MRS. AZUCENA

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The truth.

"Marga... " tawag ni Harvey sa pangalan ko.

"Great! Now that we're all set here, Come on Harvey! Join us! We were in the midst of a very important discussion!" masayang untag ni Madeline.

Titig na titig ako kay Harvey. Hindi ko inaalis ang tingin ko rito. "Harvey, what's going on? What is she talking about? Why are you here?" I quizzically asked him.

Hindi ito makatingin sa aking mga mata. Lumapit si Harvey sa akin at hinawakan ako nito sa kamay at akmang hihilahin na sana ako nito pero binawi ko ang kamay ko.

"Let's go.”

"Why?" mariing tanong ko kay Harvey.

"Marga, I'll explain everything. Just let's go out of here. Don't talk to her. Please," pagmamakaawa nito.

I shook my head repeteadly. "No. Bakit tayo aalis?" mariing sambit ko. "Are you scared of something, Harvey? Are you hiding something from me?"

He shook his head. He's lying.
I looked at Madeline and Harvey with a hard expression. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa.

I bitterly chuckled while staring at the two of them. Bakit ngayon ko lang ito napansin? The resemblance of Harvey and Naveah. He’s here in my sister's house. Kaya pala hindi siya sumasagot sa tawag ko? Kaya pala noong gabing nawala ang anak ko at nagpakita ang kapatid ko ay bigla na lang siyang nagpaalam?

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko. This is too much for me to handle.

All this time...

"Marga, are you okay?" Hahawakan sana ako ni Harvey nang tinaas ko ang isang kamay ko para hindi ito makalapit sa akin. Napahinto naman ito.

"Don't you dare fucking touch me." Nanginginig na boses na sambit ko.
Nilingon ko si Madeline. She's looking at us in full awe and entertainment. She wants this to happen.

Matigas na expresyon na nilingon ko si Harvey. I want answers from him.
"Anong sinasabi niya?" I firmly asked him.

"M-Marga," tawag nito sa akin.
"Answer me."

"I-I-I don't know..." he said in a low voice.

"Fuck you! Just tell it to me now!" galit na sigaw ko. I lost my cool. Damn it.

"No, please. Don't listen to her," he begged.

I keep shaking my head while looking at him. Kanina ko pa hinuhuli ang tingin nito pero iniiwas nito sa akin.

"Look at me," I ordered, but he didn't listen to me. "See? You can't even look at me in my eyes! You're hiding something from me!"

"Why don't you just tell her the truth, Harvey?" Madeline interjected.

"Shut up.” Masama itong tiningnan ni Harvey. Nakita kong napakuyom ang mga kamay niya.

"Oh, come on, we all know that no secret remains unrevealed. You'll tell her or I'll do it instead."

"Damn you, bitch! Shut up!" Harvey angrily shouted. Nakita kong bahagyang napaatras si Madeline sa galit na galit na boses ni Harvey.

It's my first time seeing him this angry and shouting.

"Calm down, why are mad? I'm just telling the truth here," asik ni Madeline ng makabawi.

"Tell it to me already, Harvey!" nawawalang pasensyang sigaw ko kay Harvey.

He looked at me defeatedly as he repeatedly shook his head.

Tumalikod ako rito at hinarap ang dining table. Agad na dinampot ko ang tinidor na ginamit ko kanina.