Unheard [Completed]

Chapter 25

"I am so proud of you, Francine," she whispered.

"W-what?" gulat na tanong ko.

Tinignan ko si daddy at tumango siya sa akin bago lingunin ang mga kasama namin sa loob ng meeting. Narinig kong dinismissed na niya ang meeting at asahan na daw ang pag release namin ng wine kaya umalis na rin silang lahat pagkatapos nun. Naiwan kaming dalawa ni mommy.

"How are you?" tanong niya sa akin na medyo naluluha.

"I'm good," hindi ko maiwasang magtaka sa ikinikilos niya at hindi ko na kayang pigilan ang sarili ko sa pagtatanong. "Why are you here and acting weird in front of me?"

She sighed and motioned me to sit on one of the swivel chairs. Sinunod ko siya at naupo siya sa tabi ko at humarap sa akin. Nagulat ako ng hawakan niya ang mga kamay ko at tinignan ako ng nangangalumata.

"I'm sorry..."

"For what?"

"For everything..." hindi man makapaniwala sa pinagsasabi niya ay hindi ako nagsalita. "Back then, I was busy taking care of my first born. People said that she's my little version of myself that's why I gave all my attention to Raelene and neglect my youngest, you." 

Tumingin siya sa akin at ngumiti ng malungkot.

"I know hindi ko dapat ito sabihin dahil matagal naman na iyon at baka maguluhan ka pa but I need to. I am not being a cruel mom to you for nothing okay? I have my reason and I am sorry if I keep this so long," kinabahan ako sa sinabi niya pero nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita. "I was raped."

Gulat na gulat ako sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko mapigilang maluha sa harapan niya. Does this mean? No no, please no.

"I know what you're thinking. No, luckily you are your father's," nabunutan ako ng tinik sa sinabi niya pero nandito pa rin ang kaba.

"Then? What happened after, you know," lakas loob kong tanong.

"Of course, knowing your father, he sued that fucking rapist and I don't know what happened after that because I don't want to hear anything about him again," I sighed and control my anger. "And weeks later after that incident, we found out that I am pregnant."

"And t-that's me?"

She nodded kaya napabuntong hininga ako. Now I understand why she treated me like that. I am like a souvenir of her deepest darkest secret and her horrifying past.

"It takes a lot of courage to carry you on my womb for nine months. I actually plan to have an abortion but Francis stopped me because he told me that he's positive that you're his," natawa siya ng kaunti habang nagkukwento. Kahit ako ay napangiti pero hindi ko maiwasan na mapaisip sa nararamdaman ni mommy nung mga panahon na iyon. "After I gave birth to you, ni hindi kita hinawakan, tinignan o kahit man lang magpakita ng pagmamahal. Whenever I looked at you, I remember what they did to me. Right after that, you undergo DNA test with your dad and it turns out he's right."