Hiding the Green Carnation's Heirs | ✓

05

"CAN you please seat down?" I asked politely and the three of them obeyed.

Sunod-sunod silang umakyat sa sofa at tabi-tabing umupo. As usual, it's organized. They sat down by chronological order. Caius as the first one, Calina in the middle and last but not the least, Callum.

"Naka-seat na po kami Mama," Calina happily chirped.

Puno ng kaguluhan at pagtataka ang mukha nilang tatlo habang nakatingala sa akin. Nakatiklop pa ang kanilang mga kamay at nakalagay sa ibabaw ng kanilang hita.

I sighed before kneeling in front of them and looking at each and every one of them. They are looking at me attentively.

"Mga anak, what you did a while ago is not good," malumanay kong wika sa kanila.

Caius just pout his lips and Callum lowered his head. Calina is the only one who's looking cool. She even smiled at me.

"Pero Mama tama naman po kami e. Bawal po mag-stay rito si Tito kasi baka magalit po si Papa namin," katwiran pa niya.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako bago umiling sa kaniya. 

"But baby, pinalayas mo ang Tito Aadavan mo. Hindi iyon maganda," wika ko.

"Pero Mama, baka nga po malungkot si Papa kasi dito nag-i-sleep si Tito e," pagpipilit ni Calina.

I closed my eyes because of the stubbornness of my daughter. Parang pumintig bigla ang sintido ko.

Kanino ba 'to nagmana?

I took a deep breath. I need to explain everything to them.

"Calina, you made Tito Aadavan sad because of what you did. Nasaktan siya sa ginawa niyong tatlo," pagpapaliwanag ko.

"Hurt po namin si 'To Van?" Callum suddenly asked and his eyes were starting to get teary.

Goodness.

Sunod namang suminghot si Calina at namula na rin ang kaniyang mga mata while Caius softly whimpered on the side.

Their noses started to turn into crimson red and their eyes are bloodshot already.

"We didn't mean to hurt him po, Mama. Hindi na po ba niya kami love?" Calina asked.

"Syempre love na pa rin kayo ni Tito Aadavan pero nasaktan siya sa ginawa niyo kanina, mga anak." I gathered their hands before caressing it softly. "You don't treat Tito Van like that okay? He's your Tito, don't be rude at him. He's like your second father. 'Di ba, he would always play with the three of you if he's not busy? He would always even buy you your favorite toys. He would even read your stories until you fall asleep. Pinapasyal niya kayo sa park at museum kapag wala ako 'di ba?"

He did things that even your real father didn't do.

I gently gnawed my inner cheeks when I thought Lurusus.

Kapag ba pinakilala ko silang tatlo sa tatay nila, gagawin niya rin kaya ang ginagawa ni Aadavan sa mga anak niya? Kikilalanin niya kaya ang tatlo?

I came back to reality when I heard someone cry. Agad akong nabahala at mabilis na hinawak si Calina at hinaplos-haplos ang kaniyang tuhod upang patahanin siya.

"S-Sorry p-p-po Ma-Mama. H-Hi-Hindi na-naman n-namin s-sinasa-sinasadya e-e. G-Gusto k-ka l-lang p-p-po na-naming b-bantayan ha-habang wala s-si Papa n-namin."

Mabilis kong kinabig papalapit sa akin si Calina. Halos wala na akong maintindihan sa sinasabi niya dahil sa sobrang pag-iyak pero parang may humaplos sa puso ko dahil sa sinabi ng anak ko.