When Heaven Smiled

22

Chapter 22
Shattered

Talagang ang ulap nga ang tagakolekta ng tubig bago bumuhos sa langit ang ulan. Never in my life did I expect that I'd compare myself to those clouds I see in the sky. Nakapagdesisyon na akong isarili ang kung ano mang nasilayan ko kanina. Just like those clouds, I would try my best to shield my family from the scorching sun. I would try my best to keep those lies until they pour on their own, leaving us suffering a heavy storm.

'Di bale ng malaman nila kay Papa kaysa sa akin mismo manggaling.

Even though my heart was heavy, I still chose to go home. Naka set-up na sa bahay pag-uwi ko, talagang cake na lang ang kulang. I eyed the decorations especially the backdrop that "Happy Anniversary!" was written.

"Manang, masama po ang pakiramdam ko... Kayo na po ang bahala. Sorry." Inabot ko kay Manang Diding ang cake.

"Sige lang 'Nak, kami na ang bahala rito. Nandiyan naman ang ate mo. Magpahinga ka na."

Umakyat na ako sa kwarto. Nagpakita na lang ako sa kanila sa baba nang talagang makauwi na si Mama. Nauna pa siya kay Papa kaya naman habang nag-uusap sila ay hindi ko mapigilang usisain siya.

"Pa, I thought you'd be home by seven." I raised my eyebrow playfully. I bit the side of my cheek to stop myself from speaking more.

"Ah! Ang dami kasi biglang ginawa sa office, kaya ayun." Bumaling siya kay Mama at saka ito hinalikan. "I'm sorry Hon, happy anniversary."

"Tara kain na!" Si Ate na ang nag-aya at nag-ayos ng mga plato. Pasulyap-sulyap siya sa akin dahil hindi ko mapigilan ang mukha kong sumimangot.

During that week, I did my best to have normal interactions with my father. As much as possible, I distanced myself from them. I'm still mad, I want to talk but I'm still not sure about everything.

Soon enough, I got over it.

I was good at convincing myself. Hinayaan ko na lang 'yon, kasi baka nga magkaibigan lang sila ako lang nagbibigay malisya. Alam ko ring nagkaayos na sila talaga ni Mama pagtapos ng anniversary nila, ayaw ko naman makasira.

My thoughts about him changed when we went to church last Sunday. He's the one that was assigned for the Bible reading. Standing in front of hundreds of people, I really doubt that he had the nerve to cheat.

"Let us open our Bibles to the book of First Corinthians chapter six, verse eighteen." My father said formally. "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."

Bukas din ang Bibliya ko ngunit hindi doon nakatuon ang atensyon ko. Nakatitig ako sa kanya. Sa paraan kung paano siya tumindig sa pulpito. Saksi ang Diyos sa ginagawa niya ngayon. Saksi ang mga miyembro ng simbahan sa katapatang pinapakita niya.

If those words don't mean anything to him, then he is the biggest hypocrite I know.

Spreading the gospel while cheating on his beloved family. No one in their right mind would do that... right?

"Ano kulay ng isusuot mo?" Kinukulit na naman ako ni Mikee tungkol sa graduation ball, samantalang siya nga nagsabi na huwag kami magsabihan para surprise!

"Ayoko, wala ng surprise kapag gano'n. Sabihin mo na lang sa 'kin kung sino ka-date mo, yie si Elmo!" I teased her instead.

"Oo, siya nga." Her cheeks turned red.

My eyes widened, she finally got him! Hinampas ko ang braso niya sa kilig. Nagtinginan ang mga kaklase namin.

Si Maxon ay tinaasan pa ako ng kilay. Nasita din kami ng teacher namin kaya tuloy pinag-recite kami. Good thing I studied in advance, I coached Mikee and whispered some answers that's why we pulled it off.