Monasterio Series 8: Nights in Casa Vallejo

Chapter 45

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Chapter 45

Imbes na sagutin ay nag-iwas ng tingin si Terrence mula sa akin at itinuon ito sa mga bata. That hurt me. Pakiramdam ko, mahirap para sa kaniya ang sabihin sa akin kung sino si Shannen.

Bakit ito ang palaging bukang bibig ni Alexene? Is she that close to her? Sa paanong paraan?

"Don't talk to your mother that way, Alexene. You promise me to be nice to her once you meet her." may disiplinang sabi ni Terrence.

I looked at his side profile and he was staring at our daughter with seriousness.

"I'm trying, Daddy. But.." Alexene breathed a sigh that made me look at her. "Why does she have no hair po kasi?"

Nagbaba ako ng tingin kay Alexandre. He was just staring at me and he reminded me of Sir Zion before. Sa tuwing titingnan niya ako noon, ganitong ganito ang pagdilim ng mga mata niya.

"Why does her bald head bother you so much anyway?" matigas ang tono na tanong ni Terrence.

Marahil ay napansin ni Alexene ang pag-iiba ng tono ng ama niya na naging dahilan ng paglabi niya. Yumuko siya, umatras at nagsimulang humikbi.

"Huwag mo nang pagalitan ang anak mo, Terrence. You don't expect her to be okay with... Priscilla..." she glanced at me with indifference. "Right away. It takes time."

"I get that, ate. But that doesn't mean she can talk to her mother that way. Mas matanda pa rin ang taong nasa harapan niya. At least show some respect!" may diin na sagot ni Terrence.

Tumungo ako, pasimpleng minasahe ang sentido. The sound of Alexene's sobs pains me. Bumuntonghininga ako at nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya.

"Okay lang kung hindi pa sila handang makilala ako, Terrence. I can wait until they're ready." kaswal na sagot ko.

Kahit pa sa mga sandaling ito ay gustong gusto ko na silang yakapin. I badly wanted to jail them inside my arms and tell them how sorry I am for leaving them when they were still young.

But then they aren't ready to give me that chance yet. At wala akong magagawa kung hindi ang maghintay.

"Maybe in all the surprises you have received throughout your lives, this is by far the worst. I'm sorry..." I smiled to conceal the tears building at the corner of my eyes. "Maybe one of these days, I can introduce myself to you. You know, in a proper way. I'll try to be beautiful by that time-"

"You are beautiful."

Natigilan ako nang sabihin 'yon ni Alexandre habang diretsong nakatitig sa akin. Walang kahit anong emosyon na naglalaro sa gwapo niyang mukha ngunit ramdam ko ang katotohanan sa mga salitang 'yon.

Alexene meanwhile was looking into a far distance as if she was currently having deep thoughts. Pero alam ko naman na ayaw niya lang akong tingnan o intindihin.

"My sister tends to be bad sometimes and I'm sorry for that."

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya. Mas tumibay ang kagustuhan kong yakapin sila ngunit alam kong masiyadong mabilis ang galaw na 'yon.

"I understand, Alexandre. Thank you."

I felt Terrence hold my hand but I ignored it. Siguro, masama rin na naghahangad pa ako ng lalapit ang kahit na isa sa mga bata at tatawagin ako sa tamang paraan.

But it didn't happen.

"It's already late. You two can talk to the kids tomorrow." sabi ni Clarisse na pumutol sa pagtitig ko sa mga bata.