One of the Boys 1 & 2 (Published by Pop Fiction)

Chapter Forty Six

Chapter Forty Six

Past

"We're married."

"Congrats." Although Marcus was smiling, his eyes were the saddest. Malapit na siyang maging okay. Buti na lang, he had his therapist, psychiatrist, Sean, and Apa. Sa lahat ng tumutulong sa kanya, si Apa ang pinakadeterminado. He was Kyrel's father and he should be the one taking care of him.

Dahil sa tulong ng mga tao, alam na niyang may schizophrenia siya. For two years kasi, in denial siyang may sakit siya. Isang beses nga, nagwala siya. He was insisting he saw Apple hurting his son eh wala naman siyang kasama.

Apa pushed him out of frustration. "Wake up, Marcus. Wake up!" He groaned. "You have schizophrenia. You're hallucinating. You are delusional! Mahirap, pero kailangan mong tanggapin. If you want Kyrel to be safe, if you want to see your son, follow your doctor and drink your medicine! Trust us and you will be fine. Just be patient."

Ginawa na kasi ni Apa lahat para gumaling siya. Kinausap pa nga niya parents ni Marcus, pero ayaw talaga ng parents niya. The day he walked out on them was the day their son died. If it wasn't for Marcus, they wouldn't be miserable.

"Okay ka na?" tanong ni Apa.

"Sabi ng therapist ko, malapit na. May nakikita pa rin ako. Nakikita ko pa rin sila Apple. Naririnig ko pa rin yung mga putok ng baril, pero alam kong hindi sila totoo. Bakit? Makikita ko na ba si Kyrel?"

Apa shrugged. "Marami pa akong kailangan kausapin bago mo siya makita."

Umiling si Marcus. "'Wag na. 'Wag mo na siyang papuntahin dito. Pag nakita niya akong ganito, anong iisipin niya? Baka masaktan ko pa siya. H'wag na lang. Just raise him well. I can't raise him."

"Don't be ridiculous." Umupo si Apa dahil alam niyang matagal pa silang mag-uusap ni Marcus. "I see him in you. He wasn't jealous like you. In fact, he was really appreciative and grateful. But like you, despite being strong, he needs attention. He needs his father. He calls me daddy, he calls Ags his mommy, but you're his dad. He needs you the most."

"Everything's my fault. Every fcking thing."

"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be in this situation. Ags and I wouldn't be married and we probably wouldn't be as happy. Kyrel's fine. Nakakapagsalita na siya. Hindi 'yun dahil sa'kin. Hindi para sa akin, pero para sa'yo. Sabi niya, pag nagkita kayo, magiging proud ka sa kanya dahil ayos na siya. Hindi na siya takot magsalita at magaling na rin siyang mag soccer... parang ikaw."

Marcus burst crying and promised he would get well.

After going to Marcus, kay Kyrel naman siya nagpunta. Inexplain niya sa bata na hindi okay yung daddy niya. He made Kyrel understand his dad's situation.

"Help your dad and be strong for him, okay?" he requested.

Kyrel agreed. "Makikita mo, daddy. Hindi ako iiyak. Hindi ako iiyak kasi pag umiyak ako, iisipin niya, hindi ako okay."

Ginulo ni Apa buhok ni Kyrel. "Good."

Pagkatapos niyang kausapin yung dalawa, si Sean naman ang pinuntahan niya. They had been really close. Isa lang naman kasi ang goal nila-- ang protektahan sila Ags at Kyrel. 

"Anghel ka ba? Anong pinagsasabi mo? Hindi ka sasama kay Lizzie! Gusto mong masapak na naman?" galit na galit si Sean kay Apa. Lizzie was begging for Apa to go with her in Canada. In fact, naka-book na nga siya ng flights nilang dalawa. 

"Hindi naman ako sasama," sagot ni Apa. "Ihahatid ko lang." 

"Sabi naman sa'yo, 'di ba? Ako na ang bahala sa kanya. Ba't ka ba nakikielam?" 

"Gusto mo ba siyang magkapamatay?" Apa sighed. "You played with her, you humiliated her-"

"She humiliated me. Pinagkalat niyang may HIV ako!"

"You deserved that." Apa laughed. "And you made her resign. Hindi lahat ng bagay, nadadaan sa laro o sa sa pilitan o kaya naman sa santong paspasan. Sometimes, you just have to bring them back to reality and help them face it." 

"And how will you do that? By hurting Ags?" 

"Just trust me."