To Fall Apart

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

"Papa..." mahinang tawag ko. Lumingon ako kay Van at nakita ko syang nakatulala sa isang tabi habang malakas ang pag-iyak ni Venice. Kumirot ang puso ko.

"W-What are you doing here?" I asked with my lips trembling.

"I'm going to explain."

I stepped back when he tried to reach for me. Mabilis akong umiling kasabay ng pagtulo ng luha ko. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Venice?" I asked Ven. I looked at her but she only cried harder. I curse under my breath.

"Can someone explain us what's happening here? We just heard voices talking! We... We just heard the father of the baby..." I trailed off because my voice cracked.

I bit my lips so hard that it might bleed. All of us fell in silence. And I hate that they are not defending themselves. I hate that this silence is giving us time to realize what's really happening.

"Andy..."

I closed my eyes tightly before I heave a deep sigh.

"Papa...ikaw ba?" I asked hardly. Halos hindi ko matapos ang gusto kong sabihin dahil sa pagbabara ng lalamunan ko. Suminghap ako bago ako muling bumuntong hininga.

"Ate...please." Venice beg.

I remember when she asked me not to lool for the father of her child. I remember her saying that we'll hate them when we find out.

Turns out, it's beyond that.

"Ikaw ba ang ama ng dinadala ni Venice?" deretsong tanong ko.

Natigilan si Papa sa sinabi ko. Venice cried louder. Van was dumbfounded. I bit my lip.

Papa didn't answer. He didn't deny, he didn't confirm. He just stood there, stupidly staring at the ground. I cried.

"Kayo ba?" tanong ko pa.

"Ate tama na please..."

"No! You shut up! We deserve to know the truth! Kaya sabihin nyo, may relasyon ba kayong dalawa?"

I felt Van's hand on my shoulder.

"Andy... It was just... It's not meant to happen."

Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi ni Papa. Halos mabuwal ako sa kinatatayuan ko kung wala lang sa likod ko si Van.

I shook my head. No. There is no way. Hindi pwede.

"P-Paano? You're like a father and daughter. We're like a family. She is Van's sister. How can.... How can you fucked this up!"

I shouted and I cried even harder this time.

"How can you betray us?" I whispered.

Papa shook his head. He tried to hold me but I refuse his touch. I feel disgusted even just by looking at him.

"Andy, please. We're not sure yet."

Mabilis kumunot ant noo ko sa sinabi nya.

"Not sure about what?" malamig na tanong ni Van. Umawang ang labi ko.

Papa looked at Venice then back to us.