Island of Insanity

Kabanata 34: Marriage

[Phraea's POV]

Masinsinan silang nag-usap na mag-ama habang nasa kusina lang ako at pinapanood sila.

I couldn't help but smiling when I noticed the amusement in my daughter's eyes. They have always been pretty close.

Puno ito ng mga kwento at aliw na aliw namang nakikinig sa kanya si Garen. I also noticed that Paige is taking cautions not to touch his Father. Kanina ay yumakap si Garen sa kanya pero hindi siya rumesponde kahit gaano niya pa kagusto.

"Your Father is working in that café. You can spend some time there but don't distract your Dad that much." I said.

"Why? Are you leaving?"

"Yeah, my break is over now and I was called for a meeting tomorrow."

"Dad, Mom's work is quite dangerous. Can't you do something about it?" Hinarap niya ang ama na ikinamilog ng mga mata ako. She glanced back at me and I glared at her.

"But your Mom is also brave. Your Mom is doing a great job to keep things in order. I'm pretty sure you know what will happen if there's no order."

Huminga nang malalim si Paige bago sumagot. "There will be chaos."

Garen smiled at that and he ruffled her hair which made Paige giggle. "I love you, Daddy!"

"I love you too."

"What about Mom?"

Napaayos ako nang tayo dahil sa tanong ni Paige kay Garen. Sumulyap ang anak ko sa akin at binantaan ko ito gamit ang mga tingin pero nginisihan lang niya ako.

"I love your Mom of course... very much."

"And I know that My also loves you, that's the reason why she never dated anyone, so why don't you two get married?"

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Garen na nakaawang ang mga labi. I shifted my gaze back to Paige and she is smiling widely while waiting for our response.

"Darling, you know how complicated our situation is." I said and looked at her with full concern.

"Yeah, I know it's complicated but even if it is, are we not allowed to be happy? I mean..." Huminga siya nang malalim bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. "I am grateful to have the both of you, but we should at least seal the bond."

"Paige, if we get married, there's a big possibility that your Father will be exposed."

"No, he won't. He has used different identities in his work and in different organizations. He won't be exposed, My."

Napakurap ako sa sinabi ni Paige. I guess she knows her Father very well and i'm quite surprise na mukhang walang tinatago si Garen sa anak.

"The three of us can still be together even if your Father and I are not married."

Sa huli ay walang nagawa si Paige kundi ay tumango na lang at tumahimik. Bago kami umalis ay pinauna na ni Garen si Paige sa sasakyan dahil nais niya muna akong kausapin.

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry. I can't marry you... even if I want to so bad."

"You want to?" Nagulat ako sa pag-amin niya.

"Of course, being married with you just means committing my entire life to you and to our daughter, and it's a pleasure." Tinaas niya ang kanyang kamay at marahang hinaplos ang aking pisngi. I looked at him with tears pooling in my eyes.

"Dahil ba delikado?"

"No, Phraea, it's not that. Kung iyun lang ang rason ay madali kong magagawan iyan ng paraan."

"So, why?" I asked with the obvious desperation in my voice.

"I don't deserve to be happy. The more I feel joy, the painful it is to sleep at night."

Mabilis akong napailing at kinuha ang kamay niya mula sa pisngi ko. "You deserve to be happy. You only did those things because of the trauma in your past and God knows it, He understands you." I can almost say that I want us to be married and be a complete family because of the despair in my voice.

"All those things I did was a choice. Ginawa ko iyun para panatagin ang sarili ko sa mga nangyari kay Mama. I did that without even realizing that those people I killed also have families who needs them. Those family are still suffering from their loss while me, I still have the guts to yearn for marriage and a happy family."

Napalunok ako habang sinusuri ang mukha niyang nababalisa. His eyes were restless as he search for more words to explain what he meant.

"It's unfair and you know how much I hate unjust."

"They were criminals, Garen–"

"But they are humans, they are meant to be forgiven."

"And so are you. You are also human." I sadly smiled at him and held his both hands. Dinungaw ko siya nung iniwas niya ang kanyang mukha at mariing napapikit. "I'm not human enough if I turn my back and run away from the sins i've caused."

.

"My," tawag sa akin ni Paige. She's lying on our bed while I was busy finishing some reports for the university.

"Hmm?"

"Ayos lang ba sayo 'yung set-up ninyo ni Dad?"

"Yeah, it doesn't matter as long as the three of us are together." I answered while typing on my laptop.

"Alam ba ni Lola at Lolo ang tungkol kay Dad?"

"Si Tito Preston mo lang ang nakakaalam at ipapaalam din naman namin... sa tamang panahon siguro."

Something is bugging me. We all know that we can't keep Garen's identity forever. Hindi ko alam kung anong mangyayari sa amin, lalo na kapag alam nilang isa akong alagad ng batas.

"You are in charge for the extraction and Agent Vancouver will cover you up. As much as possible, defend only and don't charge. We aim to lock them all in prison, so avoid killings. You are given two hours to complete the mission and the train will be waiting."

"What will happen kung hindi kami makahabol?" Tanong ng agent na kasama ko na si Vancouver.

"Sad to say, but the train will leave without the two of you. You will have to find your way out of the perimeter. Keep the hostage safe if that happens."