Eren Pierce Salazar

Kabanata 20

''Do you like the place, Bless?'' Nakatingin parin ako sa paligid. Amaze of Laguna. Lumaki kasi akong nasa bahay at school lang. Nakakalabas lang kapag trabaho ko sa convenience store or invited ang family namin sa mga events. Nakakasama naman ako sa mga campaign dati, but I really don't like to hang out with my family, lalo na kapag kasama ang parents nina Claire—Kapatid ng Papa ko. I felt like they were angry at me.

''Bless...''

Ang ganda dito. The restaurant was built like a big bahay kubo at napapalibutan ng mga kahoy tapos ay mga kalsada sa labas. There are also houses sa paligid na parang naging carenderia vibes ang buong lugar. Parang kainan lang nina Ate Juliet—Kung saan kami palaging kumakain ni Eren dati noong mga bata pa kami.

''Maria...'' Ang aking atensiyon na kanina ay nakatuon sa kapaligiran ay naagaw ni Tito Ino na nasa harap ko.

Umakyat ng kaunti ang aking mga kilay ''Po?'' Wala pa ako sa tamang isip ng sumagot dahil kanina pa nakatuon ang isip ko sa tanawin.

His eyes became soft, kaya napa iwas tingin ako at hinanap si Eren. Eren was talking to someone over the phone. Nasa may sasakyan namin. Wala pa naman ang foods, kaya okay lang.

''You really grow up like a fine woman, just like what you Tita always dreamed of.'' Mahina at puno ng pangungulila ang kanya boses kaya napatingin at tinuon ko ang mga tingin ko sa kanya.

The way he talks Alam kong may pinagsamahan sila ng Tita ko. Tumikhim ko at umayos ng upo.

''D---Do you know my Tita? I mean, my real mother?'' Kumunot ng kaunti ang noo niya sa sinabi ko na para bang may sinabi akong mali pero nawala rin naman kaagad iyon.

He smiled at me, took the glass of water from the table, and looked at the view outside.

''She was my wife'' he said bitterly. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at biglang tumibok ng mabilis ang aking puso.

Is he... Is he my father?

Parang may pumipiga sa puso kong napakalakas ng tibok.

''A---Are you perhaps...'' Hindi pa ako tapos sa pagsasalita ay tumingin na siya sa akin at ngumiti.

Ang ngiti niya puno ng sakit na parang buong mundo niya ang kinuha sa kanya.

''I'm not your father, Maria... Our child... He died...'' Hindi ko alam pero parang nawala na ang klaro ng aking mga mata at napuno ng luha sa loob.

My heart was hurting just from hearing him...

''W---What... I---I d---don't un---'' Hindi ko matapos-tapos ang sasabihin ko dahil parang takot ang bibig kong magsalita.

He smiled again. He always smiles, even if it's lifeless, but there's still life inside it.

''You're pregnant, Maria. You can't handle the truth in the meantime. Wait until you give birth. I'll tell you everything. By the way, how are your parents?'' He changed the topic, and I let him, kasi totoo naman. Konti palang nalalaman ko, but it's already giving me a lot of stress.

PInunasan ko muna ang aking mga mata para mawala ang mga luha duon at hinayaan lang ako ni Tito.

''Take a breath first, Bless'' he said, and I followed what he instructed. He's an OB-GYN. He knows it better than I do.

Nang kumalma ako ay ngumiti ako sa kanya. ''Okay naman po, Tito. In fact, nandito po kami for campaign.''

He nodded and smiled. ''Your father is still in politics?" He asked, but the way he asks, I know he already knows it.

I nodded. ''Opo'' sagot ko.

''What was your course, Maria? You're in college, right?'' he asked me.

I nodded again. ''Opo. I took Tourism Po, and I'm planning to continue my studies after I give birth. Siguro kapag 2 years old na po si baby ko. I'll go back''