Mamihlapinatapai

Chapter 4

Cray

Compose yourself, Cray. Compose yourself. Ember is just bluffing. Mindgame is her forte. Don't fall for her bait.

Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago inihakbang yung mga paa ko palabas ng elevator. Pagkatapos ay naglakad patungo sa nag-iisang opisina na nandoon.

Hindi na ako nagulat nang makita na hindi nag-iisa doon si Momma.

There she is. The woman who I feared the most. Her lifeless coal eyes are dancing in mischief and rage.

Pero ang ipinagtataka ko ay yung makita din doon sina Mommy Alli at Elle. They were sitting comfortably next to Momma L and Ate Grant. But they were both fidgeting as if sitting there is making them uneasy too. Ang kakatwa pa ay nandoon din sa loob si Tita Jen. Pati na din yung kapatid ni Ember na si Eris and Essex.

What's going on? May family reunion ba?

"Ate Cray!" Tumayo si Elle at halos patakbo akong niyakap. I automatically open my arms to receive that warm hug.

"Hey, Elle. Namiss mo naman ako agad." pabirong sabi ko na masuyong hinaplos yung ulo nito.

"What have you done, Ate Cray?" mula sa pagkakayakap ko dito ay ramdam ko pa ang bahagyang panginginig nito. "Bakit mo ginawa yun?"

Ginawa ang alin?

Umangat yung mukha nito mula sa balikat ko. I can clearly see the tears running down on her face.

"G-Ginawa ang alin?"

Nagtatakang napatingin din ako kay Momma L at Mommy Alli. May ginawa ba akong mali? As far as I know, sinusunod ko naman lahat ng sinasabi nila. That's the only way I can do to repay all their kindness to me.

I gulped inwardly upon seeing Momma's face. Dumudugo yung gilid ng labi nito bukod pa sa halatang halata na namumula yung buong mukha nito. Hindi maipagkakaila na galit talaga ito.

"I am giving you the chance to ask your orphan, Lou. Just for the sake of our so-called friendship. But if she denies it right infront of us, hell forgives me, but I will surely cut her head right here. Right now."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong nakaramdam ng panlalamig. Lalo pa at lahat ng taong nandito ngayon ay nakatingin sakin na para bang inuusig ako sa kasalanan na hindi ko naman alam.

Tumayo si Momma. Maging si Mommy ay tumayo na din. Akala ko ay lalapitan ako nito. Ayun pala ay aawatin lang nito si Momma dahil halatang galit na galit pa din iyon habang nakatingin sakin ng masama.

"Pooper, get a grip of yourself. She's my daughter. I raise her. She can't do that." Kalmadong awat pa ni Mommy dito.

"Exactly! You raised her, Alliston! She's my child. Kaya hindi ako makapaniwala na kaya nyang gumawa ng ganoong klaseng.." Napahawak pa sa ulo nito si Momma. Halatang frustrated ito at gulong-gulo na din sa nangyayari. "Is this the time that her own past will take over? Is the bad blood running in her veins really thicker than the kindness and love we've shown her? Shit, Alliston!! Do something! She's my child for Pete's sake!"

No, Ate L. Don't accuse me of doing something terrible that I don't know of.

Kalmadong niyakap ni Mommy Alli si Momma na para bang kinakalma ito. "She can't do it, Pooper. She won't do it."

Napatingin ako kay Elle. Her face shown fear too. Hindi para dito. Kundi para sa akin.

"At-Ate.." Umiiyak pa din ito. "Please redeem our name. Please tell them that you really did not do it."

"Did what?" Naguguluhang tanong ko dito. Nanlalamig na din ako sa takot at kaba. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Ano bang nagawa ko?

No, Cray. What's going on? Have I done something terrible when I visited Ate Leigh? Did that..