Five O'clock Sky (Nueva Caceres#1)

CHAPTER 35

CHAPTER 35: Glimpse

"Have  a safe flight, Auntie." Saad ko sabay yakap at halik sa pisnge ni Auntie Aurelia. It should only be a quick embrace, but she did not let me go.

"Thiago is such a wonderful child, Lucy." She whispered. Humiwalay siya sa yakap ngunit nanatiling nakahawak sa aking magkabilang braso. She stared at me warmly. "I couldn't believe that a spoiled young brat I once knew could be a wonderful mother."

"And I couldn't believe myself either, Auntie." I barked a short laughter.

"I see that you've become a better person, Lucy, at natutuwa ako doon." Sincerity on her voice. "But, sweetheart, keeping your pregnancy from your family is what makes me wary of you. I was hurting for your mother, though somehow, a part of me understand what you did. You were so young when you had Thiago and it must have been very hard for you. I could only hope you make the initiative to talk to your parents and to Adam. Sobrang nasaktan sila."

Mom, Dad and Adam were just a meter or two away from me. Si Hobie ang pinakamalapit sa'kin, si Thiago lang ang siyang nakapagitan sa'min. Auntie's voice was soft and low kaya alam kong hindi ng mga ito naririnig ang pinag-uusapan namin. Besides, Mom and Dad were busy talking with Uncle Ico at mukhang masinsinan rin ang kanilang usapan.

Tipid at malungkot akong ngumiti. "I will, Auntie." I said simply. "As for Dahlia, I promise to see her if she'd allow me to know where she is. But for now, let's give her the space she needs. Mapanatag nalang tayong kasama niya si Emiranda. She'll take good care of her sister, that's for sure."

Simpleng tumango lamang si Auntie. The sadness in her eyes were unconcealed.

Bumalik ang pagkamagiliw ni Aunt Aurelia nang lumuhod ito sa'king tabi upang kausapin si Thiago. I sighed while staring at her. I know she loves Dahlia very much. Though she acted so composed all the time to the point of coldness, alam kong she's just as hurt as Dahlia sa hidwaan nilang mag-ina.

Uncle Ico approached me and Thiago matapos nitong makipag-usap kina Mommy at Daddy. Giliw na giliw ito kay Thiago.

Matapos makapagpaalam sa lahat pumasok ang mag-asawa sa kotse na siyang maghahatid sa kanila sa airport. Tahimik na hinatid namin ng tingin ang papalayong sasakyan while Thiago was waving his hand.

"Lucy."

Agad na nabaling ang aking tingin kay Dad nang tawagin niya ako.

"D-Dad?"

"Let's talk after dinner." Seryoso ang tinig nito.

Though his face was void of emotion, he doesn't seem mad. Gayunman ay may umusbong paring kaba sa'king dibdib. I just nodded my head in response.

"I'll be heading back to the factory now, Mom, Dad. May kailangan pa akong tapusin. My wife's expecting me to be home early."

He kissed Mom on the cheek and tapped Dad's shoulder as his bid of goodbye. Hindi ko inaasahang lalapitan nya si Thiago. He messed up his nephew's hair and smiled a bit. Nga lang, para lang kaming hangin ni Hobie na hindi man lang nya tinapunan ng tingin bago tuluyang tumalikod at tinungo ang nakaparadang kotse sa driveway. Adam's still mad at me, that's for sure, but I was glad that he instantly developed a soft spot for Thiago.

"Galit-galitan pa rin ang gago." Bulong ni Hobie.

Sinamaan ko ng tingin siya dahil baka narinig siya ni Thiago, buti nalang at hindi.

Nasa living room na kami nang mapagdesisyonan kong sundan si Adam. Ibinilin ko si Thiago kay Hobie at dali-daling tumakbo palabas. Natatanaw ko pa ang papalayong sasakyan ni Adam. Sakto namang may dumaang katiwala na hawak-hawak ang renda ng stallion ni Hobie na ibabalik na marahil sa rancho. Kanina kasi ay nilibot nito ang pamangkin sa hacienda sakay ng kabayo.