Lie With Me

Eighth Lie

HIS

"Daddy, can you stay with us for tonight?"

Nakatingin lang ako kay Louie habang ganoon din siya sa akin. Para ata akong natanga sa sinabi niya. Me staying with them for the night? Shit.

"Uhh..."

"Please, Daddy?"

Napaiwas naman ako at nilingon si Elle na nanonood sa amin mula sa office niya. Halatang narinig din niya ang sinabi ni Louie, since she stop reading the papers she's holding. I look at her for help pero nung nilingon niya si Louie at tumingin ulit sa akin, I already got the answer. Of course, she can't say no to her sons, especially if Louie is looking like that.

"Will you, Daddy?"

I look at him and smile. Mukhang mapapasubo ako nito a? I close my eyes and sigh before nodding my head. I guess that happiness on his eyes is worth all of this. Pikit-mata akong umoo sa gusto niya at piniling baliwalain ang mga tingin ni Elle for the rest of the day. Because at the back of my mind, I can use this to gain the answers to the questions bugging me. It's a win-win for me, kung tutuusin. I can fulfill my promise to my brother, at the same time, mas magagawa kong makilala pa ang kambal pati na rin si Elle.

"Lou, did you hear that? Daddy's staying tonight!"

Pinanood ko lang siya kung paano niya kulitin ang kambal niyang nagbabasa ng libro. Kitang-kita ko ang pagkakaiba nila ng ugali kahit gaano pa man sila magkamukha.

"I'm not deaf, Lou." Louis take a glimpse at me before looking at him. "I heard what he said."

Louie pouts, "Aren't you happy? Excited?"

"If I answer no, will you leave me alone?" Ang sungit talaga ng batang 'to. Tsk.

"But why?" Louie ask again. From the look on their faces, it won't take long before one of them snaps off. They may be different in personality, but they have the same span of temperament. Masyadong maikli. "Don't you want us to be complete?"

Louis close his book and stand up. Magkaharapan na silang dalawa. They are looking at each other's eyes as if they are talking through them. It's a good thing at busy at nasa office ngayon si Elle, if not, I don't know anymore. Mukhang magaaway pa ata sila dahil ulit sa akin.

"If it means making Mommy sad and hurt," Louis glare at me before looking back to face his twin. "Then, I'm sorry Lou, but it's a no." Then he left and went inside.

If I didn't know better, I would think that they're not 5 year old kids. They talk, act, and think like adults. At hindi ko rin maipagkakaila na tinamaan ako sa sinabi ni Louis. Because if I were on his shoes, I would act the same as he does. For years, nabuhay sila na si Elle lang ang nagpalaki sa kanila. Sure, they might have been curious and have questions as to who and where their father is. Might even wanted and dreamt of having one. Pero hindi ganoon kadali ang tanggapin na bigla na lang may susulpot sa harapan nila one day claiming to be their father when they have accepted the fact that it would be impossible to happen. Lalo na kung alam nila ang pinagdaanan at kwento sa likod nun. Because with the way they reacted the first day I met them, I can be positive to say that they know more than what they let on, may be even what Elle thinks of.