Rush is understatement. I almost grew wings and flew to Hiko. Para akong nakipagkarera sa sampung kabayo malapitan lang siya at maibaba ang hawak niyang litrato.
"Hiko, what did I tell you?" Tumaas bigla ang presyon ng dugo ko. "You shouldn't touch things that aren't yours."
I never scolded Hiko toughly because he has always been obedient and easy to warn. But lately, he's been letting his curiosity drive his actions. I know he's just a kid, but he needs some lecturing.
"I'm sorry, Mommy. I just got curious. The little boy in the picture—"
"Stop now." I possessed dominance to shut him up. I held his forearm. "You shouldn't do it again, okay? Never touch things that aren't yours, most especially if you have no permission from the owner."
He tucked his lips inside, shocked and afraid of the strictness etched on my voice. "I-I'm sorry, Mommy."
I felt the immediate guilt. I might've overreacted but I think I used the right words.
I heard the man's footsteps nearing us from behind. When he stood behind us, his hands found their places in his pockets. "Don't be tough on the kid, Ms. de Morga. I don't mind him touching and probing my picture . . ." May diin ang pagbanggit niya sa mga huling salita.
Simula nang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko, hindi pa ito humuhupa. Pakiramdam ko nga ay lalabas na ito ng dibdib ko ano mang oras ngayon.
My body remained bended at Hiko's height when Yuri took the picture from the glass cabinet. I clenched my jaw when he held it beside Hiko's face. Fucking hell! Napilitan akong tignan ang mukha niya na nakatuon sa bata.
He smirked. "We do look alike, Hiko."
I mentally cursed a hundred times in a second when Yuri's gaze drifted to me—with his hand still holding the frame by Hiko's face. "What a coincidence."
The sincerity is missing, he sounded doubtful. I could only blink and stand properly to act like it was not affecting me.
"Is it really you, mister businessman?" Tumayo si Hiko sa gitna namin.
"This is me when I was seven years old when I took a vacation in Japan."
"Japan?" Hiko's eyes drew hearts. "Are you Japanese?"
"Why?"
"My classmates used to tell me I look like a Japanese."
Yuri took his time to survey his face. "I would have to agree . . ." His voice does not sound so light going and his jaw has been clenching since earlier.
"It's kind of amazing how we look alike. Some people who are not related to each other look alike because they share genetic variants. We share genetic variants! Can you believe that?"
Umigting ang panga ni Yuri bago dumako ang mga mata sa akin. "Honestly, that's the only thing I can believe right now, science and coincidence. If not . . . I don't know anymore." He said that without removing his gaze at me.
I gulped hard. What is he thinking? Is he having assumptions already?
"I'm happy we meet, my look-a-like." Hinawi niya ang buhok ni Hiko papunta sa gilid ng kaniyang mukha.
Hiko beamed. "I'm not quite sure what to feel, but I'm in awe. This is just so cool and weird at the same time."
Kung nakamamatay lang ang malalagkit niyang tingin ay kanina pa ako pinaglalamayan. Before the happenings could burry me to grave, I had to end the conversation there.
"H-Hiko, why don't you give Mr. Suarez the medal now? He's busy, we shall leave so he can continue his work—"
"It's okay, Ms. de Morga. I'm not busy anymore."
BINABASA MO ANG
The Heaven's Wildcard
Romance[SLOW EDIT] For most people, hell is just a concept or a place where the evils fall into after death. But for the registered nurse, Maurice Severina de Morga, it is her reality, her life. Her first cry was on her mother's death, died on a hospital b...
