Forced

Chapter 46: Troublesome husband

Huminga ng malalim si Gneiss bago pihitin ang seradura ng pintuan nila. Pagbukas nito'y, bumungad sa kaniya ang kaniyang ama at ina na nasa sala, nakahain na rin ang mga pagkain at siya na lang ang hinihintay nila. Napatingin sila sa kaniya ng maigi na para bang, may hinahanap silang kasama niya. Tumayo na ang parehong magulang niya at sinalubong siya ng mahigpit na yakap.

"I miss you, honey." ani ng kaniyang ama, kapagkwan ay hinalikan rin siya sa magkabilang pisngi.

"How's your holidays?" tanong naman ng kaniyang ina.

She heaved a deep sigh of relief. "I—its fun a—and worth it."

"Ba't hindi mo naman isinama si Kian? Mas maganda siguro kung magkasama kayong nagtungo rito para makapag-usap rin kami." dagdag pa ng daddy nito.

It's already 3rd of January, if you're asking if they were together during the New Year's Eve, they weren't, mag-isa ulit siya, malungkot na sinalubong ang bagong taon, she just lied to everyone who asked if they were together with those two recent special nights. Kian went home tomorrow after the Christmas eve, but Gneiss never talked to him since that day, nagkukulong na lang siya sa kuwarto nito, saka na lang lumalabas kapag kakain, o 'di kaya gagawa ng gawaing bahay, si Kian naman ay parating umaalis, gabi na lang din kung umuwi, may mga pagkakataon na nagtatagpo sila sa bawat sulok ng bahay, ngunit walang ni isa ang nagkukusang umpisahan ang usapan, they were like strangers, passing each other's back.

"He's busy, they had a lot of requirements to do in school." she gave them a little smile.

"If that's it, okay let's go eat and we'll give you our gift." Ngumiti ang kaniyang ina sa kaniya.

Hawak ng kaniyang ina ang kaliwang kamay nito at ang kanan ay mahigpit ring hawak ng kaniyang ama. They resembles a happy family, that some are wishing to have. Her father pulled a chair for her only daughter. They started eating, subalit kahit mga international dishes na ang nakahain sa lamesa ay wala pa rin siyang gana, pero pinipilit niya na lang na lunukin ang bawat laman ng kutsara para hindi na magtanong o 'di kaya mag-alala sa kaniya ang mga magulang nito.

"What gift did you received from your future husband, last Christmas?" muling tanong ng kaniyang ina.

She put down her spoon and fork for a while. "A—a bracelet, yes ma, it's a bracelet."

She lied, she didn't received any, walang ibinigay sa kaniya si Kian ni isa, it's heartache, yes only heartache.

"That's sweet, may I take a glance? I gladly wanted to see it." Napalakpak pa ng mahina ang kaniyang ina, kinikilig ito base sa hitsura niya.

What now will she show to her mother? If she really never received any at the first place?

"Uhh, ma, I forgot to wear it, you know I ain't comfortable with wearing jewels." she reasoned out. She prayed at the back of her mind that, God may forgive her for lying.

Mataman siyang tinitigan ng kaniyang ina, bago tumango. "I see, kumain ka na anak, pumapayat ka na kasi."

"You have a swollen eyes too, honey, if you're stress at something, just tell us. Kapag ikaw one call away lang, okay?" simpatya rin ng kaniyang ama.

They already noticed the changes, she's praying inside, she's holding at the top of her lungs, hoping, praying and wishing for them not to noticed how broken she was, she's trying hard not to burst in tears in front of them, kahit na sabik na sabik na siya sa kung paano siya pakalmahin at palakasin ng kaniyang mga magulang. But, everything wasn't like before any longer, may mga bagay na natuto siyang itago, mga bagay na sa palagay niya'y hindi naman kailangang i-share at  i-vocalize.