The Bridge

Chapter 42

Clarissa Ybanez-Enriquez, my mom.

Katulad ng mga nauna kong sinabi, we never met the other family, well ako hindi, and we don't talk about it. This was something that never concerned me because, for me, my parents were enough. They are enough for me.

Then there's this lawyer saying that he is the lawyer of the Ybanez family, the family name that my mom bore when she was single.

"Anong meron sa Ybanez?" tanong ko. Wala akong idea talaga.

"Tulad nga ng sabi ng mama mo, wala ka ngang alam." Magtatanong ba ako kung meron. Nakakaloka din tong si attorney ng kaunti eh. Napakamot naman ako sa ulo ko. Natawa naman sya. "Anyway..." huminga muna sya tapos saka nagsalita ulit. "Clarissa Ybanez exiled herself... long time ago."

"Huh?!" Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Mama? Exiled herself? He nodded.

"Your mother was a theater enthusiast specifically in musicals, she's a good singer and actress mga 20 years ago, then she met your father. Your father was a pianist, a genius one and he was living as a composer, making money out of it, then he was hired by the theater company to collaborate with the writers, and his task was to create a song for the musical, that's how your parents meet." Nakatulala ako kay attorney habang sinasabi niya yun kase naaalala ko kung paano nila ikinwento kung paano sila nagkakilalang dalawa. 

"Well, your dad was a genius man back in the day but he doesn't look good." mama said as she laughed. She was telling stories about her and Papa as she prepared our breakfast. She was wearing a simple dress, naka-apron sya, and her curly hair was tied in a pony. Nakaupo ako sa upuan ng dining area while listening tapos may hot chocolate drink, my dad was helping her. 

"Up until now naman ah." my papa said. It's such a nice Saturday morning for us, a morning breakfast and a family bonding.

"There was no lie about it tho. He was too stunned to speak the first time he heard me sing the song that he wrote, it was like an audition and we were only reading the notes. Nakanganga papa mo sakin as if I was a goddess." mama said then I laughed. Nakatingin naman ako kay papa na nakapamewang na lang. Hindi ko alam kung totoo ba ang sinasabi ni mama ngayon dahil sa reaksyon ni papa pero natatawa talaga ako.

"Well..."

"Tapos pinuri niya ako. He made me sing all the songs that he has... and even made one for me." Nakangiti akong nakatingin sa kanila, they were showing off their love for each other right in front of me and I didn't feel any cringe on that, I was so happy that they were like this, that they were not the kind of parents that talks without respect. They were so in love kahit fifteen na ako. They always tell their stories to me, about how their love started.

But this part wasn't mentioned. 

"Woah... then?" 

"Of course, Ybanez are people of the industry..." people of the industry? Napataas naman ang kilay ko. "Though your dad has a good reputation in music, other than music, Ybanez is in business too and they want their daughters to have a good life." 

"Daughters?!" Ibig sabihin may kamag-anak pa ako sa nanay ko?

"Yep... she has a twin sister."

"A TWIN SISTER?!" Everything is just getting worse or I don't know. May kambal ang mama ko tapos hindi ko alam? Hindi ikinwento sakin ng parents ko? If they were alive... they expect me to hear this from this lawyer then ask them about it? Diba dapat sila ang personal na magsabi sakin ng mga bagay-bagay na'to?

"Yeah, pero, they're non-identical twins. Well still, they are twins, but back to the story: your mother refuses to get married to some business guy, and what her sister did was take her place. Her sister was also into music, they have the very same talent except the fact that your mother loves it, while her sister sees it as a hobby. The sisters thought that the offer would be void once the other stood for the other but then there was a marriage offer for Clarissa, she's really beautiful, she sings like an angel, dances like a swan, and acts with versatility. They have received many marriage offers for Clarissa but she always refuses. Kung gaano ka-obidient ang kambal niya, ganoon naman sya ka-hard-headed." I was... amazed. Hindi ko alam kung paano ma-v-vouch ng mga magulang ko kung totoo ba ang sinasabi na abogado na'to pero right now I am amazed on part that I am hearing others POV, a third party story.