Sarah sat down cross-legged on the floor and pulled a large picture album onto her lap. Sam dropped down beside her.
Unang ipinakita ni Sarah ang unang photo album ni Kevin. nanduon ang unang footprints, unang araw pagkalabas nila sa hospital. Tinitigan ni Sam ang picture na hawak ni Rachelle si Kevin paglabas nila ng hospital."She doesn't look overjoyed with him."
"Kapapanganak lang niya. Syempre marami pang masakit sa katawan niya." Pagtatanggol ni Sarah sa kapatid.
Umiiling na sinabi ni Sam, "She didn't really want him, did she?"
Hindi makakibo si Sarah. Magsisinungaling sana ito pero nahuli na siya ni Sam.
"Sarah, you don't have to lie for her, you know. I can tell. Remember you told me she wanted abortion at first."
Hindi na kumibo si Sarah. Ipinakita na lang niya ang mga sumunod pang mgamga albums.
"How were your dad and mom with Kevin?" he asked as he turned the pages of the album, studying each picture of Kevin at some length.
"They love him. Everyone does."
"Except his own mom." Sam said.
"She did Sam but she was young , not ready to be a mother." Malungkot na sagot ni Sarah.
"Huwag mo na siyang ipagtanggol. Sa mga pictures lang kitang kita na kung sino ang nag alaga kay Kevin. Ikaw ang laging nasa pictures na kasama niya.You and Kevin in the park on a picnic. You and Kevin on a merry-go-round, flying a kite, playing with a Frisbee, at the beach. Is this his first bicycle?" He looked at her. "You reared my son, didn't you? Almost single-handed. How old were you then? Just 18 right?
Sarah nodded.
"Why didn't they contact me or my parents?" May galit na sa boses ni Sam
"She told my parents she did not know. She said she's been sleeping with lots of men. Bakit ko pa guguluhin ang buhay mo? Isa pa maniniwala ka ba?"
"Maybe not at first but I will eventually know the truth , right?"
"Maybe ," Sarah agreed but not looking at him. Nagpatuloy lang itong nagbubuklat ng photo album.
"Who got up with him in the middle of the night?"
"I did," she said quietly.
"You changed him, gave him his bottle?"
"Yes."
"And you were just 18," he said again. "Paano mong nagawa yun? Nag aaral ka din around that time for sure.
"Oo naman, nakatapos din naman ako sa pag aaral. Medyo natagalan nga lang bago maka graduate. Nahuli ng mahigit isang taon."
"Dahil hindi ka kumukuha ng full load units diba? At kaya dito ka sa bahay mo nag tratrabaho dahil din kay Kevin di ba? Para personal mo siyang maalagaan.
Nagkibit balikat lang si Sarah. Ano pa sasabihin niya , nahulaan na ni Sam.
Sam closed his eyes and leaned forward until his forehead was resting against hers. "You made all the parental sacrifices. You are his mother, Sarah. You."
"The only way Kevin could be more mine is if I'd been on that beach blanket with you instead of my sister."
Pareho silang nagulat sa sinabi ni Sarah. Namula ang dalaga pero hindi na niya mabawi ang sinabi. She bravely returned Sam's stare as her tears fell down her cheeks.
He whisked it away, then rubbed his wet thumb across her lips. "If I had it to do over again, you would be. You're twice the woman she was."
He opened his mouth and suddenly Sarah felt his mouth on hers. She did not know how it happened that he was kissing her fiercely, his arms pulled her tightly against his body and she was kissing him back as if its the most natural thing to do.
