Her Secrets, His Love

C25 - Nafia Mavie

HINDI na alam ni Nomer kung ilang oras nang nasa delivery room si Daphne. Pabalik-balik siya sa tapat ng pinto ng silid kung saan dinala si Daphne nang isugod nila sa ospital. Kasama nito sa loob ng silid si Zehra at ang Mama niya. Kasalukuyan itong nagle-labor at ayaw nito pumasok siya sa loob ng silid.

"Son, will you please sit down. I'm getting dizzy with what you're doing." Tukoy ng ama niya sa kanyang pabalik-balik sa harap ng silid ni Daphne.

Ito ang kasama niya habang naghihintay sa panganganak ni Daphne.

"How can I relax, Dad. Daphne is in pain right now." Umupo siya sa tabi ng ama at naihilamos ang kamay sa mukha.

"Daphne can handle that. Every woman can endure the pain for their child." Mahinang natawa ang kanyang ama kaya tiningnan niya ito. "I can still remember when your mother gave birth to Zehra and to you. I have the same reaction like you have right now."

Tumingin siya sa ama. May ngiti ito sa labi habang nakatuon ang pansin sa malayo na tila sinasariwa ang alaala noong ipinanganak sila.

"Sa simula pa lang ay alam ko nang hindi ko anak si Zehra. I accepted her because of your mother and the company. Hindi ko masasabing naging mabuti akong ama kay Zehra pero sa unang pagkakataon sa buhay ko ay kay Zehra ko naramdaman ang walang hanggang kaba. She's not mine but she's my daughter. When I held her in my arms, that was when I realize that I want to be a father to my own child." Sinulyapan siya ng ama saka ngumiti.

"So when you came to our life, all of my attention and love, I gave it to you. That was my mistake because I forgot that I have another child who was Zehra. When your mother noticed that I don't give the same attention and love to you and Zehra, that's when our marriage started to fall apart, though, we really never got married because we didn't register our marriage. "

Mahinang tumawa ang ama na kinakunot ng kanyang noo. Hindi siya nagsalita at hinayaan lamang ang ama na sabihin kung ano ang gusto nitong sabihin. This is the first time that he and his father had this serious conversation. He doesn't want to ruin the moment.

"I realized now that it was all my fault. Kasalanan ko kung bakit nasira ang pamilya natin na dapat ay masaya sana. I was a jerk for not giving my love and affection to you and Zehra. I was a coward for choosing my company over my own family and son."

Marahan niyang tinapik ang balikat ng ama upang kahit papaano ay gumaan ang nararamdaman nitong guilt.

"It was all in the past, Dad. Everything happens for a reason and we can never bring the past back."

A sad smile formed on his father's lips. "If only I did the right thing from the very start, I would still have the happy family that I have before."

Sinimangutan niya ang ama. "If those things hadn't happened, Dad, I wouldn't have my Daphne today and she wouldn't be in that room giving birth to our Mavie."

His father chuckled, "You are right, son. Everything happens for a f*cking reason. Babawi na lang ako sa apo ko."

Sabay sila ng ama na napatingin nang bumukas ang silid na inookupa ni Daphne. Lumabas mula roon si Zehra.

"Lalabas na ang pamangkin ko." Masaya nitong anunsiyo kasunod ang pagdating ng mga nurse na may dalang wheelchair na pumasok sa loob ng silid. " Dadalhin na siya sa delivery room."

"How is she? Hindi ba siya nahihirapan? Wala ba siyang kailangan? Hindi ba niya ako hinahanap?" Magkakasunod niyang tanong sa kapatid na nabigla sa reaksiyon niya kaya kumunot ang noo nito.

"Relax ka lang, kardeçim. Ayos lang si Daphne. Siya pa lang yata ang nakita kong nanganganak na kalmadong kalmado." May himig na pagyayabang na turan ni Zehra. "Ni hindi ko man lang siya narinig na sumigaw."