SAUDADE

sampu

Third Person

They all stood there quietly. Eyes locked together and tears streaming down their faces.

Silence engulfed the room and deafened everyone. Not one soul wanted to speak. Not even one word. But cries, sobs, and sniffles were heard.

"Hindi niyo ako tunay na anak?" Her shoulders drop, her chest aching. Her lips curved into a small smile, not wanting to believe what she just heard.

"Tell me you're joking..." She whispered as she felt her knees jellied.

Irene stepped towards her daughter to hug her but Yana stepped back. "Wag..." She held up a hand. "Wag muna..." She whispered.

So it is true... She thought.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, anak..." Her cries filled the room, Luis and Alfy went to their mother's side to pull her from the ground.

Greggy looked at Yana, "We're sorry, Yana..." He trued to reach her hand but she pulled it back from him and looked into her father's eyes.

"Anong magagawa sa sorry niyo?" She asked them ina monotonous tone. She received no reply so she chuckled bitterly at them.

"So all this time... Patay ako? No... All this time... I don't have my own identity?" Her cold eyes stared back at her father's warm ones.

"Alam niyo 'to lahat but you just told me now? What's more painful is I'm living a lie after a lie. You could have told me, Ma..." She looked at her mother. "I could have understand... Pero hindi eh... Pinaabot niyo pa ng ganito..." She chuckled bitterly.

Imee, through her sobs, went to her niece and touched her shoulder to which she removed it instantly. "Mama?" She choked out.

"Mama... Ang unfair mo... You made me believe that they were okay. That they were fine. Na wala nang away na nagaganap... But maybe a part of you told the truth of them not fighting because they were not together anymore."

Imee stood in front of her niece and froze on the spot. She was supposed to be her niece's safe haven where she could turn to when she feels down... But that idea has flushed down now.

"Ni minsan hindi ko qinuestion yung pagmamahal na binigay niyo sakin... I gave you everything you wanted... I exceeded every expectation and I always, always try to meet your standards..." She let her tears flow right down.

"I've always asked myself kung bakit parang hindi enough sa inyo ang efforts ko... But now I know... Dahil hindi ako si Yana." She sobbed.

"No... No, that's not true..." Irene battled. Yana scoffed and rolled her eyes, "No... You don't know how hard I tried to always stay on top in London. Did you even think I like there? Na walang kasama? I stayed there ever since I was 8 years old, Ma." Yana pressed her lips together her tears were now all over her face.

"I want to make you proud. But I can't seem to do it kasi hindi ako ang anak niyo. You would always think that your daughter would've been so much better. But guess what, Ma..." She paused.

She took a deep breath and looked at her mother's eyes. "She's dead. And she's never going back." She continued.

Everyone stayed still, heads hung low.

"Kahit na't binigay niyo sa'kin ang pangalan niya... Hinding-hindi ako magiging siya. Because surprise! We're not the same. You only opted to get me because I have your daughter's heart." She ranted on and on.

"Oo na..." Irene's voice raised. "Oo na, patay na si Yana." She continued. "I may have made the wrong decision of naming you after her, but I never regretted adopting you."