Chapter 13
Tie
I went home at dawn. Alas kuwatro pa lang nang madaling-araw ay umuwi na ako. I know Papa already knew I was not around the house.
Tumigil ang sasakyan niya malayo sa bahay. Hindi kami bumaba ng sasakyan. We remained silent as we stared at the dark road.
Nagulat na lang ako nang abutin niya ang kaliwang kamay ko. He put an envelope in my left hand.
"I don't know if 50 thousand is enough. But, just give them all to the victim, Vega. I want to assure you that you won't think of this again. Makakalaya ang mama mo ngayong araw," he said with assurance.
Kinagat-kagat ko ang labi ko.
"Paano ko 'yan mababayaran? Baka kailangan ko pang maging teacher bago ko 'yan mabayaran," umiling na sabi ko.
He just sighed. Banayad niyang hinaplos ang palad ko at tinakpan ang envelope ngamin ang kamay niya.
"No, Vega. It's fine. Kahit na hindi mo na rin bayaran, okay lang. The important thing here is your mother. I know how much you love your mother. Your family needs her, Vega," masuyo niyang sabi.
Napahinga na lang ako nang malalim bago iyon tinanggap. I hugged it on my body. Pumikit ako nang mariin habang iniisip ang sinabi niya. Yes, despite her harsh attitude towards me, I still need my mother. We still need our mother. Hindi kami mabubuhay nang wala siya. I can't live a life without my mother beside me despite her attitude.
Tumingin ako sa kanya at nginitian siya. He is just there, sitting and smiling at me.
"Thank you ulit, Ian. Babayaran kita kapag nakaipon ako. Promise. Babayaran kita," mahinang sabi ko.
Napalunok ako. "Baka hindi ako pumasok ngayong araw. I need to stay at home muna hangga't hindi nakakalaya si Mama. Kailangan ko pang kausapin 'yong boss niya," napahawak na lang ako sa noo ko nang maramdaman ang sobrang pagod.
Hindi ako nakatulog kakaisip kay Mama. I was thinking of her situation in the jail.
"Hindi ako papasok," I said with finality.
"S-So, I won't be able to see you today at school?" mahinang tanong niya.
I nodded my head. "Vega needs to rescue her mom," natatawa ngunit medyo naiiyak kong sabi.
Napanguso na lang ako para pigilan ang pag-iyak.
"Okay okay. You got your mother's back because you are her daughter. So, if that's the case, I should also rescue you because you are my... precious girlfriend," nakangisi niyang sabi.
Natawa na lang ako at pabirong hinampas ang balikat niya. I smiled happily when I remembered what happened last night in the shower room. Hanggang doon lang kami. We didn't exceed to something more intense than that.
"I will go now. Just call me later, okay?" nakangiting sabi ko.
He just thumbs up his right hand. Mabilis kong inayos ang hoodie ng jacket ko bago lumabas ng sasakyan niya. Before I totally turned my back away from him, I still managed to wave my hand.
"Ingat ka pauwi, Ian ko," masuyo kong sabi. Nag-flying kiss ako at mabilis naman niya iyong na-catch at pinatak sa kanyang labi.
"You can do this. Fighting," he said while cheering me up.
That's why I was fine while walking to our house. Yakap-yakap ko ang envelope sa akin nang pumasok ako ng bahay. Ngunit halos mapatalon ako nang makitang nakatayo si Papa sa tabi ng lamesa.
When his anger eyes directed at me, I swear I forgot all my alibi right now.
"Saan ka nagpuntang babae ka?! Ang sabi ko kagabi, pumunta kang presinto! Anong ginawa mo?! Saan ka nagpunta?!" galit na sigaw niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
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