Drawn by Dawn

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

I was speechless. That's why the kid and father was familiar... they're Art's family! Bumalik-balik lang ang tingin ko kay Art, sa kaniyang tatay, sa bata, at sa babae.

The striking resemblance is really there! They have the same eyes. The shade is my favorite color too.

"Let's go, Dawn." Hinawakan ni Art ang kamay ko at hahatakin sana ako ngunit nanatili akong nakapako sa aking pwesto kaya naman natigilan din siya. "Love?"

"My son, let's talk... please."

Parang walang narinig si Art at hindi niya pinansin ang ama niya, "Dawn, tara na."

I bit my lower lip and awkwardly looked at the couple, yumuko ako sa kanila at sumunod na kay Art na nakahawak pa rin sa kamay ko.

"Hindi ko alam na tatay mo pala ang ka-transact ko... I'm sorry." Nahihiyang sabi ko kay Art habang umaalis kami sa bahay. Hindi siya umimik, parang malalim lang ang iniisip. He pressed the key fob to unlock the Hilux, he was moving in haste, as if being longer is starting to become unbearable.

"Arthur!" Tawag sa kaniya ng kaniyang ama ngunit tuloy lang kami sa paglalakad. "We need to talk! With your woman, too..."

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil kasali pa ako, maybe it's the painting. I know Art was not ready to face his father yet because of what he's done. Kung ano man magiging desisyon niya, iyon ang susundin ko.

"You kept ignoring me, this is the only way I know so we can finally talk!" Parang desperado na ang kaniyang tatay. Binuksan ni Art ang pinto ng shotgun seat, papasok na sana ako nang magsalita ulit ang kaniyang ama. "I'm sorry, to the both of you!"

Lumingon na ako at humarap sa kaniyang ama. Bakit siya nagso-sorry rin sa akin? Kay Art lang naman siya nakagawa ng kasalanan? Mukhang napansin ng kaniyang ama ang pagtataka na nakapinta sa mukha ko, kaya naman malungkot siyang tumingin din sa akin.

"Please come back inside so we can all talk..."

"Art?"

"Sorry." Tipid na sagot niya, tumango naman ako. Mukhang nagdadalawang-isip pa siya, bumuntong-hininga siya. "Five minutes." He told his father.

He smiled and nodded.

Bumalik kami sa loob. Giniya kami ni Ma'am Martha sa salas at nag-utos siya sa helper nila na magdala ng meryenda.

"No need. This will be fast." Malamig na pagtanggi ni Art.

Nagdalawang-isip pa si Ma'am Martha bago tumango, "please bring Megan to her playpen." Iyon na lang ang inutos niya sa kasama nila. Sumunod naman ang helper at binuhat si Megan. She was adorable... and I love her eyes. She looked at her husband and smiled, "Anthony, darling, I'll leave you here... I'll go and unpack our stuff in the other room." She left to give us a moment of privacy.

Ngayon, kaming tatlo na lang ang nasa silid. Hindi pa man nagsisimulang magsalita ang ama niya ay sobrang bigat na ng paligid. Hindi ko rin alam bakit ako nasali rito.

"It's been three years." His father started. Hindi umimik si Art, pati ako. Hinawakan ko na lang ang kamay ni Art, napansin ko na nanlalamig siya. I can sense hatred, pain, and betrayal in his eyes. The thing about his eyes... they were very expressive. Mababasa mo agad kung ano ang nadarama niya.

"Don't beat around the bush and just get straight to the point." Art said in monotone.

His father sighed, "I know you blame me for Ingrid's death... but I didn't intend it, Arthur. It was an accident... The car lost its brake. Your mother, she is a lovely woman but we fell out of love. That's why we divorced in States right after you graduated in college and I started to see Martha. We were planning to tell you, but you had a big break in your career and your mother asked me to keep it a secret until she think you're ready to know."