CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

I paused. Speechless. Emotional. Confused.

I don't know how to react. For the very first time, Atacia Frowline apologized in front of me.

Parang may kung anong matigas na biglang lumambot sa puso ko. Sa loob ng dalawangput isang taon, nagawa ni Atacia ang mag-sorry. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang maging reaksyon ko dahil hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa mag-sink in sa utak ko ang nangyayari. I still have doubts. What if it's just a prank?

“ I know that I was so mean back then, I didn't accept you as my oldest sister. I was surprised back then, when dad took you home and said that you're my oldest sister. I was just ten, or eleven perhaps, when you became part of our lives. I got mad. I get jealous, and envied you for being a strong, independent woman. I just realized how amazing you are, that I must also rely on you. Pero habang iniisip ko na, kapag kinasal ka na ay aalis kana sa bahay ay parang may kung anong masikip sa puso ko, ” I got teary eyes. I want to hug her, and apologize for my actions also. I can't believe Atacia says those words to me.

“ Ate, what may happen, please rely on us, too. Alam kung naghihirap ka din, lahat ng gusto ni dad ay sinusunod mo. I know how hard it is for you, to be called our illegitimate sister. However, you never complained. So, I was sorry because of my actions, jealousy, and guilt. I actually don't have any intention to hurt you like I always did. But, thanks dahil napakahaba ng pasensya mo sa aming tatlo. ” I faintly smiled, and run to her.

Hindi ko na mapigilan ang aking damdamin. I cried on her shoulder. It feels so warm, and comfortable. I can't fake my emotions, because this is how I truly felt.

“ Thank you, Atacia. Thank you for being honest, and finally accepting me. I assumed. ” I said, and chuckled. The two joined us together, I heard Clifford apologize too.

Actually, si Atacia lang talaga ang napaka salbahe sa kanilang tatlo. I remember how she put soap in my food. She's really something, and dangerous. One time, she pushed me on the stairway, I was badly injured. Tita Melissa didn't do something to punish her daughter, and tolerate her. If her mother can't teach her a lesson then, I will do it.

Habang nasa pagitan ako ng tatlo ay may biglang pumalakpak. Agad kaming nag bitawan, it's Tita Mel. Akala ko ay umalis siya, bakit naka pambahay lang siya. Biglang umalis ang tatlo at lumapit sa mommy nila. Bakit parang may mali? Atacia, Clifford, and Mikey laughed.

And that's how I realized that it was just a prank.

“ Do you really believe,what I've said? ” Atacia said. This devil. I gritted my teeth. I should have trusted my instincts. “ Ang tanga nga naman, bakit ba kami makikipag-bati sa anak ng KABIT. ” Parang nabibingi ako sa narinig ko.Seriously? Who’re they calling kabit? Si mommy ba?

I couldn't hide my frustrations. I laughed bitterly. What do I expect from these fools? Tsk. “ What a scheme, guys. You got me there. However, what I said, and showed isn't fake. It was all true. That's fine, ganun naman talaga ang mga taong kulang sa aruga, at attention. They sucks. ” I said, and left. Huminto ako nang nasa hagdan na ako at lumingon muli sa kanila.

I sighed heavily.

“ And the person who you're calling a KABIT is my mother, if she didn't die, do you guys think you're in this family? My mom is the first person that my dad loves. Eh, kayo? Ikaw, Tita. Do you think dad loves you? ” Lahat sila na tahimik sa sinabi ko. Hindi naka-imik si Tita Mel, dahil alam ko kung paano niya habulin si dad noon.

Dad was forced to marry her, dahil na wala na si mom. If it's not for grandfather, wala siya ngayon sa kinatatayuan niya. Naging illegitimate lang naman ako dahil pumasok sila sa buhay namin mag-ama.

Pumasok na ako sa kwarto ko, dahil ayaw kong sumabog sa harapan nila at pag-tirisin ang mag-ina na yun.

Pranking me. Calling my mom a KABIT? Tsk. She really thought na kaya na niya akong kalabanin. Malakas pa rin ako sa bahay na ito. I am my dad's first born, I made him proud, I built my own company, and now I am marrying the man of my life. And with that, mas lalakas ang company ni dad. I can do everything for dad, maging sunod-sunuran ako sa kanya kung kailan ko gusto.

Humiga na ako sa kama, pagod ako at gusto ko na lang na magpahinga. I turned off the lights, and didn't even bother to change my clothes. This day is so draining. Ang daming nangyari, nung una about kay Diego, tapos nung guy sa parking lot, I was actually disrespected kasi di man lang ako kinausap, or magsabi man lang nang kung ano, and then the happening earlier. What a piece of shit.

Tita Melissa trained them well. Ang sama. Nadali talaga ako, akala ko totoo na lahat. Mas lalong sumama talaga loob ko sa mag-ina na yun. Nakakainis talaga.

Kinabukasan ay nagising ako sa katok ng pintuan sa aking kwarto, agad akong tumayo at pinag-buksan ang kung sino man ang kumatok na mapungay-pungay pa ang mga mata dahil nasilaw sa sinag ng araw na hindi pala nasara kagabi. Walang hilamos. At napaka messy pa ng buhok.

“ Good morning, ” Nakangiting bati sa akin nang isang napaka gwapong nilalang sa balat ng lupa.

Na shock ako kaya agad kong napag-sarhan ng pintuan si Diego at tumakbo sa shower room. Agad akong nag hilamos, at nag toothbrush, kasama nun ang pag-palit ko ng damit. Pajamas on t-shirts.

“ Hi, good morning. Sorry ha, ” nahihiya na salita ko at umiwas ng tingin.

He chuckled. Ang cute niyang mag smile. I couldn't imagine myself with Diego, but now he's here. He is in front of me. Greeting me in the morning for the very first time. He was holding a bouquet of flowers, again. Ang gwapo ni Diego. Ang sarap niyang ikama.

What if, ikama ko na siya ngayon agad? Para naman akong tanga nito. Ang landi ko naman.

“ Here. This is for you, sorry I just visited now. ” he said and handed me the flowers. Agad ko naman itong tinanggap.

“ Thank you, ah.. Ang bango nito, ” nakangiti na wika ko habang inamoy ang bulaklak. “ Let's go down, and have some breakfast. ” I said.

“ Uhm. No need, baby. ” He said. I gasped and was surprised. “ I just passed by, I actually came here para magpaalam. I will leave today, sinadya ko lang talaga na pumunta dahil baka isang linggo din ako sa Dubai for business. At hindi muna kita mapapadalhan ng flowers, ” aniya. Bigla akong na lungkot sa sinabi, pero ang sweet at ang thoughtful niya. Bigla na naman pumasok sa isip ko ang picture. Pero wag na mag-isip ng ganun, nandito na siya sa harap ko, nagpapaalam with flowers pa.

Para akong sasabog sa kilig. And that BABY thing. Gosh.

I want to hug him, and kiss him.

And I will miss him.

I pouted.

“ Mag-ingat ka dun ha, ” wika ko. He smiled, and caressed my face.

“ Can you walk me outside? ” aniya.

“ Yes, b-baby… ” huminto siya saglit at tinitigan ako sa mata. “ W-what’s wrong? ” nahihiya kong tanong.

“ Calling me, baby is just so sweet. From now on, call me baby. Okay? ” he said and copped my face. “ You're so pretty, ” bulong niya.

Ramdam ko naman ang pag-iinit ng pisngi ko, kaya agad akong umiwas ng tingin. He held my hands, at sabay na kaming lumabas. Nang nasa gate na kami ay huminto ito, at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. I can smell his cologne, the soap he used, and the shampoo. Ang bango.

“ I will leave now, baby. Mag-ingat ka dito ha, ” his voice is sweet, and it feels like heaven.

“ Mag-ingat ako, baby. Ikaw din. Don't overworked yourself, ” wika ko. Tumango naman si Diego at tinignan ulit ako sa mata. Tinitigan ko rin siya, ang ganda talaga ng kanyang mga mata.

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na kasama ko si Diego ngayon. Is there hope for us? Gusto na ba niya ako? Will our marriage work kapag ikinasal na kami? Ang daming katanungan ang sumagi sa isip ko. I hope that it will work for both of us.

“ May I? ” he asked. Kunot noo naman ako.

“ Ha? ” confused.

“ May I kiss you? ” he said. Seriously? Diego asked me for a kiss? He asked for my permission? Oh god, such a gentleman.

This is for real na talaga? I can't take it anymore. I know that I am like a tomato right now. I took a deep breath, because it feels suffocating inside.

“ Y-yes, ” I answered.

Lumapit siya sa akin, at dahan dahan na nilapit ang mukha niya sa akin. I closed my eyes when I felt his breath. Hanggang sa maramdaman ko na ang malambot, at mabango niyang labi.

This is really happening.