Chapter 9

Lies

"So, what's his name?" pukaw niya sa atensiyon ni Heather nang mapansing parang natulala ito.

"Ahm, his name is. . .M-Marcus." No one knows Aidan's second name right? Maliban sa malalapit niyang kakilala, wala na.

"Marcus?" Tumaas ang kilay bi Primo na para bang nag-aantay ng karugtong.

"Marcus. . .Rodriguez." I am seriously going to hell for lying!

"Marcus Rodriguez. . .nice name. I bet he's nice too," kumento niya.

"He is nice." To everyone actually. Minsan sumosobra pa nga.

"If he's nice, dapat siya ang naghahatid sa 'yo,” he pointed out.

"I told you, he's busy with work," ulit ni Heather sa palagi niyang sinasabi sa kaibigan.

"Kahit na." He tsked. "Kung ako ang boyfriend mo, hahanap ako ng oras para maihatid kita. I don't care if it ruins my schedule, what matters is your security. You don't let a beautiful woman go to work on her own. Something might happen," seryoso niyang sabi habang magkasalubong ang mga kilay.

My breathing hitched as our eyes met. His eyes were like a hole so deep. "I'm starting to think that your boyfriend doesn't deserve you. I mean, it seems like he doesn't care that much for you. Hindi ko pa siya nakikita pero parang gusto ko na siyang sapakin. Ayaw kong matulad ka sa 'kin, Heather. I don't want you to be neglected by the person that you love. I know how it feels kaya ayaw kong maranasan mo iyon."

I smiled bitterly. Too late, I already experienced it.

"Ma'am Heather, nagpunta po dito kanina si Sir Aidan. Hinahanap ka," salubong ng isa sa mga maid pagkapasok pa lang ni Heather ng gate.

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "Ha? Anong oras?" At bakit hindi siya nito tinawagan?

Napaisip naman ang katulong. "Mga tanghali po siguro. May bitbit pa nga pong flowers, eh." Heather froze at what she said. Flowers?

She gave the maid a tight smile. "Thank you." Tinanguan niya ito bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob.

"Today was so fun, Dad! I hope we get to do that again. Next time, sa Baguio naman tayo para mas masaya," dinig ni Heather na sabi ng Ate Driana niya nang makapasok si Heather sa bahay. Driana was removing her jacket while their Mom is sitting on the sofa, drinking juice. Si Diego naman ay nakatayo lang sa gilid ng sofa habang nakapamulsang pinagmamasdan si Driana.

Their gaze turned to Heather as soon as she closed the door. Napatuwid ng tayo ang kaniyang ama habang si Driana naman ay nilingon ang kapatid. Julia looked away and finished her juice.

"Good afternoon," alanganing bati ni Heather nang makaramdam ng awkwardness sa buong tanggapan. Nanatili lang ang lahat na nakatigtig kay Heather kaya nagpasya siyang tumungo na lang ng kwarto.

"Heather," tawag ng Dad niya sa kaniya. Nilingon naman siya ng anak.

"Po?"

"Pagkatapos mong magbihis, dumiretso ka ng opisina ko," utos ni Diego kay Heather. She nodded and smiled tightly.

Mabilis siyang nagbihis at nag-ayos bago nagtungo sa opisina ng ama. She doesn't know what's happening but it seems important.

Kumatok si Heather ng tatlong beses bago sumilip sa maliit na siwang ng pinto. Her Dad motioned his hand to come in.

"Bakit niyo po ako pinatawag?" inosenteng tanong ni Heather habang dahan-dahang naglalakad papalapit sa mesa.

"Heather, I know even after all these years, nahihirapan ka pa ring mag-adjust. I know that you still feel uncomfortable sometimes. Kaya nga naisipan kong mag-bonding tayo kahit saglit. I'm doing this for you to cheer up. I don't want you distancing yourself from us. We're a family. Kaya bakit hindi ka sumama kanina?"

Heather frowned at what her Daddy said. "Ano po? Sumama saan?" nalilito niyang tanong. Wala siyang kaide-ideya sa mga pinagsasasabi nito.

Diego matched her frown. "Hindi ka ba sinabihan ng Mommy mo? O kahit ng Ate mo man lang?"

"Hindi po kami nag-uusap ni Mommy, Dad. At saka, wala naman pong nabanggit si Ate sa 'kin. Saan po ba tayo dapat pupunta?" May kaugnayan ba ito sa maagang pag-alis ng Ate at Mama niya kanina?

Pagod na nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga si Diego bago malungkot na tumingin sa anak.

"I'm sorry, Anak. I should've called you to tell you myself. Hindi ko akalaing hindi nila sasabihin sa 'yo," malungkot nitong wika.

"Ang alin po ba?"

He sighed again. "Sinabi ko sa Mommy mo na pagkauwi ko rito, gusto kong magkaroon tayo ng family bonding. Kahit isang araw lang, sa isang malapit pero masayang lugar. Just like what we always do noong mga bata pa kayo ni Driana. Your Mom assured me that she'll tell you. Hindi ko akalaing magsisinungaling siya sa 'kin," his voice sounded so sad and his face looked so down. Heather can't help but feel sad, also. It’s obvious that he was looking forward to spend time with his whole family today. And that includes Heather.

Mas lumapit si Heather sa ama at niyakap siya sa may tagiliran.

"Dad, it's okay. 'Di naman po ako galit o nagtatampo. Besides, I had something to do today and it's kinda important. Kung aayain niyo man ho ako sa trip na 'yan, I would probably say no. Trabaho po muna bago gala," pampalubag loob ni Heather sa malungkot na tatay.

Diego gave her a sideway glance. "You're just saying that so I'll stop being sad," nakanguso nitong sabi. Heather chuckled lightly as she watch her father acting like a kid.

"Hindi po. Totoo po ang sinasabi ko. Kanina po, in-orient ako no'ng papalitan ko sa trabaho. Para sa Lunes, 'di na ako masyadong mahihirapan."

"Ayos lang ba sa 'yo ang trabaho na 'yan? It's not connected to what you studied."

Heather nodded while still hugging him. "Yes, Dad. 'Di ko naman po ito tatanggapin kung hindi ko kaya." Kumalas si Diego sa yakap ni Heather at pinakatitigan ng mabuti ang anak.

"Look at you, having your own job. My little princess is not little anymore," he said, heavy-hearted.

"Dad, everybody grows. So as I."

"I know that. I just can't believe that it would be this soon," naiiyak niyang sabi. Napailing na lang si Heather. Kahit kailan talaga, ang drama ng Daddy niya kapag sila lang ang magkausap. But when he's in front of everyone, including Julia and Driana, he's like a tough man.

"Dad, two years na pong delayed ang paghahanap ko ng trabaho," she said flatly. Natigilan naman si Diego at parang natauhan.

"Oh, right." They both chuckled.

Lumabas si Heather ng opisina ng Daddy niya na may masayang ngiti sa labi. Pero unti-unti iyong nawala nang makita niya ang Ate na nakasandal sa dingding na katabi lang ng pinto.

Ang talim ng tingin niya sa kapatid at hindi 'yon nagbago hanggang sa tuwid na siyang nakatayo sa harapan Heather. Driana can feel it. Her father will scold her just because she did not inform Heather about their plans for the day. And she blames Heather for it.

What she did was acceptable. Heather is not part of their family. She does not fit in. She does not have the right to join them on family trips like that.

Heather looked down and tried to walk away but Driana blocked her. Wala siyang nagawa kundi salubungin ang tingin ng nakatatandang kapatid.

Humalukipkip si Driana at pinagtaasan si Heather ng isang kilay. Her piercing gaze is turning into a deadlier one. Heather can't help but to feel confused on her actions.

Ano na naman ba ang ginawa ko? Tanong ni Heather sa sarili. Hindi na nga siya nakasama sa kanila kanina. Wala naman siyang sinabing hindi maganda sa kaniya. Is this about her throwing a pillow on Driana yesterday? My god. Pati ba naman 'yun palalakihin pa niya?

Bumuka ang bibig ni Heather para magsalita pero nahinto iyon nang bumukas ang pintuan ng opisina at lumabas doon si Diego.

"Driana," tawag nito kay Driana. Agad namang umaliwalas ang mukha ni Driana at tumayo ito ng tuwid.

"Dad!" Ngumiti ito na para bang wala siyang balak na daragin si Heather kanina. Diego remained serious. He loves both of his daughters but there are times that he doesn’t like what they do.

"Mag-usap tayo sa loob," aniya saka mas nilakihan ang bukas ng pinto.

"Sure, Dad." Sumunod si Driana sa ama pero bago pa siya nakapasok ng tuluyan sa loob, nakita ni Heather ang pasimpleng pagsama ng tingin nito sa kaniya. Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Heather.

I don't know what I did but I surely pissed her off.

Alone in her room again, Heather’s mind wondered. Naalala niya ang pagsisinungaling kay Primo.

She was used to lying to everyone. Sanay na siyang magsinungaling lalo na kung tungkol kay Aidan.

Pero ngayon, may nararamdaman siyang kakaiba. Something in her stomach that feels very awful. She’s feeling an urge to come clean to Primo. And she doesn’t understand why.

Is it because Primo’s my friend? Friends should be honest with each other, right? But they keep secrets too…right?

It hasn’t been long since they become friends. Yet, it seems like Heather can’t lie to Primo. As much as possible, she wants to be real in his eyes. To be pure and innocent just like what he thinks of her now everytime Heather looks into his eyes. Nakikinita niyang para siyang anghel sa mga mata ni Primo. And she wanted to keep that image.

But she also wants to be true to him.

But my true self was far from being an angel.

Ganito ba talaga ang pagiging kaibigan? Hindi mo magawang magsinungaling sa kaibigan mo ngunit gusto mo ring maging perpekto sa paningin ng kaibigan mo?

Heather shrugged at her own thoughts. How would she know? Primo is her first true friend.

“Baka nga ganoon,” she convinced herself and cleared her thoughts.