10. Who is she?
"Shit." Mura ni Kris at daling tumakbo papuntang front door ng bahay, he tried to close the door but he was too late, the door was now opened and a dressed girl in messy twin tails came out.
"Tito Kris, ano 'yong maingay?" The girl whined, I felt my heart softened at the sight of her. My daughter...
I stiffened and glanced at Tyrell whose eyes are now glued on our daughter, biglang tumingin si LC sa akin at doon ay ngumiti siya noong napansin na ako ito, "Mama!"
Tumingin sa akin si Ty, "mama?"
Lumunok ako. Biglang tumakbo si LC papunta sa akin, tumingin sa akin si Kris, his eyes are apologetic as if telling me he was sorry that this happened, umiling ako, it was my fault for being too carefree.
"Mama! I mis you, Mama!"
Tumingin ako kay Tyrell, his eyes questioning me. "Who is she?" Napahawak siya sa dibdib niya at parang naluluha siya, "a-and... why... why is it that just by seeing her, it feels like my heart is throbbing? Why is it that it feels like she is someone important to me?"
Tinago ko sa likuran ko si LC, "Mama, sino sha?" Turo niya kay Tyrell.
He is your father, LC. I'm sorry but I won't tell...
Tinignan ko ang anak ko at ngumiti, "go with Kris inside the house."
She pouted, "p-pero---"
"Just go. Susunod ako."
Hindi na siya nagtanong pa, without a word, tumango siya at bumalik papunta kay Kris who was standing like a statue, I gestured him to enter with LC which he followed.
Tumingin ako kay Tyrell, he was still too stunned to talk. "Why is it that her eyes are like mine? Why is it that her nose and lip are familiar to yours?"
Kinagat ko ang babang labi ko.
"Why is she calling you Mama?" Halata ang pagtataka niya, "wait..." He suddenly smiled sadly, "I think I know why."
Yumuko ako, ramdam kong naluluha na ako.
"I don't know anymore, Dea. I'm confused. I want you to confirm it, I want it to come from you..." he paused, "is she my daughter?"
My heart was beating so fast, "her father is dead, Tyrell."
"Why did you hide her from me?" Halata ang galit sa boses niya.
"Because I know that you'll take her away from me too! I know everything, Ty! That's why I wanted to dissolve our marriage, because I know that you had a secret affair with your secretary and she got pregnant!" Natigilan si Ty. "I went into your office upon knowing that I was pregnant, I wanted to surprise you, Ty..." biglang tumulo ang mga luha ko, "I wanted to surprise you but I was the one who was surprised when I heard things I wish didn't had!"
Napaawang labi siya.
"You ruined my life, Ty. So please, just my life. Don't even try of ruining our daughter's life, she's better off without you, I don't want her to have a bastard father."
"I'm still her father, Dea." Malamig na tugon niya.
"Her father was long dead." Pag-iyak ko.
Tumingin siya sa akin, "you should have told me that you overheard." Saad niya, "my secretary faked that she got pregnant even if we really never did it that's why I fired her, and by that time Height didn't know everything so he was saying things, I never thought you'd eavesdrop and hear it. I'm sorry."
Tinitigan ko siya, "liar. Why did you hide it from me, then?! Wasn't I your wife?!"
"I didn't want you to know because I didn't want you to get mad and get worried over trivial things!"
My jaws dropped, all of these five years that I lived in anger, it was all over such a misunderstanding? All these four years my daughter didn't feel the love of her father, all because of my mistake? I was selfish. So selfish.
More tears fell.
I'm a bad mother...
"W-What's her name?" Tanong ni Ty.
"LaCharlotte," bulong ko.
Nagulat ako nang yakapin ako ni Tyrell, "please, let me be a father to LaCharlotte."
Tinignan ko si Ty, "I'm sorry..." bulong ko.
He sighed before closing the distance between us and hugging me, "shh, I'm sorry too." He kissed me on my forehead and wiped my tears.
Tumingin ako sa bintana ni Kris who was there watching, I gestured him to open the door and he nodded.
~*~
"Mama, bakit ka nakaiyak?"
Ngumiti ako kay LC, "masaya lang ako, baby dahil sa wakas nagkita ulit tayo." Ngumiti siya sabay punas sa mga luha ko, mas lalo lang akong napaiyak.
"Mama, sino sha?" Turo niya kay Ty.
Tyrell smiled.
"H-He's..." kinagat ko ang babang labi ko, "Papa mo siya, LC."
Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata, "P-Papa? Akala ko po ba deads na sha?" Kumunot ang noo niya na parang nalilito.
I couldn't help but chuckle, she really knew how to lighten the mood. Umiling ako, "I'm sorry I lied, baby."
Tumango siya at tumingin may Ty, "totoo po ba na Papa kita?"
He nodded. "I am."
Tumingin ako kay Kris na nagkibit balikat lang.
Lumapit si LC kay Ty, "Papa... Papa... Papa!" Niyakap ni LC si Tyrell ng mahigpit habang umiiyak. "P-Papa!"
"Baby..." He smiled. "Gusto mo bang sumama sa amin ng mama mo?"
"Paano si Tito Kris?"
Tumingin ako kay Kris, "I'm fine, LC." Tumingin siya kay Ty, "if I hear you hurt LC and Dea, I won't hesitate to take them away from you." Banta niya.
He nodded.
Tumingin ako kay LC, "ang gwapo ni Papa."
Hindi ko maiwasang ngumiti kahit na malungkot ang damdamin ko, that's the smile I never saw from LC. I am such a fool to take her away from her happiness.
Tumingin ako kay Kris na tumapik sa tagiliran ko, "are you sure about this?"
Yumuko ako, "wala akong magagawa. Alam ko naman na darating ang araw na ito." Tumingin ako sa kanya, "thank you for taking care of my daughter, Kris."
He smiled. "You don't have to say that, we're bestfriends."
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