Rainbows After the Rain (Fuck and Forget Series #1)

35.

Gender

"This is your room," Flamora opened a door to show me a huge master's bedoom. "This was supposed to be your room when we were still a baby..."

Napaawang ang labi ko nang makita kung gaano karami ang mga gifts na nasa gilid ng kama.

The room was huge. A king size bed, a huge walk in closet, and a bathroom. The room is air conditioned. A tall shelves, a study table, a terrace with an opened glass sliding door. The walls were made of glass as well that I can see the views outside because the gray curtains were swaying with the wind.

Lumapit si Flamora sa kama at kinuha ang isang gift. Lahat 'yon ay nakabalot pa. Sobrang dami. Nagkalat sa buong kwarto.

"Do you see these gifts? These are our gift for you in your every birthdays, Christmas, New Years..." pabulong na sabi niya.

Kaya pala sobrang dami niyon. Pero ang mas nakaagaw ng atensyon ko ay ang mga gamit pangbata, na sa tingin ko ay hinanda nila pero hindi nagamit. There were even toys for a boy.

"And these things..." napansin niya sigurong doon ako nakatingin kaya nilapitan niya rin. "They bought these for you. Pero hindi nagamit dahil nawala ka. Do you know that when Dad misses you, he slept here most of the time?"

Napangiti ako. Parang hinaplos ang puso ko sa sinabi niya. Mas lalo lang tuloy nadagdagan ang pananabik kong makasama si Daddy at makakwentuhan.

"Matagal ka na niyang gustong makilala, Felix. Noong nalaman niya sa akin na naging kaibigan kita at Architect ang kinuha mong kurso, he would always flex to his business partners that his son is an Architect..."

Tumaas ang kilay ko, but deep inside me, I melted upon knowing that. Masarap sa pakiramdam na binibida ka ng mga magulang mo at hindi kinukumpara sa iba. It was the acknowledgement I've always wanted from Fiat's father. Na hindi ko alam... sa aking totoong ama ko lang pala makukuha.

"And one of his daughters is a Neurosurgeon..." I chuckled.

She laughed. Napailing-iling ako. Naglakad ako sa kama at naupo doon. I took one gift and started unboxing it. Natawa ako nang bumungad sa akin ang Iba't-ibang rendering materials para sa Architecture.

"See?" Natatawang sabi ni Flamora nang iharap ko sa kaniya iyon at iwagayway. "I told you... they knew. Even their gifts for you are the things you needed for your studies."

"How about you? What were their gifts for you?" Baling ko sa kaniya at binaba nalang 'yong binuksan kong gift sa kama.

"It was a lot. A telescope, a pen, a white coat..."

Napangiti ako. Lahat para sa kurso niya.

We just talked. She told me a lot of things I needed to know and she excused herself when her phone rang, leaving me alone in that room. Ngiting-ngiti niya pang sinagot ang tawag.

"Anak..."

Mula sa pagtitingin sa mga gifts ay nag-angat ako ng tingin sa pinto nang marinig ang boses ni Mommy. Nakangiti itong lumapit sa akin kasama si Frieza na titig na titig sa akin.

Binaba ko ang hawak na gift sa kama at niyuko ko si Frieza.

"Hi, Frieza..." I waved my hand in front of her. "Do you still remember me? I'm kuya Nick- I mean, kuya Felix..."

Mom chuckled when she noticed the awkwardness and hesitation in my voice, when I used the name I've longed forgotten.

Hinawakan ni Mommy ang balikat ko at marahang pinisil.

"Don't force yourself, son. Whichever name you're comfortable, use it..."

But I think it's time. I think it's time I rebuild my character as Felix Jace Vandeleur.