Two weeks after I picked up Ralph, we got some good news regarding Kate.
Tinawagan ako ni Tita sa office para sabihin na bumubuti na ang pakiramdam nang anak niya.
I was glad to hear the news not only because it was a good sign na gumagaling na si Kate but mostly because halata ang relief sa boses ni Tita Cristy.
Mula ng kunin ko si Ralph, lagi kaming nag-uusap sa text.
Minsan umuwi ako at sinabi ni Destiny na dumaan ito sa bahay.
May hinabilin itong freshly baked lemon cake at nagdala din nang isang bag nang cat food.
"She was surprised to see me." Kuwento ni Destiny habang naghuhugas kami ng mga pinagkainan.
Who wouldn't be? Naisip ko.
Malamang nagtaka si Tita kung bakit may kasama akong babae sa bahay.
"I was going to tell her I'm your cousin or something but then I remembered what you said about incest so I told her I'm your friend."
"I'm glad you didn't add the words...with benefit," Pabirong sabi ko bago inabot sa kanya ang plato na bagong banlaw.
"I should have done that. See what her reaction is." Sinakyan niya ang sinabi ko.
"Then her mind will spin with ridiculous ideas that's for sure. She can be a gossip." Kinuha ko ang mangko na nakalublob sa planggana.
"Can? Or she is a gossip?"
"What made you say that?" Binuksan ko ang gripo at binanlawan ang mangko.
"Experience." She took the bowl at pinunasan.
"That and the fact that when I opened the door, she had that look. A look that says, who the hell is this girl?"
"That's Tita Cristy all right." Binuhos ko ang masabong tubig bago binanlawan ang planggana at sponge.
"Other than that, she's really kind. She also likes me."
"Do you think she knows why you and Kate broke up?" Sinampay ni Destiny ang towel sa handle ng oven door.
"I don't know. Maybe?"
"Do you think she'll like you less if she knows the truth?"
Tinaob ko ang planggana sa lababo bago ko siya sinagot.
Lumakad si Destiny papunta sa sala at tumabi kay Ralph na nakaupo sa sofa at nanonood nang bird videos sa TV.
"Not a lot of people know about it and..." Pumuwesto ako sa tabi niya, "I don't know a lot of people."
"What about your dad?"
"Oh yeah. He doesn't know anything."
"If you really want to do this, you have to let him know." May bahid nang sermon sa tono niya.
Pareho kami ni Destiny nang kuwento pagdating sa pamilya.
When she was sixteen years old, umalis siya sa bahay nila at tumira sa lola niya sa Saskatoon.
She grew up in an abusive home.
Alcoholic pareho ang parents niya.
She has two other older siblings—Dallas and Brooklyn.
Ang kuya niya fall prey to the same vice.
Ang ate niya naman, lumayas kasama ang boyfriend nito.
Naiwan si Destiny to take care of herself and to endure the abuse.
BINABASA MO ANG
Jack & Destiny
Roman d'amourJack only wanted to do one thing--embrace the truth. His revelation came with a heavy price. When he finally decided to move on and reclaim his life, Destiny came knocking. Things will never be the same. All rights reserved. No part of this work ma...
