decoding the boys ✔️

36 - special || edited

Pinanood kong magtipon-tipon ang pamilya sa living room ng mga Chen. Magkatabi sina Gian at Zoey sa gilid ko. 'Di nag-uusap pero alam kong kabado si Zoey at walang imik naman ang pinsan ko habang nakahawak sa balikat niya.

They've grown closer the past few weeks. Ilang beses din kasing dumalaw sa kanila sina Kuya Nick kaya nagkaoras din magsama ang dalawa. The entire month halos, lagi silang nakikitang magkasabay mag-lunch. S'yempre, hindi na sa loob ng school dahil nag-drop na si Zoey. Gian actually went out of his way just to have lunch with her everyday.

Ngayon na namin malalaman ang resulta ng pre-natal DNA test. Everyone's here. Zoey's parents looked anxious. Si Tita Geanna rin. Huling dumating si Kuya Nick kasama ang daddy niya dala ang lab results.

When they arrived, piercing silence fell upon us. I nudged my cousin.

"Are you ready?" I asked Gian in a hushed tone.

Seryoso ang mukha niya nang umiling siya.

"I changed my mind," bulong niya pabalik. "I've decided."

Surprised, I slightly panicked at what he said.

"Ha?" I turned to him to read his face, but I couldn't see an ounce of emotion that could betray his thoughts.

Kinabahan ako. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? Tatakasan niya ang responsibilidad? In front of these people?

Gian darted to me and smiled crookedly. "Wala. You'll see." Tinapik niya ang balikat ko bago humarap kay Zoey at ngumiti. Zoey returned it with a faint smile of her own.

Wala nang batian na naganap. Nang dumating sina Kuya Nick at Tito Nicollo, wala nang nagsalita pa. Binuksan ni Tito ang resulta. We were on pins and needles as he silently read the results with his eyes. After a few minutes, hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita. Tumingin lang siya kina Gian at Zoey with that unreadable look on his face.

"What does it say, Pa?" tanong ni Tita Geanna, echoing what we were all thinking. Negative ba? Positive ba?

Tumingin ulit sa resulta si Tito at hindi pa rin kumikibo.

Impatient, lumapit ang daddy ni Zoey at hinablot ang resulta. A minute passed, then he faced Zoey. Nilukot niya ang papel at binato sa direksyon nila.

"Zoey! What the hell is this?!" he roared.

With that alone, alam na namin ang resulta. Humagulgol si Zoey at lumapit kagad sa kanya ang mommy at kuya niya. Kita ko ang paghinga nang malalim nina Tita Geanna, Tito Nicollo, at Kuya Nick. Tinapik ni Tito Osen ang balikat ni Tito Nicollo.

Nagkatinginan kaming magpipinsan. We all knew what the results were. Negative. Hindi si Gian ang daddy ng baby. It wasn't his.

Naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Daddy sa balikat ko. Hindi ko siya nilingon. Bumaling ako kay Gian at nagulat ako sa expression niya.

I thought Gian would look ecstatic and relieved. Weeks ago, he was denying all claims na sa kanya ang baby. I'd thought he'd be the happiest once the results were out and in his favor. Pero hindi. Blangko ang mukha niya habang pinapanood na umiyak si Zoey.

Nagkagulo sa living room habang sigaw nang sigaw ang daddy ni Zoey sa salitang intsik. Galit na galit na rin ang mga tito at tita niya.

"This is too much," he was saying. "Ang laking kahihiyan nito."

Namumula sa galit ang daddy ni Zoey. He's cussing so hard and he even made a move to slap his daughter. But before he could, humarang si Gian at sinalo ang kamay niya.

Nagulat kaming lahat sa nangyari.

"I can't believe you," said Gian, umiiling na parang nandidiri at naiirita. "Gano'n kayo kahanda na saktan ang anak n'yo? You're just like my dad."