DUCANI LEGACY SERIES #2: KONNAR

Kabanata 45

Kabanata 45

Konnar

I felt so lost. I love Sadie so much, but I'm scared that if I will insist what I want, lalo lamang siyang mawawala sa akin, kaya kahit ang sakit na hayaan siyang umuwi muna, pinanghawakan ko ang pangako ni Eiji na hindi niya pababayaan si Sadie.

Instead of staying at home where I could smell her sweet scent on her pillow, I went to my parents' house and crashed in my mother's arms like a child. 

Mahinang natawa si Mama nang umalog ang mga balikat ko. She held me and kissed the top of my head while I'm on my knees in front of her. 

"Oh, Kon. Love hurts when it's real..." aniya sa malamyos na boses na palaging nakakapagpakalma sa akin noon sa tuwing nasasaktan ako o nangungulila kay Daddy.

Daddy sat next to her and patted my back. "Tell us what really happened. Nag-away ba kayo? Did you break that sweet woman's heart? Did you cheat on her? Tell me. Dahil kahit anak kita ay hindi kita kakampihan."

"Khalil..." suway ni Mama.

"What? That lady is a badass sweetheart. I cannot let another man be her father-in-law."

Napabuntong hininga si Mama. "Tigilan mo muna."

"Fine," Dad replied in complete resignation.

"Ano ang nangyari, Konnar?" tanong ni Mama.

I told them what happened. Mula sa naging pagtatalo nina Sadie at Divine sa resort, hanggang sa naging usapan namin kanina bago ko sila hinatid sa airport. Nang marinig ng mga magulang ko ang lahat, bumuntong hininga si Daddy bago siya umiling-iling.

"That's the thing, son. She was right. Hindi lahat ng babae ay katulad ng Mama mo na tinanggap at minahal nang buo ang mga kapatid mo. But I don't think Sadie said that out of selfishness or because she's one of those people who cannot accept that their partner has a baggage from the past that they cannot just drop. I think she made her decision out of selflessness."

Tumingin ako kay daddy. Nang siguro ay nakuha niya ang tumatakbo sa isip ko ay humugot siya ng hininga bago nagpatuloy.

"You know, Sadie is fully aware about how much you love her, and she didn't want that love to be a burden to you someday. Tama siya. What if Zak will never understand why it's Sadie you're sharing the bed with? What if Zak will never accept her as his second mother? Kung totoong anak mo si Zak, tingin ko alam na ni Sadie na mahihirapan ka lang na mamagitan sa kanila ng bata, and she did this because she doesn't want Zak to suffer in the long run."

"Pero kaya ko namang ayusin. Gagawaan ko naman ng paraan, Dad. Bakit sina Keeno? Natanggap nila si Mama nang buong-buo."

Payak na ngumiti si Daddy. "Hay, Konnar. You have to stop thinking that everything is similar. Iba't iba ang sitwasyon, iba't iba ang kwento. Ang mga kapatid mo, natanggap nila nang walang kahirap-hirap ang Mama mo dahil sa kanya nila nakita ang mga bagay na hindi naibigay ng tita Lia mo. Lia was never there for them. She abused them behind my back, and she treated your siblings as her investment. They'd been searching for a mother's love, that's why when your Mama came into their lives, they opened their arms to her with zero hesitation. Pero iba rin ang kaso kina Zak, kaya hindi natin alam kung pareho rin ang mangyayari kung sakali."

Naupo ako sa pagitan nilang dalawa at pinunasan ang basa sa magkabila kong pisngi. "I don't know what to do. I thought once I reach this age, mas magiging madali nang magdesisyon."

Mama caressed my head. "Konnar, the older we get, the heavier the problems that come our way. That's God's way of showing us that we're constantly growing and levelling up in life. Kasi kung ang ibibigay pa rin sa iyong mga pagsubok at sitwasyon ay katulad ng mga hinaharap mo noong bata ka pa, how will you grow?"

"You know, son, maybe it's best if you will solve your problems one at a time. Unahin mong patunayan kung anak mo ba talaga si Zak o hindi. Dahil kung hindi mo mareresolba ang issue tungkol sa pagiging ama mo sa batang 'yon, kahit ilang beses kang balikan ni Sadie, you will still find yourself dealing with the same thing. Over and over again. Hindi matatapos," ani Daddy.

I sighed. "But what if Sadie will fall out of love with me in the process? Hindi ko kayang tanggapin 'yon, Dad. Baka masiraan ako ng bait."

Nagkatinginan sila ni Mama saka sila nakangiting umiling na tila may naiisip silang parehong bagay. Mayamaya ay hinawakan ni Mama ang kamay ko at tinitigan ako sa mga mata.

"Don't you trust her?"

I swallowed. "I do."

"Then why are you thinking that way, hmm? Don't you believe in the love you have for each other?" dad asked.

"I swear I do. I'm just... I'm so scared to lose her..."

"And your Mama and I are sure that she feels the same way. After all, she made a promise to you that no one could ever replace you in her heart. Isn't that enough for you to understand that this is her way of giving you time to fix things while she's waiting for you?" Inakbayan ako ni Daddy. "Minsan, Kon, may mga laban tayo na tayo lang ang pwedeng humarap. I know Sadie would go through wars with you, but she knew she needs to exclude herself on this fight of yours, dahil kung sasamahan ka niya, lalala lang ang sitwasyon. She didn't want to compromise what you have that's why she stepped out. Now, the decision lies in your hands. Are you gonna waste that sweet girl's sacrifices?"

I sniffed. "Hindi ho, Dad. I'll find a way to fix things. Kung anak ko man si Zak, gagawa ako ng paraan para pareho ko silang makasama--"

Naputol ang sinasabi ko nang nag-aalalang lumapit ang katulong. "Naku, Ser! Pasensya na iistorbohin ko kayo. Tumawag ho ang gwardya ng subdivision. May babae raw hong nagngangalang Mona na naghahanap sa inyo sa labas. Nakikiusap na tulungan ninyo raw ho siya."

"Who the hell is Mona?" Tumingin sa akin si Daddy. "Another ex?"

Umiling ako kaagad. "No, Dad. That's Divine's step sister." Tumingin ako sa katulong. "Ano ho ang sabi, Manang?"

"Nadulas daw ho sa banyo si Zak. Huli na nila nakita noong hinanap daw ng anak no'ng Mona. Marami na raw hong nawalang dugo sa bata. Wala raw ho iyong nanay ni Zak kaya ikaw na lang ang pinuntahan."

Napatayo ako dala ng pag-aalala. "Where's Zak?"

"Hindi ko na ho natanong. Pero nandiyan pa raw ho iyong Mona sa labas ng subdivision."

Lumabas ako ng bahay at nagmaneho patungo sa labas ng subdivision. Nang makita ako ni Mona ay magang-maga na ang mga mata niya.

"K--Kuya Konnar, kailangan niya ng dugo. Wala raw available sa red cross. Hindi rin kami matched tapos si ate hindi ko ma-contact."

"I'm his Dad. I'll donate mine. Match naman siguro kami, 'di ba?"

Gumuhit ang pag-aalinlangan sa mga mata ni Mona. Pumatak ang mga luha niya saka siya umiling. 

"H--Hindi ikaw ang... totoong Tatay ni Zak, kuya..." Her shoulders quaked. "Nasa kulungan ang Papa niya. Ipinakulong ni ate Divine para... makabalik siya sayo..."

Umakyat yata ang lahat ng dugo ko sa aking ulo.

Putangina!