Three Steps To You ✔︎

Chapter 24

SHIVERING

BLISS

“I have something to tell you...” the moment Leonardo spoke, I was nervous.

“Is it about Papa?” I asked him. He sighed at first. That made me shivered. He just nodded in response with the slightly disappointed face. I started to worry. “Did something happen to him?” I asked again.

“No, no. Heʼs completely fine.” he answered. He kept on fidgeting with his fingers and knowing that he was also nervous got me furious.

“Then whatʼs with the look, Johann?!” I was out of control. Hindi ko alam kung anong ikinaiinis ko. “You are making me damn nervous right now!”

I have no clue about what he has in his mind, what was really wrong with the situation or even if heʼs really telling me the truth!

“Youʼre father was with someone. I saw him when we went to the mall.” he was stuttering. Parang nagdadalawang isip pa siya kung sasabihin sa akin.

That very moment, that got my heart torn apart. “W-What?” I asked, unbelievably. “Why didnʼt you told me sooner? Donʼt be selfish! You told me youʼre going to tell me as soon as youʼve got news about him!”

“Kumalma ka muna... I have an explanation.” he held into my shoulders—my trembling shoulders. It was so warm and I canʼt deny it... “Hindi ko sinabi sa ʼyo agad dahil ayaw kong mabigla ka. Nabigla rin ako sa nakita ko. Natatakot akong sabihin sa ʼyo dahil alam ko kung gaano ka nag-aalala. Pinalipas ko ang ilang araw muna bago sabihin sa ʼyo at heto na, nasabi ko na.”

He was just nervous. Now, I couldnʼt blame him and even look at him in his eyes. His hands on my shoulders were both shaking. That shows how much he thought about telling me or not. He was just considering my feelings. He doesnʼt want me to agonize.

I hugged him in an instant. I tighten my arms around him. “Iʼm sorry, I got furious.” I shook my head while I was burying my face in his chest. “Pero si Papa ba talaga ʼyung nakita mo? May kasama ba talaga siyang iba?” I burst out with tears brimming my eyes.

“Yes...” aniya, nagpapakita ng simpatya.

“Bakit...?” tanong ko. “Paano niya ʼto nagawa sa ʼmin ni Mama...?” Ang sakit sakit... Sa araw-araw na lumipas bakit hindi ko man lang alam na may kasamang iba si Papa?

“Tara na, iuuwi na kita.” saad niya. Tumango akong dahan-dahan. Iginiya niya ako sa kotse, hawak-hawak ang kamay kong nanlalamig sa sobrang kaba. Naramdaman ko namang hinalikan ako ni Leonardo sa noo. “Calm down, please.” My heavy heart lightened a little bit. Thanks to his soothing voice.

“I-I wanna talk to him, p-personally.” sambit ko. Dulot ng pag-iyak, nagsimula akong mautal. Nakasakay na kami sa kotse kaya medyo kumalma na ako.

Tumango siya saka hinaplos ang buhok ko. “Kung kaya mo siyang kausapin, Iʼll tell him to come at your house.”

Pinikit ko ang mata ko at humingang malalim. Kailangan ko munang huminga para tuluyan kong makalma ang sarili ko.

Nang makarating kami sa bahay namin, agad kong nakita ang kotse ni Papa na nakaparada sa labas ng gate. It was his car, thereʼs no doubt. He came here all of the sudden?!

Kumuyom ang kamao ko at napakagat ako sa labi ko. Pinigilan ko lang ang sarili ko na maglabas ng masasamang salita. Ayaw kong kay Leonardo ko maibunton ang galit na nararamdaman ko ngayon. Ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng matinding galit kaya hanggaʼt maari ayaw ko munang magsalita.