The Leftovers

34: LUMIERE SIBLINGS

XEN'S POV

Alam kong ang DNA result ang nakalagay sa loob ng envelope na iyon dahil sa 'Philippine Doctors Hospital Laboratory' na nakasulat dito. Sa baba ng mga katagang iyon ay may nakasulat pa na 'Confidential' kaya hindi ako maaaring magkamali.  Ngunit paanong nakuha iyon ni mommy? Paanong nalaman n'ya ang tungkol doon? Is she secretly watching me from behind? 

"You don't need this anymore, honey," prangkang pahayag n'ya habang hawak ang envelope na kukunin ko na sana. "The piece of paper inside this envelope will just leave you more anxious. Mas maraming katanungan ang dadagsa sa isip mo. And I don't want those questions to bother you anymore."

Kita ko ang sinsiridad sa mukha n'ya habang sinasambit n'ya ang mga iyon. Kung ganoon ay tama nga marahil ang hinala ko kagustuhan n'ya ang lahat ng ito. Tama nga ang hinala ko na s'ya ang may pakana kung bakit hindi ko mahanap-hanap ang kapatid ko. 

"Don't blame your mom, Xen. Kagustuhan ko lahat ng ito," singit naman ni Lexi. Nakita n'ya siguro sa mga mata ko ang simbuyo ng damdamin ko. But what the hell is she talking about. Paanong naging kagustuhan n'ya ito. Who the fuck is she?

"I'll let you two talk on your own. As for me, I'll prepare some drinks to cool down the situation," sabat naman ni mommy saka nilisan ang kanyang kinauupuan. "And son, in case you are wondering, the probability rate is just 9.72 percent," dagdag pa nito pagkatapat sa akin. 

I wanted to react outrageously but it seems that my body doesn't want to move. It feels like I'm in some kind of trance that makes me incapable to talk. There are so many emotions that are stirring inside of me but I can't express them. All I can do is maintain a furrowed forehead. 

"I'll consider that you are ready to listen when you set down," isa na namang pahayag ni Lexi na kusa kong sinunod. Namalayan ko na lamang na nakaupo na ako sa harapan n'ya. Her face is a scene of  genuineness and sincerity, and that look makes me more tranced. 

"Nice to finally meet you, little brother," walang kaabog-abog na wika n'ya. At ang seryosong mukha n'ya kanina ay nahaluan ng simple ngunit masasabi kong totoong mga ngiti. Her eyes also started to glisten as tears try to build up. She even reached out my hands that are restlessly lying on the table. 

"What did you just say? Little brother?" sa wakas ay nagawa ko na ring magsalita. "Cut the crap, Lexi," I continued as I remove my hands from her grip. "We've been on good terms since you cared for RJ and you provided me company during Iowa's passing. But it doesn't mean that you have the right to fool me around and fabricate a story, especially concerning my long-lost sister. What the fuck do you really want?" I shouted right in front of her face. Una, kinuha nila sa hospital ang DNA result na pinakahihintay ko. Pangalawa, tinignan nila ang resulta noon na dapat ay ako ang unang makakita. Pangatlo, nandito s'ya ngayon sa pamamahay ko at harap-harapan akong tinawag na little brother? The audacity of this bitch is overflowing. I can't stand her anymore. 

"Xen, listen t.."

"Shut the fuck up, mom," out of the blue ay naisagot ko kay mommy. It's my first time to throw her such words. "I knew you are all behind all of this. For all those times, I respected you. I valued you because you provided me everything. Nagpakananay at tatay ka sa akin para lamang hindi ko maramdaman 'yong lungkot ng hindi kompletong pamilya. I turned my eyes blind and kept my mouth shut even I knew your wickedness."