Behind The Scene

Scene 28

Present

Gone

Maaga kaming nagising dahil excited na mag swimming si Lyra. First we went banana boating, since yun ang pinaka malapit saamin.

Then we went snorkelling sa may maraming corals at mga isda. The sun was up and the weather was at its finest.

Bandang alas diyes at ginustong pumunta ni Lyra sa pirate pool. Sinamahan naming siya dun. We weren't the only adults in the kids pool. Madami ding mga magulang na sinasamahan ang mga anak nila. The only different is, hindi kami mag asawa ni Dylan.

"Ly, stand near the ship o. I'll take a picture of you." She nodded smiling at nag pose malapit sa pirate ship.

"Ang ganda talaga ng anak ko!"I said hugging her.

"Mana sa Mommy." Nagulat ako sa boses ni Melannie sa likod namin. Hinarap ko siya at napuna ko agad na wala si Max. Why do I care? Melannie was wearing an all-black bikini at naka suot ng isang see through na sarong.

"Mel! Good morning." Ngiti ko. Binaba ko si Lyra para maka pag laro kasama si Dylan. I can feel his eyes watching us.

"Morning, Ate." Nakita ko ang mga mata ni Melannie na pumunta sa may likuran ko. "Is he your husband?" Diretso niyang tanong. Nabilaukan ako sa sarili kong laway.

"I..I..uhhhh...ummm....

"Mel!" Sigaw ni Max ang nagpalingon samin. He was wearing a Hawaiian polo na naka bukas lahat ang butones, beach shorts and slippers. Naka aviators siya kaya hindi ko alam kung sino ang tinitignan niya.

"Oh! Kuya! Andito ka na pala" Natatawang sabi ni Melannie. Pinalupotan niya ng braso si Max at hinila papunta saamin. Suddenly I was conscious about my black rash top and shorts. Bakit ba kasi hindi ko sinuot yung binili ni Dylan na puting one piece. Mas mukha pang disente yun!

Hindi pinansin ni Max ang kapatid at nasakin ang atensyon niya ngayon. Hindi ko man makita ang mga mata niya I can feels his stare raking down my body.

"Kelangan mo lang pala pakasalan para magtakip ng katawan." Mahinang bulong ni Max pero narinig ko yun. Nag ngiting aso naman si Melannie. I'm sure she heard it.

I wanted to say that I'm not married, that I've been a single mother for six years and that though it's not his fault, I still blame him a little, but I don't want to complicate things any further. Kaya tatahimik nalang ako.

"So Ate, asawa mo nga yun?" Nguso ni Melannie kay Dylan na nakikipag laro kay Lyra. Shit. Should I just say yes? It's not like they'll find out kung wala namang magsasabi sakanila diba? If I say yes, then it's a yes wala silang magagawa dun. But if I say no, they'll question Lyra's real father and it will just be more complicated.

"Y-Ye-"

"Mel let's go. Andito na si Mama." Naunang umalis si Max. Melannie smiled apologetically at sumunod na din sa kuya niya. I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from calling to him.

I just want the wedding to be done and over with. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kelan ko makakayang kontrolin ang sarili ko. Every time I see him, gusto ko nalang siyang yakapin at umiyak at sapakin siya at ibuhos lahat ng hinanakit pero pagkatapos nun, gusto kong magkabalikan kami...

He was the best thing that ever happened to me...

But that vision seems too farfetched.

Later that night Melannie invited us for dinner. Apparently Tita Axelle wanted to see us.

"I'm surprised pumayag ka." Napatingin ako kay Dylan. May bahid na iritasyon sa boses niya. The three of us were supposed to have dinner tonight and I knew he had some plans, pero dahil sa imbitasyon ni Tita Axelle hindi natuloy yun.