Kabanata 2
Rely
Dahan dahan akong naglakad papunta sa itaas kung saan ang aking kwarto. I tried not to make even a little sound to avoid waking up my father.
"Spayna, why did you go home late?" Napakunot nalang ang aking noo noong abutan ko si Papa na nagtitipla ng kape. My mouth went open I as heard the boiling sound of the heated water.
"P-Papa? Gising ka pa?" He just started at me. I felt the urge to go up and continue walking and so I did. I tried to avoid Papa's stare as much as possible. But I know hindi patatapusin ni Papa itong gabi na hindi kami nakakapag-usap.
"Mag-uusap tayo, Spayna." I stayed still. My father's words were always composed. He's always strict when it comes to me. Lalo pa daw at nagdadalaga na ako but I can already manage myself. Hindi ko na kailangan ang gabay nya. Knowing that he's the main reason why our family is broken.
I can already make money on my own by selling my art and do art commission but I don't want to left my father. Si Papa nalang ang meron ako mahit pa may kahati.
"Papa, can we talk tomorrow? Med'yo tinata-"
"Why did you come home late?" Strikto nyang tanong. He lift up the coffee he made and smelled the aroma.
"May project lang po akong tinapos." Lie. I've already mastered the art of lying so there is no way my father won't believe my words. I am always precise of my answers. Kung ano ang tanong dapat sasagutin ng deritso kahit pa ito'y isang sinungaling.
"Kailangan ba talagang gawin gayong gabi na?"
"Tatapusin nalang namin."
He sighed. "Spayna, lately, your attitude is becoming worst your lies are getting older. Can't you think of better answers?" Akala ko pa naman napaniwala ko na sya. I looked down to my shoes and let the silence get us. I feel so guilty about what happened earlier. Sana ay nanahimik nalang ako and go with the flow. Sana I didn't let all of it ate me so I didn't have to burst up.
"I'm not lying." I denied.
"Yes you are. I am your father after all. I can tell if you're lying or not." He add another disappointed sigh. "Can we talk about what happened earlier?"
I scratched my nose and wandered my eyes around our kitchen as if I was not interested in what he's talking. Napahinto nalang ang mata ko makita ko ang mga playing ginagamit ko noon. May father bought it and it's special to me because it has our names carved on it. My Mom, Dad and mine's.
Good old days seemed clearer in my thoughts.
"Lately, I'm not liking your attitude, may mga tao kanang naapakan. Mabuti nalang your Tita Matilda considered you and tried to understand you." Kahit pala sa mga sermon niya he'll still bring up his mistress. "Your Tita Matilda is pregnant so we should take care of her." So tama nga ako. She's pregnant. For how long? Masyadong maliit pa ang t'yan nya to be pregnant.
"Okay."
"Okay, what?"
"Sige po. I'll stop bothering her and just ignore her. Just expect me to come home late. Hindi ko s'ya kayang makitang buntis." Diretso akong pumasok sa aking kwarto at nagmukmok bago tuluyang hilahin ng antok.
Sapat na iyong nakikita ko sya sa umaga at hindi kona kakayanin kapag makikita ko pa sya sa gabi kumakain because 9f her pregnancy. She'll just ruin my night. Naiinis ako sa blonde n'yang buhok na hindi naman bumagay sakanya!
I hate her to the core and I won't take it back.
Isang katok ang nagpalingkawas sa akin. "Just give her some chance. I know she can be a mother to you." Si Papa sa kabilang banda ng pintuan.
