GETTING CLOSER [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 30

-STEPHANIE

“How did you know about my daughter?” I asked with serious tone.

Nakangiti sʼya sa akin at doon ko lang napagmasdan ang pagbabago nʼya sa loob ng limang taon. His face become mature from being pretty boy in senior high school days. His dear eyes is sparkling and 6 piercing in his two ears. Mas tumangkad sʼya at naging moreno ang kulay ng kaniyang skin.

Guwapo sʼya at malinis ang gupit ng kaniyang buhok na hindi tulad ng dati na may bangs. Black pa rin ang buhok nʼya pero hanggang tainga lang ito.

“In my own ways. Takot ka bang malaman ni Zafiro ang tungkol sa anak nʼyo?” tanong nʼya habang nakataas ang kaliwa nʼyang kilay.

Nanlamig ako sa naging tanong nʼya. No one can take away my daughter from me. Ako ang nagpalaki sa kaniya at nag-alaga. Wala silang karapatan na kunin sa akin ang anak ko. “Anak ko lang. Walang karapatan si Zafiro sa anak ko,” I said with determination.

My eyes filled with determination and dominance. I really donʼt want Zafiro to meet my daughter. Iʼm afraid that he will take my daughter away from me. I canʼt live without my daughter.

“Paano mabubuo ang anak nʼyo kung ikaw lang mag-isa? Donʼt worry, hindi malalaman ni Zafiro ang anak mo pansamantala,” sabi nʼya at napakunot ang noo ko.

He said that word with confidence. “What do you mean?” nagtataka kong tanong and suddenly he smirked.

“Alam mo ba na hinahanap ka ni Zafiro sa loob ng limang taon. Bakit hindi ka nʼya mahanap kahit simpleng lugar lang naman ang pinagtaguan mo?” he asked while looking at my reaction.

Kung ganoʼn, sʼya ang may pakana? Pero bakit naman nʼya gagawin?

“Do you mean, ikaw ang may pakana kung bakit hindi ako nahahanap ni Zafiro?” curious kong tanong and he just winked at me.

Tama nga ang hula ko. Pero bakit nʼya gagawin? ʼDi ba kaibigan nʼya si Zafiro? Bakit ayaw nʼyang tulungan?

“Since the day that you left him. Pumunta ako sa bahay nʼya para kumpirmahin ang nalaman ko and tama nga ako. Napagtanto ko na hindi nʼya deserve ang pagmamahal mo kaya noʼng nalaman ko na hinahanap ka nʼya. I do everything and my connection to block him from finding you. I succeed in my plan to make him suffer,” sabi nʼya at napatulala ako sa sinabi nʼya.

Nakatingin na sʼya sa labas habang malalim ang iniisip. To make him suffer for what? May ginawa bang mali si Zafiro kay Cyziel para magalit sʼya ng ganito?

“Do you hate Zafiro?” I asked with curiosity.

Tumango sʼya saka ngumisi ng malapad. “Yeah, he canʼt protect and fight his love ones. And I really hate him for that. He give up easily without trying to fight.”

“May dahilan ba itong sinasabi mo?”

Ngumiti sʼya na may ibig sabihin dahil sa naging tanong ko. I can feel that there is big problem on his life.

“Of course, I can forget that he canʼt protect someone who is precious to us,” sabi nʼya at malungkot na ngumiti.

Sino kaya ang tinutukoy nʼya? Kaibigan ba nila or nagustuhan nilang dalawa. Pero sabi ni Zafiro ay ako lang daw ang nagustuhan nʼya or nagsisinungaling sʼya.

“Baka may rason sʼya,” tanging sambit ko at tiningnan nʼya ako ng malalim.

“No, donʼt try to defend him when you hate him like I do. He is coward and crazy,” he said with a bitter tone.

Tama naman sʼya. Bakit ko naman kinakampihan at pinaglalaban si Zafiro kung sinaktan at iniwan lang naman nʼya ako? I need to stop defending him, he is not even worth it of my life.