Fortress Island Series 3 Matteo: The Bastard's Sweetest Downfall

TWELVE

Dreadful Truth

Matteo's POV

I didn't know how long I had been staring at her fragile figure since I arrived at my father's house here in Laguna. Wala pa ring nagbago sa kanya. She still looked so weak just like the last time I paid her a visit three weeks ago.

When she opened her eyes, I instantly changed my stance and smiled at her. Agad ring lumatay ang ngiti sa kanyang maputlang mga labi.

"My princess has finally awoken, I see." I said teasingly.

"Hello, my prince." She said in a raspy voice. "Hindi ko alam na dadating ka ngayon. Kanina ka pa?"

Umiling ako at inabot ang kanyang kamay. "Kadarating ko lang."

"I missed you, Matt."

"I know. I missed you more. How are you?"

"Still breathing." Tipid itong ngumiti sa akin. Pero alam kong sa kabila ng ngiting iyon, nakatago ang kanyang paghihirap.

Inayos ko ang collar ng aking damit kasabay ng pag-alis ng bara sa aking lalamunan. "Sabi ni Papa ay busy ka daw nitong mga nakaraang araw."

"I am trying to learn how to knit, Matt. Gusto kong gawan ka ng scarf kung sakali mang pupunta ka ulit sa America. Winter ata dun ngayon?"

For a ten-year-old girl, she's smart. The way she talks and thinks seems like she's older than her age. At kung kausapin niya ako ay para lang kaming magkasing-edad. "Hmm...as far as I know, wala pa akong schedule na gagawin dun. Although I would be very busy for the coming weeks."

Jennie pouted. "I'm starting to hate the Salvatores, Matt. Pakiramdam ko'y inaagaw ka nila sa akin. Sa amin ni Papa. Bihira ka na lang gumala dito. Lagi kang busy." Kahit malumanay ang boses nito, naghahabol pa rin ito ng hininga.

"They have been good to me. Kung sana ay papayagan mo akong ipakilala ka sa kanila. Alam kong iwe-welcome ka nila na parang pamilya. Bea and Mira will be thrilled to get to know you. Their children would love to play around with you."

Umiling si Jennie. "Hindi na kailangan. Ayokong maging weakness mo, Matt."

"You are not my weakness, Princess."

"I am, unfortunately. Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng mga tao at ng pamilya mo kung malalaman nila kung sino ako. Kaya nga ako tinago ni Mama dito sa Laguna."

"Jennie...." I sighed. Kinuyom ko ang aking kamao. Sa tuwing naiisip ko ang ginawang pagkakamali ng aking ina, hindi ko maiwasang di magalit sa kanya. The fact that she killed herself was enough reason for me to resent her. Then I found out about Jennie...

My mother was too cruel to us. Hindi ko akalain na magagawa niya ito sa amin.

"Sweetheart, always remember that I love you. I will always love you, baby. Please don't get upset. Magpagaling ka lang, yun ang mahalaga sa akin, sa amin ni Papa."

Jennie looked away. Her eyes were now filled with tears. "I don't think I have much time left, Matt. Just breathing alone is already tiring."

Pumikit ako at tumingala. Alam ko. Alam kong hindi na magtatagal ang buhay ni Jennie. Ilang beses ko na itong dinala sa Amerika upang ipagamot gamit ang pera ng mga Salvatore pero hindi pa rin ito kayang pagalingin ng makabagong medisina. Her heart was too weak and even though we opted for heart transplant, hindi na kakayanin ng katawan niya.

Isang dahilan kung bakit malaki ang sama ng loob ko sa aking namayapang ina ay dahil sa kanyang pagtatago. She didn't tell us that Jennie existed. Nalaman ko na lang na may kapatid pala ako nung namatay na ito. Kahit si Papa ay wala ring kaalam-alam sa nangyari.