The Truth About Us (COMPLETED)

12

I was already splayed on my bed when a familiar footstep passed by my room across the hallway. Agad akong bumangon mula sa pagkakahiga at binuksan ang pinto para maabutan si Hansse.

Hindi niya ako nasamahan sa hapunan kanina dahil mukhang ngayon lang siya nakabalik. Mukhang nawili masyado sa nanay at nakalimutan ako.

"Bumblebee," I muttered, catching her attention. She stopped walking and pivoted towards me. Nang makita ako ay agad niyang ipinakita ang ngiti niya. 

Lumapit siya sa akin at tumingkayad para halikan ako sa magkabilang pisngi. "Hi, Dad!"

Tumaas ang kilay ko dahil doon. "Do you know what time is it, young lady?"

Sumulyap siya sa hawak niyang cellphone bago ibinalik sa akin ang tingin. "9:07, Dad."

"Bakit ngayon ka lang? Your curfew didn't cross your mind?"

She grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, Dad. Nakalimutan ko, I promise!" She widened her eyes when she saw I'm still unconvinced. "I insist to stay to Mom's nang nalaman kong may mga bulaklak na namumukadkad sa gabi and nagkataong ngayon sila bubuka. I also got the chance to see Mom's fave flowers!" She said with great delight. 

Bumalik sa alaala ko ang mga katanungan niya dati tungkol sa paborito ng ina niya. "Carlsen. He's the reason behind your queries?"

"Yes. Si Tito Carlsen, Dad. Are you angry I kept it from you?"

Natahimik ako sandali. Why would I be angry at her? And why should I? "I'm not. I just feel betrayed. You could have told me." Kung alam ko lang ay baka nasabihan ko ang lalaki sa paglapit niya.

"I'm sorry..." Her face was not that sorry at all. "I just feel enthusiastic all of sudden to know that someone's finally there for Mom." A foreign feeling crossed inside of me but it was too quick to disappear before I could distinguish what it was. "Masaya lang ako na after years, may chance pa rin na magkaroon ng happy ever after para sa inyong dalawa ni Mom. I want you two to be happy."

"We are happy because of you," I insist.

Mahina naman siyang natawa. May bahid din iyon ng pait. "No need to pretend, Dad. Bata pa lang ako alam ko na na may mali. You may be good at hiding it from me but even as a child, I am a keen observer. You don't love each other. You chose to tie yourself with each other for a long time because of me. You are selfless parents and now that I am already mature, I don't want to be selfish. Pinasaya niyo na ang childhood ko, okay na ako doon. Gusto ko kayo naman ang sumaya. I want you to experience the love that you have missed."

Hindi ako nakaimik dahil wala akobg mahanap na sasambitin. I swear in my life that I will do everything that this child wants and with whatever she's saying today, maybe I'll submit. Maybe I should stop harassing her mother by hindering her from having a lover... but I somehow seem to resist that thought. "Will you give your old man a hug?" I spread my arms, waiting for her. Natawa siya at agad na pinagbigyan ako.

Habang nakayapos siya sa akin ay may naramdaman akong matigas na bagay sa likuran ko. Maingat kong hinawakan ang braso niya at pinaghiwalay kami para tignan kung ano ang hawak niya. It's a box. Napangiti ako dahil sa nakita ko. Was that with her all this time? I didn't notice.

"Dad?"

Umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya at nakita ko ang tingin niyang purong pagtataka. I haven't let go of her hand. "Is this for me?" I asked, pertaining to the box.

Nanlaki ang mata niya at hindi nakasagot. My forehead knotted when there was a hesitation visible on her face. Pinatigas ko ang mukha ko. "If this is not for me, Hanssenne Luna Tiernan, kanino ito? You stated that you don't like that Carter but that doesn't mean you haven't set your eyes on someone. Sino iyon?" I asked between gritted teeth.