Her Forgotten Mistake (Mistake Series #6)

Thirteen

(Note: Unedited version. Errors ahead.)

Thirteen

"WHY DIDN'T YOU tell me, Mommy? Why are you hiding Daddy from me!?" mangiyak-ngiyak na maktol ni Topp kay Julia.

Hindi alam ni Julia kung ano ang sasabihin sa anak maliban sa katotohanan na hindi naman nito ama si Lucas. Mas lalo lang lumakas ang iyak nito nang itanggi niya si Lucas sa bata.

"But, Topp, Sir Lucas is my boss. He's not your father, anak," malumanay na paliwanag niya sa anak.

"Why are you lying to me, Mommy?" Topp was sobbing between his words.

"Do you think I can lie to you, Kristoffer?" tumigas ang kaniyang boses habang nakataas ang isang kilay. "Nagsinungaling na ba si Mommy sa 'yo?"

Instead of answering her, tinawag lang nito si Aurora at sa kaibigan niya magpalambing ang anak. She sighed when Aurora excused herself and her son before dropping the call. Napahawak si Julia sa noo saka hinarap si Lucas na kanina pa tahimik habang pinapanood ang sagutan nilang mag-ina.

"I'm sorry you have to hear that," nahihiya niyang wika.

"Who gave him the idea?" Nagpamulsa ito.

"My friend. 'Yong bantay niya. She kept on telling Topp na ikaw ang tatay niya. Topp wasn't interested about finding his Dad when he was younger. Pero iba talaga kapag nagkaka-isip na ang bata. They will start questioning things around them."

"He's in the province, you said?" Lucas cocked his head in the side.

Saglit na natigilan si Julia. Sinabi niya pa lang nasa probinsya ang anak niya. Shit! Paano kapag may napansin ito kanina sa tawag?

"Uh... yes," the tone of her voice changed. "I think pupuntahan niya ako sa Manila kapag naka-uwi na rin tayo."

Something flickered in his eyes. Tahimik itong tumango saka niyaya na siyang pumasok pabalik sa buffet hall. Sumunod naman siya sa binata at hindi na nagsalita pa.

The dinner went well and everyone was full after. The kids fell asleep after hours of playing. Nanatili muna sila roon para makipag-kuwentuhan. Ephraim and Eros asked if they wanted to drink. Lahat naman sila ay pumayag kaya naroon sila ngayon sa mini bar sa may dalampasigan.

They were talking about Armee's wedding gown when she learned that the two Suarez still have another sister. The three off them were far from the others.

"Where is she?" tanong niya habang sinasalinan ni Armee ng beer ang kaniyang baso. "Hindi ba siya a-attend sa kasal?"

Armee sighed before putting the beer bottle back on the counter. "She's in New York right now. Kasama niya si Mama at Papa."

Julia was surprised. Ibig bang sabihin ay hindi rin makakadalo sa kasal ng dalaga ang mga magulang nito?

"I fully understand why they're not coming. I'm not mad at them. So don't give me that look." Armee grinned at her. Napainom si Julia ng alak. "I was the one who told Ate Bleu to go outside the country to heal. Sinabi ko rin kila Mama na mas importanteng samahan nila si Ate roon kaysa dumalo sa kasal ko. Nandito naman si Ate Yasha para tulungan ako."

Pinilit ni Julia ang ngumiti kahit na nakararamdam pa rin siya ng lungkot para sa dalaga. Everyone knows how special a wedding day is to a woman. At mas magiging espesyal 'yon kapag kasama mo ang mga mahal mo sa buhay sa araw ng kasal mo. But to Armee's case, she chose her sister's safety over her own happiness.

What a selfless sister.

"Puwede ko bang malaman kung... ano'ng nangyari sa kapatid niyo?" she asked carefully, not wanting to sound aggressive. The topic seemed sensitive Kaya kahit papa'no ay gusto niyang maging maingat sa lahat ng kaniyang sasabihin.