To Fall Apart

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

I took a glance of Van. Dumilim ang mukha nya ng nilingon si Papa. Mula dito, kita ko ang pagkatigil ni Papa nang makita nya si Van. His smile faded. Naibaba nya din ang braso nya at halos magdikit ang kilay nya ng makita si Van sa tabi ko.

Pinilig ni Papa ang ulo nya bago kunot noong tiningnan si Van. I saw a smirk crept in his face but it has no trace of any humor.

"What are you doing here?" he asked in gritted teeth.

Napakurap ako sa kinatatayuan ko dahil sa tono ng boses ni Papa. Iniwan ko si Van at mabilis na dinaluhan si Papa para pakalmahin sya.

"Pa..." I called him. Papa looked at me with disbelief.

"What is the meaning of this Andy?!" malakas na sigaw nya. Napatalon ako sa gulat.

I swallowed hard. I took a glance of Van and he's still standing where I left him, looking darkly at us.

"P-Pa... He's Giddeon's father. And it's your grandson's birthday." I explained.

Papa laughed mockingly at me. Napalunok ako.

"Then why he's here?" he asked again. Pagod ko syang tiningnan.

"He should be here Pa, right?" I tried to comprehend him but he only shook his head.

"No. Ofcourse not." aniya pa. He gritted his teeth before looking at Van. Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko.

"Ang kapal ng mukha nyang magpakita dito matapos ka nyang iwan at ang apo ko. Babalik lang sya kapag okay na sya? Hindi ba ang kagaguhan yon?"

"Pa!" I called him. Papa shook his head and looked at me with dismay.

Umahon ang iritasyon sa puso ko dahil sa asal nya. Mabibigat ang hininga ko dahil ayokong sabayan ang galit nya. Kauuwi nya lang, at birthday ng apo nya ngayon. We should be celebrating and not this.

"Bakit Andy? Ano? Tatanggapin mo ulit?" tanong ni Papa.

Pagod akong bumuntong hininga. I looked at Van and he's already clenching his jaw.

I already saw them fighting before. They already hurt each other and I cannot stand seeing them fight again now.

Hinawakan ko ang braso ni Papa kaya napatingin sya sa akin. Masama ang tingin na pinupukol nya at ramdam ko ang matinding galit nya pero hindi ko na yun inalala.

All I care about now is that they need to be out of sight of each other. Hindi pa tuluyang naghihilom ang sugat ng nakaraan at ayoko nang dadagan pa ulit iyon.

"Papa... Please. Let's talk." I almost begged him.

Dumilim ang tingin sa akin ni Papa. Halatang hindi nya nagugustuhan ang asal ko kaya pati sa akin nagagalit sya.

Lumingon si Papa kay Van. They almost kill each other with their stares when I pulled Papa.

"Pa, please." I said.

Bumuntong hininga si Papa bago tumango. I nod at him too. I shoot Van an apologetic smile but his face remain serious. Napabuntong hininga din ako bago umalis doon at pumasok sa bahay.

Nauna si Papa sa akin habang nakasunod naman ako sa kanya. I am biting my lip while I follow him.

The years that Van is gone, his anger grew. He blame Van for letting me suffer alone. He is mad at him for leaving. Kaya ganito na lang ang galit ni Papa sa kanya.