The Sweetest Man Hater [Completed]

Chapter 42: No Strings Attached

I am standing infront of the gate of my dad's mansion.
Hindi ko inakalang babalik pa ako sa lugar na to.

Tumawag ako sa school. Hindi muna ako makakapasok ng 1 week. I need time.

Pagpasok ko sa gate I saw a beautiful girl on a wheelchair. Mukha siyang prinsesa. Kulot yung buhok niya at naka-floral dress siya. Nagdidilig siya ng mga bulaklak sa malawak na garden.

Paglingon niya lalo akong napanganga. She looks like mom. She looks like me, mas maganda lang talaga siya dahil nakaayos siya.

She moved her wheelchair towards me. She smiled. "Hello, Tine. I've been waiting for you. I am Jaimee."

So siya pala ang sinasabi ni dad? My older sister.

Hindi ko inakala na hindi pala siya nakakapaglakad.

"Come with me." Pinasunod niya ako sa kanya. And when we reached the backyard, niyaya niya akong umupo sa isang coffe table doon.

Tinawag niya ang maid niya at nagpaserve siya ng cookies and juice.

"I am your dad's adopted daughter." She smiled at me. "I was 18 when your dad appeared in the house of mom's relatives. Kinuha niya ako. At first ayoko but sinabi niyang matutulungan niya ako dahil handicapped ako. Ayoko talaga sumama dahil alam kong anak ako ni mom nung dalaga pa siya..."

"And dad didn't know that?"

"Yes. I think 7 years din niyang nilihim kay dad. Hindi sinabi ni mom. Kaya tinago niya ako sa mga kamag-anak niya. Sinabi niya kay dad na wala siyang anak..."

I closed my eyes. I just can't believe what's happening and what she's saying.

"But dad doesn't want us to hate mom, Tine. When I was 10 and you are 7, dad knew about mom's past by accident. But she never asked mom to disappear. Instead, he let her stay with him because he loves mom and he cares for you. So they tried to stay beside each other, mom's trying to reach out to dad pero nagbago na ang tingin ni dad kay mom. Nawala na yung sweetness."

"And that's the thing I had witnessed. Kung paano binabalewala ni dad si mom, and even dad's relatives hate her." paglilinaw ko.

Tinakpan ko yung mukha ko. I don't want to cry.

She held my hand. "Dad treated me as her own daughter. He helped me with my disease and he looked for you several times. Five years siyang nabuhay na inaalala ka at si mom."

Tuluyan na akong umiyak. Niyakap niya ako. "I want the both of us to stay beside dad." Nanginginig din yung boses niya.

Inangat niya yung mukha ko. "Dad will leave us after 4 months." Lalo akong napaiyak. "And let's live as a family for that short time, okay?"

Tumango ako.

Tinawagan ko si Dong. I asked him to help me move my things sa bahay ni Dad. I told him my story, he knows mom. Nung mga panahon na hindi stable ang relationship ni mom an dad we always go to the province para magbakasyon.

Kahit siya nagulat noong sinabi ko na may kapatid ako. Mom didn't tell me anything until the end. Hindi rin niya binibisita masyado si Jaimee dahil focus siya sa akin before she died.

I have mom's attention and she has dad. So it's okay.

I spent my days with dad. Lagi ko siyang kinukwentuhan ng nangyari sa akin nitong 5 years. And I asked for forgiveness. He can't speak but he let me feel.

Sorry dad.

One week after...

Bumalik ako ng school.
I looked for my phone this morning and nakita ko na ang daming missed calls and text messages from Inna and Micko.

Una kong hinanap si Inna.
Nakaupo kami sa hagdan. Wala masyadong dumadaan doon. Kumakain siya pati ako.

"So aalis ka?" Mababakas mo sa mukha niya yung lungkot.

"Yes. Next month." Kahit ako nalulungkot din talaga. Pinilit kong ngumiti. "Basta ituloy mo lang yung lovelife mo, pumapayat ka."

Sinaksak niya sa bibig niya yung isang buong sandwich.

Nginuya niya muna bago siya nagsalita. "Family first." Iyon lang ang nasabi niya.

Natuwa ako na naiintindihan niya ako. Niyakap ko siya at binulungan. "Yah. Family First."

Naghiwalay kami ni Inna. Actually, I don't want to say goodbye. Gusto ko nalang mawala sa paningin nilang lahat to lessen the pain.

"I think we need to talk." Galing yung boses sa gilid. Nakatayo si Micko.

Naglakad lang ako. Patay malisya.

"Tine, okay I'm sorry. Sweetie." Hinabol niya ako at hinawakan niya yung kamay ko.

Pinipilit ko na bawiin yung kamay ko. Nakayuko lang ako. Baka mamaya umiyak na naman ako. I am fragile these days.

"Let's talk please."

Inikot niya ako paharap sa kanya and he hugged me. Tightly and not letting me make any small move. I cried.

I cried. I cried in his arms.

Nakaupo ako sa isa sa seesaw sa park ng school ground at nasa kabila naman si Micko.

Dito namin napiling mag-usap para tahimik.

"Bakit hindi ka nagpakita ng halos 1 week?" nakatingin lang siya sa akin. I really want to look at his face but I can't.

"I found my dad."

"Really? That's good news." Hinila niya yung kamay ko at nilagay sa pisngi niya.

"I missed you. And I am happy that you found your dad. Did you talk to him?"

Nakayuko lang ako. "Yes. We reconciled."

"Wow. I am happy." Hinalikan niya yung kamay ko. "I am sorry. Let's forget about that day okay? It was my fault. Hindi kita inintindi samantalang ako itong mas may kakayahan. Sorry di ko na uulitin promise."

Binawi ko yung kamay ko at umiling. "Tama lang siguro yun Micko."

Mabilis siyang lumuhod sa harap ko. "Tine, sorry na."

Umiling pa rin ako. "Wag na Micko, please."

Nagpromise sign siya. "Promise hindi na kita aawayin."

Nginitian ko siya kahit na naiiyak na ako. "I will leave this place soon."

"What?"

Tumitig ako sa mga mata niya. "Dad needs me. My sister needs me. Pupunta ako ng states after a month---"

Tumayo siya at ginulo niya buhok niya. "So you will leave me behind?"

Tumayo din ako. "Kaya nga maghiwalay nalang tayo." So hard for me to say that. Masakit sobra.

"Please.." Niyakap ko siya mula sa likod.

"Please.."

"Sorry.."

"Okay." Humakbang siya palayo at inalis niya yung kamay ko na nakapulupot sa kanya. "Mabuti pa let's not consider this a relationship. It's better para madali kitang pakawalan."

Humakbang pa siya ng dalawang hakbang at huminto. "Hindi naging tayo."