Hello And Goodbye

Chapter 26: Closure

Nakaupo ako sa kama at kaharap ang aking laptop nang marinig kong bumukas ang pintuan ng aking kwarto.

"Lance, talk to me." Malumanay na ang tono ng aking ina.

"I have nothing more to tell you, Mom. I've already told you everything I need to say. There will be no engagement—let alone marriage—happening," tugon ko ng hindi inaalis ang atensyon sa laptop.

A moment of silence. And then my bed dip. Umupo sa bandang harapan ko ang aking ina. Tumingin ako sa kanya.

"Is she pregnant? How did it happen? Roughly two months pa lang mula nung dumating ka. How did you two reconnect that easily?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

"Yes."

"Yes?"

Nakita ko na naman ang pangungunot ng kanyang noo.

"Yes, she is pregnant. Tricia is pregnant with our child."

"Paanong—"

"It just happened, mom. The longing greatly contributed, I would say."

Mariin akong tinitigan ng aking ina. For some odd reason, hindi ko maaninag ang galit sa kanyang mukha.

"You are not making this up, right? Lance, you don't have to make things up kung talagang ayaw mong makasal kay Alexa. You don't joke around with things like this."

"Exactly. Wala akong intensyon na gawing biro ang mga ganitong bagay. She is pregnant with our child, and I want you to stay away from her. I don't want to commit the same mistake. Hanggang ngayon sinisisi ko pa rin ang aking sarili sa pagkawala ng anak namin noon."

Nakita kong biglang lumungkot ang expression ng aking ina.

"I'm sorry," wika niya.

It was my turn na mapakunot ng noo. What is this?

"What are you up to?" I asked.

"I owe her an apology. For everything."

"Yeah, you sure do. And if you are really apologetic, please don't show up in front of her."

"I wanted to formally apologize to her."

"I will tell her."

Nakita kong bumuntong-hininga ang aking ina. Dagling nagbaling ito ng tingin, ngunit makalipas lamang ang ilang segundo ay tumingin ulit ito sa akin.

"Jackson Tiu of Diamond Hotel and Casino..."

Ito ang mga katagang nagpatigil sa aking pagtipa sa keyboard ng laptop.

"How did you know that asshole?"

"Lance, we are living in the same world as the Tiu's of course I would know them. I've met Kenny Tiu a few times before, but I don't particularly remember meeting his sons, especially Jackson. I saw them on print ads, though."

"So, what about him? Why did you bring up his name all of a sudden?"

Tiningnan muna ako ng matagal ng aking ina bago muling nagsalita.

"He is Zach's father, right?"

Napatiim-bagang ako.

"Zach is my son—then, now, and forever. Ayaw kong marinig na dinidikit mo ang pangalan ng aking anak sa demonyong 'yun."

"Can we be realistic here for a second?"

"I am being real. Zach is my son—MINE, mom," diin ko.

"I saw the video," wika ng aking ina.

"What video?" kunot-noo kong tanong.

"Six months after you left, I stumbled upon your safe when I had this room cleaned. I know you said not to touch anything, but I couldn't let the room rot with dust. I tried different combinations—your birthday, mine, your dad's, even our anniversary—but none worked. I looked up Tricia's birthday—it wasn't hard to do—and there goes the combination of the safe."