Harder to Live (Villaraza Series #3)

Epilogo

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Thank you.

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Epilogo

"Anong ginawa niyong dalawa?"

Dahan-dahan kong tinakpan ang ilong at bibig nang tuluyang nakalapit ang mag-ama ko.

They were covered in mud!

"Saan kayo galling? Ba't ganyan itsura niyo?" tanong ko ulit. "Iñovyz! Saan mo na naman inaya anak mo?"

He cleared his throat and wouldn't meet me in the eye. "Nadapa lang."

"Nadapa? Nadapa lang kayo?" I looked at him from head to toe. "You should tell me now what happened or else . . ."

"E, napaaway lang!" pagsuko niya habang kinakamot ang kanyang batok.

My forehead birthed lines. "Ba't kayo napaaway?" Inilipat ko ang atensyon kay Luxury. "Anak, what happened? Sinong nakaaway niyo ng tatay mo?"

"Mom, it wasn't our fault!"

"I don't care whose fault it is! What I'm asking is who did you fight with your dad."

Nagkatinginan ang mag-ama na tila nag-uusap kung sino ang dapat magsabi sa kanilang dalawa.

Problemadong minasahe ko ang sentido ko. Pakiramdam ko ay mapapaanak ako nang wala sa oras dahil sa mag-amang 'to!

They were always like this!

Luxury pointed her father. "It's Dad's fault, Mom."

Iñovyz's eyes widened. "I thought we wouldn't betray each other, Lux."

"But Mom's scary when she's mad."

"And I'm not?"

"Just a bit."

I crossed my arms and tilted my head. Iñovyz gave me a fake smile as he always did whenever he had nowhere to go anymore.

"'Yong anak mo kasi napaaway sa mga batang salbahe sa labas," he explained.

"Bakit ka napasama sa away-bata?"

"Sinubukan ko lang naman pagsabihan 'yong mga bata, babe. Kasi kung anong sinasabi kay Lux, e," he reasoned out. "Pero umiyak 'yong isa tapos pinahabol kami sa aso kaya . . . 'eto."

Binalingan ko si Luxury. "Is your dad telling the truth?"

"Opo, Mommy. But he also said those boys got no cool dads. Iyon po 'yong reason ba't sila umiyak."

Muli ay nilingon ko ang asawa ko na hindi ko malaman kung natatae o naiihi.

Kahit kailan talaga . . .

"Sana pinagsabihan mo na lang. Bakit mo pa dinamay mga tatay nila?" I reprimanded him.

Ngumuso siya nang kaunti at maingat na inabot ang kamay ko. "Okay, I get it. I'm sorry. I went overboard."