“No, hindi. Hindi mo sya anak. Patay na ang daddy nya. Wala syang daddy na katulad mo.”
“Bakit mo ba sya nilalayo sakin? May karapatan naman ako sa kanya diba?”
“Wala kang karapatan sa kanya.”
“Why not?!”
“You’ve just said it before. You hate responsibilities.” Napaupo sya sa may bench. “Nung sinabi ko sa’yo noon na merong tao dito sa tyan ko, tinakasan mo ko. Nung time na kailangan ko ng tagapagtanggol laban sa tatay ko, hindi ka dumating. Ngayong napalaki ko sya ng maayos, kukunin mo naman sya sakin. Wala kang karapatan sa kanya dahil ako lang ang kinilala nyang tatay at nanay nya!”
I was astonished at that time. Totoo ba talaga yun? Naguguluhan ako sa mga narinig ko. Si Lawrence na nakilala ko sa kalsada na sinabihan akong hindi dapat ako humarang sa kalsada dahil delikado… has a child?!
And then, iniwan nya ‘tong si Andrea with a big responsibility?!
But then, she started to cry. “It’s too late to change everything. Kahit anong gawin mo, hindi mo sya makukuha sakin. Aalis kami ni Camille.” She was about to walk when he suddenly hugged her.
“Please. Don’t. I know what I did is wrong. Alam mo namang tutol sayo noon ang parents ko, diba? Kaya, hindi ako makalapit sa’yo nun. And now, wala na sila. We can start all over again. Just don’t leave me.”
“No. Maayos na ang buhay naming dalawa. Wag mo na kaming guluhin. Pagod na ko.” She escaped successfully into his arms and she passed me with tears in her eyes. Hinarap ko naman si Lawrence.
“Kanina ka pa dyan diba?”
“Totoo ba yun? Ha? Anak mo… si Camille?”
“Ang liit talaga ng mundo ano? Sabi ko na nga ba, tama ang instincts ko. I can feel it.” He turned away. “Pero, natatakot rin ako na malaman ni Camille ang totoo.” He sighed and shook his head.
“Maiintindihan naman yun ni Camille eh.”
“Huh?” He lifted his head to me. “Maiintindihan nya yun. Trust me. Baka nga, mas maging masaya sya dahil makukumpleto na ang pamilya na gusto nya. She always wished for a complete family every night. Believe me. Pero, for the mean time, hayaan mo munang makapag-isip si Andrea about that. It’s not yet time.” I said and he gently smiled at me.
“Mama!” I looked back to see Rex and Camille. “Antagal nyo ah.”
“Nagpabili pa kasi ‘to ng cotton candy eh.” He said. Napansin ko nga rin yung kinakain ni Camille, cotton candy. “Meron ba nyan rito?” I asked. “Dun yun sa kabila. Si Andrea?”
“Bumili ng ticket.”
Silence occurred.
“Ayan na sya.” We looked at Andrea with 2 tickets. Napatingin naman ako kay Lawrence at hindi ko sya mabasa. Ano kayang iniisip nya ngayon? Susunod pa rin ba sya kina Camille?
“Sige na baby. Magpaalam ka na sa kanila,” Then her eyes shifted to Lawrence and continued. “Nang makaalis na tayo agad.” That maybe hit him. I felt bad to Lawrence. But angry because of what he did to Andrea.
Camille hugged me. “Bye mama.” She whispered and looked at me. “Camille,” I smiled. “Mabubuo rin ang pamilya mo balang araw.”
“Pero, wala na po si daddy.”
“Andyan lang sya… laging nakabantay sa’yo.”
She released me and hugged Rex too. “Bye papa.”
“Sorry sa lahat, Camille. Hindi nabigay ni papa yung best nya.”
“Hindi po. Binigay nyo na po ang best nyo. Kasi nagbati pa rin kayo ni mama. Sana hindi na po kayo mag-away.”
She released him and turned to Lawrence. Si Lawrence na mismo ang yumakap sa kanya. When he released her, his eyes averted to Andrea but she took her eyes off easily.
With a cold breeze passed us, they started to walk, leaving Lawrence behind.
