The Truth About Us (COMPLETED)

17

Napatigil ako sa paglampas sa kuwarto ng anak ko nang makarinig ng tunog galing sa loob. My forehead creased when I discovered she's laughing inside instead of being in her mom's abode. I checked the date on my phone. Saturday. She should not be here.

Kumatok ako sa pinto ngunit walang nagbukas kahit dinig pa rin ang tawa niya kaya binuksan ko na ang pinto. A movie was playing on her television, must be the reason why she's laughing like she cannot breathe anymore. Kahit na binuksan ko ang pinto ay hindi pa rin niya ako napansin dahil sa pagiging abala niya sa panonood.

Tumikhim ako para ipaalam ang presensya. Finally, she jolted from her seat and immediately glanced at my way. Agad niyang kinuha ang remote para pahinain ang volume ng pinapanood.

"And what are you doing, young lady?"

"Watching chick flick movies, I guess?" She answered unsurely.

Naiiling ako bago humakbang papasok. "What I mean to say, bakit ka nandito? You are supposed to be in your mom's, aren't you?"

"Yes, dad. Pero baka mamaya pa ako pupunta. Mom's got a date with Tito Romano tonight."

I went immobile as I stared at my child. Siya naman ay nanatiling nakatingin sa pinapanood habang nagpapatuloy sa pananalita. "Or maybe a dinner, as what Mom prefers to call it. But Tito likes Mom so I bet it's a date on his part."

Nang wala siyang marinig na kahit ano sa akin ay lumingon siya sa akin. Then her eyes went wide. She must have mistaken my silence for something. I do not have anything against Nessie, I am just shocked to say something. I never imagine her agreeing to that Romano's invitation.

May alarma sa mata ni Hansse na nagpatayo sa kanya bigla. "Mom got nothing to do with me staying here!" She defended herself like I'm accusing her mom of a crime. "She expects me to go pero I made some excuses to give them some alone time. I want to give them some moments together."

Pinilit kong humakbang pagawi sa kanya at umupo sa tabi niya. Umusog naman siya para bigyan ako ng espasyo.

"You won't go?"

Umiwas siya ng tingin. "I said I will be late but I am not planning to attend."

Natahimik ako sa sinabi niya at hindi nakagalaw. Emotions start to form and swirl in my chest. I started to dissipate the frustration before it leads to something more. Huminga ako nang malalim. I made a promise to myself that I'll try to be kinder to Nessie. Wala na akong desisyon sa mga ginagawa niya o mga magagawa niya. This is her move to he happy and be make choices of her own, I will not ruin it. Tama na ang ilang taon na sinayang niya sa akin. Maybe Romano will be the right guy who'll fulfill the promises I forgotten and broken to her.

But still, hindi ko hahayaang ganito lang ang gawin ng anak ko sa kanya.

"Won't it make her upset?" Malumanay kong sabi. Hindi siya nakasagot at tinignan lang ako. "She's expecting you to be with her, I assume with what you said. Malamang kahit kasama niya si Romano ay nasa iyo ang isipan niya. She'll worry why you aren't there yet. What if it will ruin her night?"

She stared at me for a while before slowly standing at her feet. Nagbaba siya ng tingin na para bang nahihiya. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'll go change. Pakisabi na lang po kay Kuya Richard na ihatid ako."  Hinalikan niya ako sa pisngi bago pumunta sa closet niya para magpalit.

Lumabas na ako sa kuwarto niya at bumaba. Nakasalubong ko si Manang Martha na labis ang gulat nang makita ako. She scanned me from my head to toe. "Ba't 'di ka pa bihis?"

"May pupuntahan po kami ni Hansse, Manang."

"Di kayo kakain dito?"

I'm not sure if I'll still eat after coming back but I consider that anyway. "Pakitago na lang sa ref ang niluto niyo, Manang."