanila. I could sense the tension inside the house. I feel like my chest is going to explode anytime soon. Nanlalamig ang mga kamay ko. Ni ayaw kong makita ang mukha ni Canary.

"What are you doing here?" Mr. Soldevilla asked. Kasunod ko na si Leif. I looked at him. He doesn't look apologetic but rathet he looks so mad and confused.

"How about you? What are you doing here?" baliktanong ni Leif. Nakatayo lang kami parehas kaharap sila. Mom is looking at us, worried. Nakatitig lang si Canary sa sahig, na parang hindi kumukurap.

"Via's family is on fire. Someone did it on purpose. But that does not end there. Nauungkat na lahat ng project ni Mr. Lopez. As what I've read, Mr. Soldevilla, your name is dragged with a major project in Batangas. The hospital which collapsed years ago," simula ko.

He did not look surprise at all. Malamang ay nababasa o nairereport na sa kanya ang mga balitang iyon.

"And that girl did it. She's ruining our life," hindi ko napigilang pahayag at itinuro ko na si Canary. Nanginginig ako sa galit. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nandito kami sa ganitong sitwasyon.

Nag-angat ng tingin si Canary. She slowly met my gaze and she smirked. "I can't believe you're accusing me, Alice. I'm not here to talk about the family of others. I'm here for my family."

"What?" naiinis kong tanong. "You are a thief. You are a smart ass brainer. You ruin families. You're a bitch."

"Alice," tawag sa akin ni Mommy. "Alice,  wa--"

"No! If you only knew the true colors of that girl, you will curse her to death! Everything she says is for her own benefit. Masaya siya na nagiging miserable ang buhay ng iba, katulad ng buhay niya." Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko dahil sa galit na nararamdaman ko. This can't be. She can't ruin my life.

"Leif," Canary said while looking behind me. Naglabas siya ng envelope sa bag niya at ipinatong iyon sa center table ng sala namin. "This is the result of the DNA test."

"Maybe we can talk about this later... or some other time," nalilitong pahayag ji Mommy. Hindi rin siya mapakali. "Mag-uusap muna kami ng anak ko."

"Open it... Mom," Canary muttered.

Nanghina ang mga tuhod ko sa narinig ko. Mom? Anong sinasabi ng babaeng 'to? I wanted to breakdown but I wanna hear the truth she is going to say.

"You should all go home," sagot ni Mommy at tumayo siya. "Please, Alexander?"

Tahimik lang si Mr. Soldevilla. Leif can't speak either.

"Open it," untag ko kay Mommy.

Napatingin sa akin si Mommy. Her eyes are about to shed tears. Hindi mapakali ang mga kamay niya. Lumayo siya sa envelope habang umiiling. "No."

Canary stood up, opened the envelope and showed it to us. Dalawang papel iyon. "Our DNA matched, Mr. Soldevilla and mine. While yours, Alice, did not match. I guess that explains it. Sayang ang oras kung ipagpapaliban pa natin ang katotohanan."

Tumulo na ang luha na kanina ko pa pinipigilan. Not because I am sad, but because I am so mad.

"Remember Carmela? Her husband was used as the scapegoat of the government when that hospital collapsed. He was the head engineer back then and Carmela was her wife. She got pregnant the same time with you. Because she had no means to support a child, she decided to switch your daughter with her.

Dahil ayaw niyang maranasan ng anak niya ang hirap. At gusto niyang magdusa ang anak mo dahil sa ginawa ninyo sa asawa niya. That's why I'm here. I grew up to be a bad person so I can live," pahayag ni Canary na parang hinihingal sa galit.

"Stop. Please stop," pigil ni Mommy.

"When the hospital collapsed, halos mabaliw noon si Senator Soldevilla. He was the bet of the president back then, that's why he was so frustrated protecting his name. He got drunk and went to your home, to his first love," patuloy ni Canary. Hindi siya kumakalma. "You got pregnant."

"Canary," tawag ni Leif.

"All this time, you and Mr. Soldevilla believed that Alice is your daughter. But no. I am the true Alice."

"Sinungaling!" bulalas ko at nilapitan ko na si Canary. She's good at making story. This can't be the truth.

"Sinungaling ka! Do you have allergy with chickens? Because I have. Same with Mr. Soldevilla. You can easily manipulate the DNA result, Canary. I know you. We know you."

"Are you making us laugh? Let's eat chicken right now and see if you really have the allergy," hamon niya sa akin. "I can collapse in a minute after eating a leg."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. I tried to recall what's in my head. Do I ever try to eat chicken? It was my seventh birthday when Mom told me that Dad does not eat chicken because he was allergic to it. That day onwards, I promised myself I won't eat it. That day onwards, I told myself I have something directly inherited from my Dad.

Napailing ako. Hindi. Hindi ito totoo.

"Alice," tawag sa akin ni Mommy at niyakap niya ako habang umiiyak siya.

Canary looked at us, with pain in her eyes. She looked away as her tears fell down. Tulala lang ako sa direksyon niya. I could not even bother to hug my Mom back.

I can't define the anger eating me right now. I am so furious about everything. Gusto kong umiyak. Gusto kong magwala. Gusto kong sumigaw nang paulit-ulit hanggang mawalan ako ng boses. Gusto kong saktan si Canary.

But what if she's really telling the truth?  Paano kung ako talaga ang mali. Ako ang hindi totoo. What if I am the false one?

"T-tell me, what were you doing outside my dorm that day? Bakit may hawak kang papel na may nakasulat na pangalan ko na parang ako ang nagsulat? Did we ever meet before?" walang buhay kong tanong.

"We should go home and talk about this once we're all settled," Leif butted in. Nilapitan niya si Canary.

"No. I want to hear the truth," pigil ko sa kanya.

Canary looked at me. Kinalas ko ang pagkayakap sa akin ni Mommy. Inilayo ko siya sa akin. Mr. Soldevilla is looking at us, confused, thinking deep.

"Carmela gave that to me. She said I have to find you. She wrote it with her own hand."

Kaya ba halos magkatulad kami ng penmanship?

"A-and where's... w-where's Carmela?" nauutal kong tanong. Lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I am about to pass out. Ayokong marinig ang puwede niyang isagot. But I have to confirm it. I have to hear it with my own ears.

"You were there, Alice. She died at the hospital. She was cremated, two days after."