Just the Ticket

Chapter 39

Chapter 39 #jttwbs

content warning : rape recount

Tinalo siguro ng mga pisngi ko ang init ng plantsa na gamit June. Fern must've noticed that, reason why he chuckled softly to himself as if very delighted.

Fine! May kilig, oo! Kanina pa! Noong nakaraang linggo pa! But the reactions he gets from me are unacceptable!

How can he still stir such feelings from me after so long? Ano, high school ulit, Erisette? Parang hindi twenty-five!

Nakaligtas naman na ako sa iba pang kahihiyan nang umalis na kami ni Fern sa bahay. Kaunti lang ang nadagdag sa battery ko. Bahala na nga.

As expected, we just booked a ride to go wherever that he didn't care to tell me about. And I didn't expect sauntering around a supermarket wearing my halter tie dress that was meant for a date that... involves eating out or something else but doing groceries!

Mula pagkababa namin ng sasakyan, binibigyan ko na ng nalilitong tingin si Fern kaso hindi niya ako nililinawan. At first, akala ko sa food court dito kami kakain kaso dinala niya ako sa supermarket mismo.

Are we eating raw chicken meat? Is that on his bucket list, too?

Huminto ako at isasaboses na sana sa kanya ang kumakawala na talagang tanong ko kung hindi lang may namataan sa malapit. My body almost froze at the sight of it.

"No junks, youngsters," rinig kong bilin ni Daddy sa dalawang babae na mukhang teenagers.

"You wish, Dad! That's the first on our list!"

"Aba, aba? I'm warning you two—" natigilan si Daddy kasi nakita na rin ako.

The insensible girls took advantage of that. Humahagikhik ang mga itong tumakas sa kanya.

Ikinagulat ko naman ang pagtulak lang ni Daddy ng malaking grocery cart tungo sa akin. Nag-uumapaw ang laman ng dala niya habang nag-uumapaw naman ang gulat ko.

I couldn't recall when was the last time I saw him. He rarely went home from the last I remember. And I understood because... I'm not really his flesh and blood.

"Excuse me. Do I know you?"

Umawang ang mga labi ko. Parang gusto kong sumagot kaso walang lumabas na boses. I was too consumed by this unexpected and sudden encounter with my father on papers.

Napatingin na lang ako kay Fern. He shot me a knowing look before he stepped away himself. Pero nakita ko ang sumisilip na pag-aalangan sa mukha, maging sa mga hakbang paalis.

"'Dy..." I uttered reluctantly. Parang mali kasi ang tawagin siya nang ganoon.

Maikli ang ibinanat ng mga labi niya sa narinig. "Erisette." He paused for us to absorb the moment. "Ah, those are my stepdaughters. Kumusta ka na? Ako, ito, bonding day namin ng youngsters."

Napalingon ako sa kung saan huling nakita ang mga babae. I immediately thought, would there come a time that he won't go home because he grew tired of fathering the girls of another man? Katulad sa akin noon?

I paused momentarily, astounded by how it was only a passing bitter feeling. It also doesn't burrow deep in my chest like before. So, it is true, time can heal wounds.

"Maayos po ako. Ito, F.A. na rin."

That resulted in a tiny smile on his face as he nodded once. Nagtagal naman ang tingin ni Daddy sa akin pagkatapos. Parang may gusto siyang sabihin kaso tinitimbang niya muna ako.

"Naghiwalay kami ng Mommy mo pagkaalis mo."

Hindi na ako nagulat. Para rin naman kasing wala na talaga sila kahit noong nandoon pa ako. Nasanay na nga lang ako na hindi niya na kami inuuwian sa bahay noon.