Eren Pierce Salazar

Kabanata 21

''I bought you lasagna, anak at umupo ka muna diyan. Maghahanda muna ako ng hapunan. Your Tito and Tita are here. Entertain them for me at alam mo namang walang humor yang Papa mo'' bulong ni Mama sa akin habang nasa may kusina kami while watching Papa talking to Tito, who has very cold eyes but is still kind. They were talking with Eren about business at si Claire naman at Tita ay tahimik lang na nakamasid sa buong bahay.

''Does our vacation house look ugly, anak?'' bulong ni Mama kaya napatingin ako sa kanya at nangunot ang noo. Nakita kong nakita niya iyon kaya napangiwi ito.

''I was just... I felt like your Tita was judging our house. I mean, I made it built like this, comfortable and just simple.'' I see the sadness in her eyes.

I know Mama was never close to my father's side for reasons I don't know, and Tito's wife, Ate Clea, and Claire's mother don't like my mother. We know that because every time we had a family dinner, Palagi silang nagbabangayan. The last time we came to a family dinner with Papa's side was in high school. Simula nuon ay hindi na kami umattend. Papa doesn't like someone disrespecting my mother.

I sighed and hugged my mother. ''Ma, just don't think about it. Nandito naman ako. I won't let anyone disrespect you, not now that I am of legal age and already know how to defend my family.'' I have my mom's back.

Mayamaya pa ay nag simula na si Mama mag luto at may kasama siyang dalagang babae na tumutulong sa kanila. I was also helping them, kasi ayaw ko sa sala. The way they stare at me and my mother. Para kaming maduduming tao kahit si Claire. Nasasaktan ako kasi simula pagka bata magkaibigan na kami tapos magsisinungaling pala siya sa akin and the way she stared at me earlier. It was cold and emotionless. Para na kaming walang pinagsamahan. I want to talk to her, but not right now.

''Anak, pwede ka namang umupo nalang diyan sa stool chair at kami nalang ni Charmaine dito.'' sabi ni Mama. Napatingin ako sa kasama niya na ngumiti sa akin kaya ngumiti rin ako.

''Oo nga, Ate. Baka mapaano pa baby mo tas hindi bagay sayo gumalaw-galaw dito sa kusina. Sa ganda mo dapat naka upo ka lang sa ano---'' Mama laughed at tumingin kay Charmaine. With her gentle eyes.

''Kamukha ko ba anak ko, Maine?'' tanong ni Mama.

Chairmane beamed. ''Opo, Tita! Kamukha ninyo pero kapag tahimik siya para niyang kamukha si Tita Eliana!''

I was expecting Mama's smile to vanish, but she smiled more, which made my heart ache. There was longing.

''Talaga ba?'' mahinang tanong ni Mama kay Charmaine.

Charmaine nodded happily. ''Opo, Tita. Sana nga ay namana ko ganda ninyo ng kakambal mo Tita!''

Parang tumigil ang pag ikot ng aking mundo sa aking narinig. Napatingin ako kay Mama.

Kambal?

I can already see my reaction. Confused and shocked.

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Mama ''Let's finish cooking. Maria sit there'' sabi niya sa akin at dahil sa aking pagka gulat at tulala ay napaupo nalang ako.

Nakatulala lang ako at iniisip ang buong sinabi ni Charmaine. Kakambal? Si Mama at ang totoo kong Mama? But Mama always calls my real mother Ate. I just... I don't understand everything anymore...

''You okay?'' tanong ni Eren sa akin at humalik sa gilid ng aking ulo. Napatagilid ang aking ulo para makita siya but what I saw was Claire's frustration, kaya mas na stress ako. Ibinaling ko nalang aking atensiyon kay Eren at tinignan siya.

He was softly looking at me, but at the same time, his eyes shouted authority and seriousness. He was just so handsome. Walang pinagbago. Noong sila pa ni Ate Clea, I was so angry with him because I felt betrayed after everything we shared when we were young. We're the close ones. His eyes were always set on me, and then one day everything changed.