Arabella's Game

Chapter 23: The Right Thing

Tinawagan ni Curtis ang pamamahay ng mga Monteverdi.

“Hello,” boses babae ito.

“Hello, it’s Curtis Saavedra. Gusto ko sanang makausap si Mrs. Monteverdi,”

“It’s me speaking, Curtis. Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Can we meet Ma’am?”

6pm, madilim na ang paligid, malamig ang simoy ng hangin. It’s almost Christmas and the day gets shorter. Kakapasok lang ni Curtis sa bistro, kasunod nyang pumasok ang babaeng mga nasa singkwenta nito. He pulled a chair for her.

“What do you want to talk about, Curtis? If it’s about my daughter, there’s nothing that I can tell you” diretsong wika ni Tita Anita.

“Ama ako ng apo nyo at alam nyo po ‘yon. Responsibilidad ko sila,”

“You had your chance Curtis. You let it slip away,” mahinahong wika ng Ginang. “Isang kahihiyan sa pamilya ang magkaroon ng anak na walang ama, ngunit mas kahihiyan ang magkaroon ng ama na may dalawang pamilya. And you better stay away from my daughter. Kalimutan mo na sya. She’s just a bad dream that you must forget,”

“Hindi ko anak ang dinadala ni Natalie. I’m calling off the wedding,”

“That doesn’t resolve the problem, hijo,”

“We’ll have a DNA test after Natalie gives birth. I want to assure you that the baby is not mine,”

“Don’t push your luck. We’ll not let you be with Adie no matter what,”

“Will this be same thing as Nico’s case? You all are against us. Hindi lang ako at si Aja ang sinasaktan nyo, pati na rin si Yñigo. He needs a father. At wala ng ibang makakapagpuno noon kundi ang tunay n’yang ama,”

“A broken family is better than an unhappy family. Kailangan ng bata ng matiwasay na pamumuhay, at ‘yon ay ang buhay na wala ka,”

“Why won’t you allow Aja and I to talk?”

“She doesn’t want to see you,”

“I’m sorry but I don’t believe you,”

 “Walang patutunguhan to. I better leave,” saka tumayo ito.

“Bubuuhin ko po ang pamilyang dapat matagal ko ng binuo. Di po ako humihingi ng permiso n’yo. I’m just letting you know,” pahabol ni Curtis. Saka lumabas ang matanda.