Melodic Breeze (Alamada Series 1)

Kabanata 22

Napalunok ako sa narinig. Nagkatinginan kami ni Sef dahil doon.

"I was devastated. I couldn't take care of Seferina. I couldn't take care of the business. It was near to downfall. I was near to my end... I thought."

"Who was the kid?" Sef asked.

"Your cousin," he answered that made my forehead frown. "Your Tito Christoval's daughter who was playing with Chrescent."

Sobrang dami kong tanong sa isip ko, pero hindi ko magawang makapagsalita. If papa was able to save me, then why they weren't able to save their real child? If they were able to save me, then why they didn't return me to my real father?

Sobrang gulo ng isip ko, at paniguradong mas magulo pa rito ang isip nina mama at papa noong mga panahong 'yon kaya hindi nila nagawang iligtas ang lahat.

And instead of taking their own child with them, they took me instead. But what I cannot understand is why did they keep me way from my biological father? Why didn't they returned me immediately?

"Noong mga panahong 'yon..." mama swallowed like there's a big lump in her throat. "Mahirap. Mahirap para sa amin. Gulong-gulo kami, nak. Hatred grew on you papa's heart. He was aware that our child was on Ambrocio's hand, pero wala man lang kahit anong tawag mula sa kaniya. We reached them out, but even one, there's no response. Kahit noong pumunta kami sa kanila, wala sila roon."

I shifted bit and continued on listening to mama's words. She then wiped some tears on her cheeks and smiled bitterly.

"Simula pa dati, alam ko nang may namumuong galit sa puso ng papa mo at ni Ambrocio. They use to fight over small things. And when Christoval have known that his brother buried our daughter without us knowing, we... chose to hide you too in exchange."

I frowned. Kaya ako tinago dahil sa galit ni papa sa totoo kong magulang? Kaya ako nalayo... dahil gusto gumanti ni papa sa kapatid niya? May rason, oo, pero hindi pa rin tama 'yon!

"Pero–"

"Alam kong mali, pero nagawa namin. So... sorry, nak..."

But at least, I have been taken care like I am their real child. Kahit pananalbahe man lang sa akin ay hindi nila ginawa. Tinuring nila akong isang pamilya na pinapahalagahan nila.

Yes, we're family. Si papa na pinaniwalaan kong tunay kong ama, ay kapatid lang pala ng totoo kong ama. I've lived in this family, thinking that I've known every secret, pero may isang malaking sekreto pala ang hindi ko alam.

Bumyahe ako mula Davao patungo rito na may bigat na dinadala, hindi lang sa dibdib kung hindi pati na rin sa ulo. At pagkauwi ko pa rito, bumigat ang dibdib ko nang marinig ang dahilan ni Yulos kung bakit hindi siya pumayag pa sa movie nila.

Taka akong tumitingin sa manager nilang kaharap ko ngayon. Kaninang umaga lamang ay hinatid namin si Yulos at ang ka-banda sa airport nila para magtungong Manila para sa pinal na desisyon tungkol doon sa proyekto, kaya takang-taka ako ngayong narito sa harapan ko ang manager nila.

Ang akala ko ay naroon na ang manager nila sa Manila at hinihintay na lang ang pagdating nila, narito pala at makahaharap ko.

"Bakit po?" tanong ko na.

Abala ako sa pagpili ng bibilhin kanina para sa hapunan namin ni mama mamaya nang tumabi siya sa akin at mahinahon akong kinausap. Mabuti na lang at medyo maaga pa kaya may oras pa akong makipag-usap sa kaniya.

"You are the girlfriend of Aeolus, right?"

Napaangat ako ng kilay dahil doon. Wala kaming napag-usapan ni Yulos na tungkol dito at nagdadalawang-isip ako kung tatango ba ako o tatanggi.