Attraction Series 4: Dangerous Touch (Completed)

Kabanata 27

Happy

"You're not the one whom your father settled for the arranged marriage, Shan. It should be your sister, Selena...'' Mommy said that made me look in her direction.

She was holding our old picture frame together when we were still a complete family.

Kumunot ang noo ko at lumapit kay mommy habang hawak-hawak ang lumang album. Umupo ako sa tabi niya at pinagpagan ang hawak.

"What do you mean, Mom?" I asked curiously.

She glanced at me and she smiled a little. "When you were still young, your daddy and his friend had an agreement for marriage. They thought it would be good for Selena to secure their future since the two children were good together, but tragedies happened, and that accidents changed everything..."

Napatango-tango ako sa kuwento ni mommy. Ever since she never tell a story with us. Even we're still complete. I don't even know the real story of my parents. Basta ang alam ko lang galit ang magulang ni daddy sa kanilang dalawa, kaya hindi na rin nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na makilala namin sila. Iilan lang din ang nakilala kong kamag-anak anak namin kasama na sila Zylea at ang mga magulang niya na kapatid ni daddy.

"After the accidents. They want you to be the one whom I settle to arrange marriage..." Mommy confessed. "I guessed it was also a safer plan to secure your future for a better life, I agreed because I was thinking of you if ever I was gone, too. But as years passed, I find out the real intention of the Thompsom family, so I immediately talked to them and stop the compromise and fled back to the Philippines because they threatened me about your safety and our debts..."

Nangingilid ang mga luha ko sa mga mata dahil sa sinabi ni mommy. So all this time she didn't want me to involve in arranged marriage... hanggang kailan ba ako mabubuhay sa kasinungalingan! She was threatened. She really cared about me.

"I was manipulated, I controlled your life because I thought it would be good for you... I'm sorry Shan, I'm sorry..." Mommy tears fell.

I moved closer beside her and hugged her tighter. "Okay na lahat Mom, kalimutan na lang natin ang mga nakaraan na..."

Mommy nodded and she hugged me bag. At sa puntong ito para akong nabuo muli, nawala lahat ng dinaramdam kong sama ng loob sa kaniya. Parang nakompleto ang pagkatao ko na si mommy lang pala ang kailangan. We stayed explaining each other's side until I slowly opened the album.

"Have you known Alex since your childhood?"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong ni mommy. Kumalas ako ng yakap at napalingon ako sa kanya. "No po, I just knew him months ago when I attended Krizza's wedding." I said.

Mommy nodded but there's a trace on her face like she was remembering something. "Para kasing nakita ko na siya noon. Uh, nevermind..."

Binalik ko ang atensyon sa album at muli itong nilipat ngunit natigilan ako ng makita ang larawan ni Ate na masayang nakangiti habang kasama ang lalaking—

I blinked. "Mom, who's this beside Ate?"

Dahan-dahang lumingon si mommy sa hawak na album at mahinang natawa. "I see, I now remember him, Shan. He's your boyfriend..."

Namilog sa gulat ang mga mata ko at nag-angat ng mukha kay mommy. "Kaya pala parang pamilyar. Kababata ng ate mo iyan."

Hindi ko alam pero parang may kumikirot sa dibdib ko dahil sa nalaman. "I still remember that they always played with your sister, until your father decided to arrange her with him but his family won't be allowing it so it'd turned the arrange to Thompson family."

Napalunok ako at nag-init ang bawat sulok ng mga mata. Hanggang sa may napagtanto na ako at nabuong ideya sa isipan. Hindi kaya...

Alex mistook me as Ate Selena. If they made a promise to each other it means... hindi talaga ako ang minahal niya, kundi si Ate Selena. Ang pagkatao ni ate ang nakikita niya sa akin... hindi ako, hindi bilang ako...