Unforgotten Tale

CHAPTER 40

FIGHT

"Aurora is your deceased child," he said. That rocked my true parents' world. Shocks are evident on their faces, who wouldn't?

Tita Amanda slowly glances my way, she has tears streaming down her face and she's covering her mouth. I don't know what to do. I should run and hug her, right?

Tito Cornelius caught my attention who harshly stood up when the realization hit him and punched dad in the face. That was swift and dad was not able to avoid it, not that he would.He didn't fight back and he remained stoic, letting Tito Cornelius have his way on him. Archer ran to his dad or our dad should I say and tried to stop him but he didn't budge.

Mom immediately stepped between them and stopped tito Cornelius.

"P-please, Cornelius stop," she pleaded. Tito Cornelius might have felt sorry for mom so he stopped punching dad.

I wanted to run back to her and hug her. She's also just a victim. She doesn't deserve any of this. My heart is weeping for the both of them.

"Celestine." I heard Tita Amanda called me. Celestine, right It's my real name. Celestine Dalton.Nilingon ko siya at kaagad niya akong niyakap. Mahigpit ang pag kaka yakap niya sa akin na para bang ayaw na niya akong bitawan. She's also crying but not in pain. She's crying with happiness.I hugged her back as tight as I could. The warmth of her embraces is enough to cover the longing I didn't know that I have.

She withdrew from our embrace and she cupped my face. There is a longing in her eyes and the looks that she can't believe I'm real. Naiyak na rin ako. Parehong bumubuhos ang aming luha habang nakatingin sa mata ng isa't isa. 

"I can't believe you're alive," she said, still cupping my face. I smiled to assure her.

Lumapit naman sa amin si Tito Cornelius at agad akong niyakap. Yakap ng isang ama na matagal nangulila sa kanyang anak. "Ohh, Celestine. I can't believe this."Pagkatapos ng aming yakapan ay hindi ko sinasadyang mapa tingin sa mga naging magulang ko sa labing siyam na taon ng aking buhay.

Nakatitig sa akin ang inakala kong aking ama ng may kalungkutan sa mga mata. Namumula ang mukha nito at nagdurugo ang kaliwang ilong, putok rin ang kaniyang mga labi. Nang mapansin niya na nakatitig ako sa kanya ay iniwas niya ang kanyang paningin. Ang inakala kong aking tunay ina naman ay sa malayo ang tingin.

I can't fully be happy thinking about mom. She's a good mother to me. She already lost five of her supposed children. If I can be Aurora just so she would be happy I will. But, I am not and will never be.

"You'll pay for this Arthur." Matigas na pagbabanta ni Tito Cornelius. Gusto kong sumabat ngunit pinigilan ko ang aking sarili. Hindi naman nagsalita ang aking inakalang ama.Iniwas ko ang aking paningin sa kanila at pinigilan ang pag-iyak. Lumapit sa akin si Archer at inakbayan ako. He didn't say a word but his presence is enough.

Hanggang ngayon kasi ay naguguluhan at nahihirapan parin ako sa sitwasyon. "We will take Celestine with us," he said. Mom wanted to say something but she stopped herself.