Beneath the Two | Academy Series #1

Chapter 35

"Leigh, bakit hindi ka pa nakabihis?"

Nakaupo ako sa swing at tinatanaw ang mga batang maglaro sa kabila nang lapitan ako ni Mommy. She's wearing a chucky costume with wig and complete makeup. She's even holding a knife.

"Maaga pa, Mom. Mamaya-maya."

Nakabihis na silang lahat, ako na lang ang hindi. Mom hired make-up artists for them earlier. Buong araw ay paghahanda sa celebration lang ang inatupag namin. I was drained, dahil binantayan ko ang mga malilikot na bata kanina.

"What's your costume, sweetheart? Bakit hindi ka nagpaayos kanina?" Mom sat on the swing beside me.

"I'm an angel. Kailangan ko pa ba ng makeup? Anghel na anghel na ang mukha ko, Mommy. Halo at pakpak na lang ang kulang."

"You won't change your clothes?"

Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang suot ko. I'm wearing a white stringed halter top and black high-waisted pants. Suot ko ang five inches na ankle strap heels. There's no sense of horror in my outfit and I'm not planning to wear something else because Zach will go . . . sabi niya.

That's the only reason why I can not wear weird clothes. Hindi naman ako nagpapaganda sa kaniya, 'noh! I just want to look presentable.

"I think I look just fine, Mom," sabi ko. "Isusuot ko na lang ang halo mamaya, also the fake wings."

"Mukhang mas naghanda pa ata ako sa'yo. Nakakahiya naman, fourty-seven years old na ako. Remember, you're not supposed to kill the joy."

"That would work, Mom. As long as they are enjoying, it's all good. My costume won't matter." Inugoy ko nang mahina ang sariling duyan para gumalaw.

"Nagmana ka sa talaga sa Daddy mo." I heard her.

Naitukod ko ang takong sa damuhan para pahintuin ang galaw ng duyan. I looked at Mom who's eyes are on the dark sky. Nakatingin siya sa langit at nakangiti.

"Who is the Daddy you pertaining to? Do you mean my foster father or my biological Dad?" I asked curiously.

Since Dad left us, I didn't show any interest in knowing about my real father. Inisip kong baka masaktan lang ako at mahumaling na makita siya. It's painful to hear someone from stories, but you can't see him anymore.

Mom never opened up about him either. I guess she's being careful not to hurt my feelings o baka hindi lang din siya nakahanap ng tamang tiyempo para sabihin sa akin.

"Your Dad in heaven, sweetheart. He's so much like you, you actually got your brown eyes from him," sabi niya.

"R-Really? What's our similarities then? In what aspect, way?" Tumagilid ako para harapin si Mommy nang hindi umaalis sa swing.

"When he doesn't want something, no one can convince him, not even me. But if he wants something, he will do everything to have it. I think I see that same trait in you," she explained.

"Can you tell me more about him? I want to visulalize what he looked like." Tuluyan na akong kinain ng kuryusidad.

Mom heaved a deep breath and beamed at me. "He's handsome, sweetheart, he has dark brown hair like yours, he has sharp eyes. Luckily, you got mine." She chuckled.

"He has a beautiful nose and kissable lips," she said exaggeratedly. "He's more of a tan man but you got my color. He's tall, has wide shoulders and he's masculine." She chuckled again.

"Are you sure you're talking about Dad or a fictional character? You already said almost all of the possible good traits."

"Ganoon kaguwapo ang Daddy mo," proud niyang sabi.