The Penalty Kick

Chapter 29: Reflection

(A/N: In this Chapter, I'll be using Denrick's POV, yung daddy ni Ionnah. Nahihirapan kasi akong inarrate kung nasa POV ni Ionnah. )

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Denrick's POV

"Then who am I?"

Pagkabitaw ni Ionnah ng mga tanong na yun eh halos lahat tumahimik, na maski ako hindi ko alam paano simulan.

"Lorraina was my first girlfriend. She was a very bright, compassionate, beautiful and strong woman. Iba siya mga babaeng nakapaligid sakin, palaban siya, may paninindigan... and she's a very lovely girl. I thought she was my world where my life will revolve forever, we were perfect for each other, everyone knows and sees is. And then, she left me...

"Sabi niya, hindi kami para sa isa't isa at may mas karapat-dapat daw na babae para sakin and it's not her. Of course, hindi ako naniwala. Sabi niya pinilit niyang maging malapit sakin... because of my money and popularity. And then she told me that everything she gave me and showed me, it was nothing but a lie," tumigil ako at huminga ng malalalim. "Bigla siyang nawala. And then nalaman ko nalang na nagtransfer siya and I dunno what college she transferred, hinanap ko siya pero parang mismong pati siya tinataguan ako."

"Pero hindi ako iniwan ng mommy niyo... Marissa was there to comfort me. She and Lorraina, parehas na parehas sila, parehas silang palaban except for one thing, Marissa was the selfish one and Lorraina was the selfless one. And I can't deny the fact that I loved Lorraina better than Marissa-

Bago ko pa man ituloy na sinasabi ko bigla nalang tumayo si Keith na nakayukom yung mga kamao.

"I'm not here to listen to your love story and that girl who dumped you because of your money. If you love that Lorraina eh bat ka nagpakasal kay mommy? Because they're alike? You're the one who sounds selfish right now, dad. How dare you say something like that to my mother and your WIFE?"

I was speechless. He's right. I do sound like the selfish man right now. Maybe, I'm just stupid to confess those these infront of my children not knowing na masasaktan ko sila. Nagulat nalang ako nang biglang tumayo si Ionnah at kinwelyuhan si Keith. Kitang kita sa mata nila yung galit at pagkalito.

"And how dare you say something like that to my mother. Shut up or I'll beat you up," Ionnah said.

Akala ko tatahimik si Keith like the usual pero hindi. "Your threats won't work on me. Faith, alam ko mama mo pinaguusapan dito pero that woman fooled our father... and she admit it herself that she's a gold-digger!"

Binitiwan ni Ionnah yung kwelyo niya at sinuntok siya sa mukha.. "I never thought you could be so insensitive like this kuya. Napaka-kitid ng utak mo, no wonder that girl picked kuya Jared over you."

Habang nakikita ko silang ganito mas lumilinaw sakin na napakalaki ng pagkakami kong nilihim namin yung katotohanan. And it pains ne to see my children fight because of my mistake.

"Umupo kayo dalawa! If you want to go Keith, you can go! Now, do you want to leave?" Sigaw ko sa kanila with full authority. Hindi ako nagagalit sa kanila kundi sa sarili ko. Kasalanan ko to kung bakit sila nagkakaganito. Nanatiling nakayuko si Keith and I know he'll stay. "This is not all about Lorraina or Marissa. This is all about Ionnah... And I suggest, you both to please listen before you throw such words to each other! Respetuhin niyo naman yung lugar kung nasaan kayo."

Nanatili lang akong tahimik sa tabi nilang dalawa. Umupo naman si Jared si isang bench sa likuran namin and he pat my back, "You can do it, dad. Mahiya ka naman kay tita, nasa harap ka niya tapos naduduwag ka?" I am glad na naiintindihan ni Jared ang nangyayari, kung hindi dagdag na naman yun sa hirap na 'to.