Stranger
I took a quick shower.
Pagtapos kong magshower at makapagbihis ay narinig ko ang boses ng aking anak. Sumisigaw ito. Mabilis akong lumabas ng aking silid.
''Mama! Don't come out! There's a giant stranger inside our house!''
''Wait, I'll get my big gun! Don't worry, mama! I'll protect you from this giant stranger!''
Naabutan ko ang anak na nakasampa ngayon sa couch. Umigtim ang panga nito, habang ang kaniyang malaking baril-barilan ay nakatutok sa kaniyang papa. Binalingan ako nito ng masamang tingin.
''Mama! I said, don't come out!'' pagalit nitong wika sa'kin.
''Don't worry, mama!''
''Don't be scared! I'll protect you from that stranger!'' lumapit ito sa'kin at hinarangan ako, para bang pinoprotektahan nga niya talaga ko.
Ang kaniyang baril-barilan ay nakatutok pa rin sa kaniyang papa.
''Mr. Stranger, what are you doing here in our house? Can't you see I'm holding a big gun? I'm going to shoot you if you come near my mama! I'm not scared of you! I'm already a big boy!'' mayabang niyang sinabi.
Pinakita niya rin ang kaniyang patpating braso. ''See this muscle? I'll knock you up with my muscle!''
Kumunot ang noo nito at humarap muli sa'kin. ''But mama, why does the stranger look like me?''
Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin nito sa'kin at sa kaniyang papa.
I swallowed hard. ''Anak, it's because the stranger... that giant stranger you're calling is your papa... siya ang papa mo, anak.''
Lisandro remained standing where he was. I can see from here the tears forming in his eyes. His mouth is half-open, catching his own breath, while his eyes remain on Leandro. He's staring at our son, as if he's remembering every part of his face, as if if he closed his eyes, our son would disappear. I can't describe how he's looking at our son—his stare is full of adoration.
He looked at our son with teary eyes and a ghost of a smile on his lips. Para bang hindi siya makapaniwala na nasa harap na niya ngayon ang anak naming dalawa.
Nabitawan ng anak namin ang kaninang hawak nitong baril-barilan. Umiiyak itong tumakbo sa kaniyang papa at niyapos ang dalawang binti nito. Pinaghahampas nito ang binti ng kaniyang papa. Narinig ko rin ang munting hikbi ng anak.
Pinantayan siya ni Lisandro at niyakap, ngayon ay parehas na silang umiiyak na dalawa.
''Anak... a-anak ko...'' nahihirapang tawag ni Lisandro sa anak namin.
''Papa! I hate you! I hate you! Why did you have to hurt my mama? Why do you have to be gone for so long? My classmates were bullying me because I don't have a papa! They said I was a loser! I hate you, papa! I hate you! Why did it take you so long to come with us?'' pagalit na wika ng anak namin habang umiiyak at sumisinghot-singhot pa.
Hindi ko napansin ang paglandas ng luha sa'king mga mata habang pinapanood ang aking mag ama. Suminghot ako sa'king sarili. Palihim ko silang kinuhanan ng litrato sa'king telepono.
''I'm s-sorry, anak ko... I'm s-sorry... I'm sorry if papa took long enough to come here. I'm sorry if papa wasn't there when you needed someone to protect you and your mama... I'm s-sorry, anak ko... I'm s-sorry, mahal na mahal ka ni papa,'' nabasag ang boses ni Lisandro.
''Patawarin mo si papa, anak. Pangako, babawi si papa sa'yo at sa mama mo. Hinding-hindi na siya ulit aalis... dito lang ako kasama niyo. Babawi ako sa inyo... babawi ako sa mag ina ko. Mahal na mahal ka ni papa, anak ko... a-ana ko... mahal na mahal ka ni papa,'' sabi niya pa at mas lalong humagulgol habang yakap-yakap ang aming anak.
BINABASA MO ANG
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قصص عامة[NOT YET EDITED] Stella Kaysyee Gonzales-Vasco grew up longing for her father, who died before she was born. She always looks for a father figure-a father's love and care for someone older than her age. Until it became controllable, it became her o...
