The Scenery In Italia (School Series #1)

Chapter 24

"He is not your father, Venice."

I pulled Venice away from Kiel because she was too persistent on saying that Kiel was her father. Kiel looked at her face like he was examining her. I bit my lower lip when he started to look at her eyes.

"Anak mo, Miss Maureen?" Kiel asked me, still looking at Venice. "May anak ka pala?"

"Anak ko. Bakit?" Josh carried Venice.

"Sigurado ka bang ikaw ang tatay?" Kiel's brows furrowed.

"Gusto mo ba ikaw na lang?" Pambabara ni Josh.

"May iba kasing kamukha."

I was nervous. I didn't know what to do. It's not impossible that Kiel might tell this to Drix. They were more likely a friend. Though, wala namang gaanong kaibigan si Drix. But still, I was too afraid! I wasn't yet ready for what might happen if Drix would know about this. Venice couldn't understand tagalog that much so she probably didn't know what they were talking about.

"Yes, Kiel.. she's my daughter." I didn't denied.

Mas lalo lang akong magagalit sa sarili ko kapag ide-deny ko si Venice sa ibang tao sa mismong harap niya. I just hope that Kiel would believe that Josh was the father. But yeah.. eyes never lies since her eyes and Drix's were the same.

"Ganda naman ng anak mo, Maureen!" he praised my daughter. "Ganda rin ng.. mata!"

I bit my lower lip while my heart was beatings fast. I don't know but.. parang may double meaning 'yung mga sinasabi niya. Hindi ko rin alam kung alam niya ba ang tungkol sa past naming dalawa ni Drix. But if ever he knows about it.. this will surely the end of everything.

"Medyo contact lense lang 'yan," pagpapalusot ni Josh. "Mahilig kasi si Venice sa make up kaya naglalagay siya ng contact lense.. medyo lang naman."

What a stupid reason from Josh Fortalejo! Kiel probably knows that children weren't allowed to use contact lense! Tipid akong ngumiti at napaiwas ng tingin nang biglang tumingin sa akin si Kiel, mukhang binabasa ang isip ko.

"Ah ganoon ba? Sige! Alis na ako, ha? Inutusan lang kasi ako General Vergara na bumili ng damit niya rito, e." he awkwardly laughed.

"Kawawa, ginawang utusan." rinig kong sabi ni Josh kaya patago ko siyang siniko.

"Sige, Kiel! Be safe!" I gave him a smile.

Kabado kong hinarap si Josh nang makaalis na si Kiel. Ibinaba niya na rin si Venice at inayos ang buhok nito. I inhaled a large amount of air before exhaling it slowly. We continued picking some clothes.. but I was still nervous as fuck. Parang ayoko nang bumalik doon si hotel. What if.. Kiel would tell that to somebody? Nakakatakot!

"Venice, don't do that again, okay? I already told you that not all soldiers are your father." I bend down my knee so that we could be on the same level.

"I was just hoping, Mommy.." she sounded so sad.

"Someday, you'll see him." I assured her.

She gave me a small smile. I could see the pain in her eyes because she was expecting fhat this time, she would see her father. Binayaran na muna namin ang pinamili namin tsaka umuwi na rin pabalik ng hotel. There was no one in lobby so we easily got into the hotel room.