Caged [RWS #1]

CHAPTER 35: EXPLOSION

Clio's POV

"Clio, may anak tayo. Her name is Hyacinth.. Elara Hyacinth." Vianca said, walang bahid ng pagbibiro sa mukha niya.

I almost lost my balance, almost fainted. Awang ang labi kong nakatingin sa kanya. I stared at her eyes deeply, waiting her to say it was just a prank or something, but she didn't take back her words. That was my cue to speak my mind.

"W-what?" I asked in disbelief. Fuck. That two sentence made my mind explode and my heart raced. Tama naman ang narinig ko, 'di ba?

"We have a daughter. She's five years old now." Vianca repeated her words. Now, my jaw fell off the ground. What the fuck? B-bakit.. paanong.. bakit ngayon niya lang sinabi? "I know.. you're probably wondering bakit ngayon ko lang sinabi.. It was complicated, Clio. I just thought that this is the right time, and I understand that you need time to process it. At maiintindihan ko rin kung gusto mo ng DNA test to prove that she'a actually your daughter."

Heck, yes! I need time to process it but it doesn't mean that I won't believe her. Pucha, kahit ano namang sabihin niya, kayang-kaya kong paniwalaan e. She lied to me before, kailan ko lang nalaman na ang Matthew Lopez na 'yon ay boyfriend pala noon ng kapatid niyang si Vera, at ngayon ay kasal na sila. Kung hindi pa ako nag-research ay iisipin kong asawa 'yon ni Vianca at anak nila ang batang.. shit.

"Wait.." I paused then deeply look into her eyes. "Don't tell me, anak ko ang batang muntik kong masagasaan?" Puno ng takot kong bigkas. I balled my fist when she slowly nods her head.

Halos mapasabunot ako sa sarili kung hindi lang niya nahawakan ang kamay ko. I was overwhelmed, hindi ko alam ang uunahin. I can't fully digest all these information, isama pa ang kamay niya sa palapulsuhan ko. I'm about to lose it until she sweetly spoke.

"Clio, calm down." She said as she squeeze my hands. "It's not your fault, it's mine, hindi ko nabantayan si Hyacinth no'ng araw na 'yon." My eyes travelled all the way to her hands. She immediately let go of my hands. "L-let me just sign these papers. Sa susunod na natin pag-usapan ang tungkol kay Hyacinth." She proceed on signing the papers.

I stalked her and stood behind her.

"Gusto kong makita si Hyacinth." Bigkas ko. Napatigil siya sa pagpirma ng mga papeles. She faced me.

She shook her head, "Magpakalma ka muna." Suhestyon niya habang inaanalisa ang mukha ko.

"Kalmado ako." Sagot ko. Kontrolado ang bawat paghinga ko para pakalmahin ang sarili. I gave her an assuring smile, but she still declined with a downward smile.

"There are still plenty of time. One more thing-" I cut her off.

"Five years na ang nawala, Vianca. Just let me see my daughter, please? Kahit ilabas mo lang siya, tatanaw lang ako sa kotse." The strong disagreement on her face faded. Napalitan ng simpatya at awa. Hindi ko maiwasang malungkot. Sana masabi niya rin ang rason kung bakit niya tinago sa'kin ang anak ko.

"O-okay then. Tatapusin ko lang 'to."

Habang nagmamaneho ay labis ang kaba at excitement ko. For five years, I'm not even aware that Vianca and I had a daughter. Honestly, para parin akong nakalutang sa halo-halong emosyon. But nonetheless, I'm delighted to know the truth. It's like a part of me was found, that even I myself, wasn't aware of this missing piece.

After an hour of driving, we arrived at our destination. Just like what I promised, hindi muna ako lumabas ng kotse. But Vianca, she walked towards my car's direction. I rolled down my window.

Yumuko siya para masilip ako sa loob. I maintained my eyes to only stare at her face because with one look down, baka sa kangkungan ako pulutin.

"Give me ten minutes to talk to Hyacinth. Ipapatawag kita sa loob when she's ready." Bilin niya na tinanguan ko nalang. For a second, I saw the same Vianca I met before, the strict and cold professor of Ravenwood University.