Her Twisted Mistake

Chapter 33

It's been a week nang manatili dito si Carolina. It's been a week too since Tita and Tito were asking me when I will bring my son back to the mansion. Hindi ko kasi madala sa kanila dahil ayaw ni Carolina. And my son was okay with it. Minsan ay sinusubukan kong tanungin ang baby ko kung hindi ba niya nami-miss ang grandma at gradpa niya. Sinasabi niyang oo, nami-miss naman niya pero hindi ko alam kung bakit ayaw niyang bumalik sa mansion. 

"Your grandma misses you, baby. Don't you want to go back?" nanlalambing kong tanong. 

"I want to, Mommy but you're not there. And Tita Carolina and Tita Akari are not there."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang hirap niyang kumbinsihin ngayon. Pwede na siyang naiiwan sa condo dahil kasama naman niya si Carolina. And speaking of her, we didn't have a conversation after her outburst. Hindi ko siya pinapansin at mas gusto kong umiwas. Funny how it's my condo yet ako palagi ang umiiwas. Palagi akong sa kwarto kumakain dahil ayaw kong nakikita si Akari at Carolina. 

Akari told me, a day after her confrontation, na kaya niya ako sinabihan ng mga ganon ay para daw makita ko ang reality ko. She still talked to me and acted like she didn't even hurt my feelings. Wala naman akong magawa doon. Kung gusto niyang pumasok sa kwarto ko ay pumapasok siya. Wala siyang nararamdamang awkwardness, as if she didn't do thing. Kapag ayaw kong kausapin ay sasabihan akong 'don't be immature!' 

Mga tatlong araw pa bago ko siya kinausap ng matino. 

Pababa ako ng kusina nang makita ko ang baby ko at si Carolina na nakaupo sa couch. Bukas ang TV pero ang mata nila ay nasa kandungan ng baby ko. He was holding a magazine. 

Sa taas ng hagdan ay TV pa ang naririnig ko kaya nang makababa ako ay doon ko pa narinig ang usapan nila. 

"This is Daddy, Tita?" excited at namamanghang tanong ng baby ko. 

The moment I heard the word Daddy, I stopped walking. I felt my heart starting to get wild inside. Anong karapatan ni Carolina na sabihin sa baby ko ang tungkol sa daddy niya? Why the hell would she decide on that thing? 

"Uh-huh. He's living in the Philippines where I live," mahinahong sinabi ni Carolina. I then saw her caress the head of my baby. 

I gritted my teeth. I don't like this! Now that my son got to know more about his father, I feel like the next thing he will ask is to see his Daddy! 

"I want to see him, Tita. Can I come with you when you come back?" The happiness in my son's voice almost deaf me. 

Tumawa si Carolina. "I still can't go back, baby."

Chill ran down my system. Gusto na niyang ma-meet? Kakakita pa lang niya ng picture at ganito na? 

Excited na tumayo ang baby ko. Nang makita niya ako, agad siyang lumapit sa akin dala dala ang magazine. I forced a smile to hide my bitterness. 

"Mommy, this is daddy?" hopeful niyang tanong as if what Carolina said is not enough evidence. 

I licked my lips. Ang tempting na sabihin hindi 'yan ang Daddy mo pero I remember how my son got so hurt. He was torn. He doesn't want to talk to me because of his Daddy. When I gave him space because I didn't really want him to talk about his daddy, he got hurt as well. Ni hindi ko na alam kung matutuloy ko pa ang planong ipagkait sa kanya ang ganong bagay. At mas lalo ngayong nakikisawsaw pa si Carolina. 

I looked at the picture and true enough, it was Reu in his fine suit. He looked mysterious in the picture. He was not smiling and his eyes were just unfathomable.