"Ako talaga ang hihingian mo ng tulong, Earl?"
A man in his late thirties raised a brow at Earl. His name is Rafael.
"Ikaw ang tanging pumasok sa isip ko."
Rafael laughed and glanced at the three teenagers. Nakaupo sila sa sofa ng kaniyang bahay, samantalang nakaupo si Earl sa bar stool habang umiinom ng champagne para kumalma ang kaniyang utak.
Rafael is a charismatic man with a very attractive vibe. The three teenagers surveyed his well-built physique with obvious appreciation. Rafael is an instructor at an all-girls high school. Matalik silang magkaibigan ni Earl.
Nasa loob sila ng home bar ni Rafael. Binigyan naman niya sina Seth, Cindy at Anwar ng juice.
Mahigit isang oras na silang nag-uusap at naikuwento na rin ni Earl ang kalagayan ng kaniyang tatlong anak-anakan.
"Mabuti po at naniniwala kayo sa mga kuwinento ni Sir Earl," magalang na pagkasabi ni Seth kay Rafael.
"Yeah, may tiwala ako sa katinuan ni Earl."
Natawa nang kaunti si Earl. Rafael sat, sipping his glass of champagne.
"Basically, masama ang ugali ninyong tatlo kaya kayo dinala sa isang community service for a punishment?" Rafael said in a serious tone.
Cindy rolled her eyes. 'Talagang binanggit pa niya na masama kami', she thought.
Hindi ito nakalampas sa mga mata ni Rafael. He laughed again. 'May ugali nga ang tatlong ito', he thought.
"Tapos, tumakas kayo at nakarating sa gubat na may ilog. Naligo kayo at dumating si Earl, tama ba ako?"
"Yeah, parang s-in-um-marize mo lang ang sinabi namin," Cindy answered in a sarcastic tone.
Rafael was grinning widely. "Kaya pala kayo pinarusahan, pati dila mo baliktad. Kung estudyante kita, tuturuan talaga kita ng leksyon."
Hindi makita ng tatlong teenagers ang dahilan kung bakit humingi ng tulong si Earl kay Rafael, pero malaki ang tiwala ni Earl sa kaniya.
Rafael stared at the ceiling. He's trying to picture the situation that happened before they were jinxed.
"Sa tingin ko ay nag-umpisa ang lahat nang maligo kayo sa ilog. Ang lakas ng loob ninyong maligo." Rafael looked at Earl. "Buti dumating ka at walang nangyari sa kanilang masama."
"But the consequences were massive." Earl stared at the wine glass. "Ano 'yon? Naligo lang sila tapos sinumpa na?"
"Perhaps, the river was enchanted."
Sabay-sabay silang napatingin kay Rafael dahil sa sinabi nito. "I can't believe na nangyari ito sa inyo. It's like a world without lies para sa inyong tatlo."
"Sa tingin ko ay hindi po kami naparusahan. We went there and dug our own grave," Seth said.
"Bullseye!" Rafael clapped slowly. "In short, kasalanan n'yo rin."
"Ano'ng dapat nating gawin?" Earl asked Rafael.
Rafael's face turned stoic.
"We need to go there."
***
"Anwar, kumusta ang pag-aaral mo?" his father asked in a serious voice.
He was scared of his father. Palagi silang wala sa bahay. Marami silang mga business hindi lang sa Pilipinas, pati na rin sa ibang bansa. Kapag umuuwi sila ay hindi komportable si Anwar. His father was cold and distant, while her mother was very strict. He was their only child and the future successor of their companies.
Pakiramdam ni Anwar ay nakasulat na ang kaniyang buhay. He is like a bird living in a cage.
Napalunok siya ng laway. Nanginginig ang kaniyang kalamnan. Hindi niya inaasahan ang pagdating ng kaniyang mga magulang. Akala niya ay sa susunod na linggo pa sila darating.
"Okay naman po, Dad."
"Gusto naming makita," sabi naman ng kaniyang ina.
Napapikit si Anwar. "Kukunin ko lang sa kuwarto ko."
He ran towards his room. Sweat is dripping from his forehead. Nang mahawakan niya ang card niya ay bigla siyang namutla. Tatlong subject ang bagsak niya.
He went back to the dining room.
His parents waiting patiently. Inabot ni Anwar ang kaniyang card sa kaniyang ama, ngunit hindi niya ito binitiwan.
"Bakit ayaw mong bitiwan?" His father asked confused.
"N-nakaka-shock po kasi ang laman niyan. B-baka magulat kayo."
Lalong kumunot ang gatla sa noo ng kaniyang ama.
"Hindi na kami magugulat, Anwar. Pero kapag may bagsak ka ay kukunin namin ang kotse at allowance mo," paalala ng kaniyang ina.
He doesn't want to loose his car and allowance.
"May academic excellence award po ako, Dad. Matataas po lahat."
Binitiwan niya ang card at binuksan ng kaniyang ama. Nanlaki ang mga mata ng kaniyang mga magulang nang makita ang mga matataas niyang grado. Malinaw sa kaniya na magagalit si Seth at si Earl kapag nalaman niya na nagsinungaling siya.
He was shocked when her mother stood up and held him in an affectionate embrace. Mabibilang lang sa daliri kung ilang beses siyang niyakap ng kaniyang ina noon. "I'm so proud of you, son."
He smiled with overflowing happiness.
Of all the lies he made, he became happy when he stood between choice and regret.
***
"Sinisira mo ang pangalan ko!"
Vince pushed Sera and fell to the floor.
Nagpapabango si Vince dahil tatakbo siya bilang Senador sa susunod na halalan, ngunit umapoy siya sa galit nang maging laman ng balita si Sera na nakikipagkita sa ibang lalaki.
"Maghiwalay na tayo!" She shouted at him while wiping her tears.
"Mom!" Nagmadaling pumasok ni Cindy sa kuwarto ni Sera at nilapitan ang ina.
"What is happening, Dad? Why are you hurting my mom?" Her face flushed with anger.
"Malandi 'yang nanay mo! She's a fucking whore! Nakikipagkita siya sa teacher mong hayop!"
Cindy stood up and walked forward. "What did you say, Dad? Hindi malandi si Mommy! Kung may hayop dito ay kayo 'yon!" She glared at him while her tears ran down her cheeks.
She doesn't like the emotion bubbling inside her heart.
"Ano'ng sinabi mo? 'Yan ba ang itinuro sa 'yo ng malandi mong ina?" He slapped her hard across her face. Muntik na siyang mawalan ng balanse.
Tumayo si Sera at pinaghahampas si Vince. "Hayop ka, 'wag mong sasaktan ang anak natin! Umalis ka na! We don't want you here!"
Naglakad palabas si Vince na hindi nilingon ang kaniyang mag-ina. Hinawakan ni Cindy ang kaniyang pisngi habang lumalakas ang kaniyang pag-iyak. The pain in her cheek was throbbing but the pain in her heart was more excruciating.
'Seth was right', she thought. Bumalik lang ang kaniyang ama dahil sa kasinungalingan niya. Kailanman ay hindi siya minahal ng ama.
Niyakap siya ng kaniyang ina. "I'm sorry, honey."
She didn't respond. Ang tanging maririnig lang ay ang pag-iyak nilang mag-ina. Cindy realized a bitter truth.
Of all the lies she heard, her father's love was the most painful.
^•^
BINABASA MO ANG
The River of Truth
Teen Fiction"The most dangerous liars are those who think they are telling the truth." Lying is frequently characterized as selfish behavior. However, it became a habit for three youngsters. They believe lying is necessary, and they are unconcerned about the fe...
