Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin

Chapter XII

"Mommy?"

Both wide eyed, Lillian and Hugo turn to see Alyanna standing 7 feet away from them, looking just as clueless as them.

"B--baby? What are you doing here? I-I thought you were with Manang Cely?"

Instead, Alyanna remained standing where she was at, speechless while her eyes were glued to Hugo's. Lillian noticed the way Alyanna looked at him and it broke her heart into millions of pieces.

From the pictures she has seen since she was little from her papito's album to Lillian's vivid description of him, she knew and she recognized her father. Her true father. 

There were fear and longingness in her eyes. Fear that maybe her father won't accept her and longingness to be with him. 

Lillian could already anticipate the heartbreak her daughter is about to face when she finds out her father doesn't know her.

Finally, the little girl came up with words. "Um, we just got back from the palengke." Then slowly, she walked towards them.

Hugo was stunned. He also watched the little girl walk towards them and for some reason, his heart was beating abnormally fast. She was the most beautiful little girl he has ever seen and he couldn't believe this is his half-sis---

"Papa?"

Hugo's eyes widened. Did she just call me papa?

He turned towards Lillian whose tears kept falling. She reached towards her daughter as Alyanna reluctantly grabbed it while her eyes were still fixated on to Hugo.

"Alyanna, hay naku andyan ka lang pala, halika naipagluto na kita ng favorite mong pritong tilapia at gulay na mais!" Manang Cely said who was also walking towards them.

Lillian knelt down and hugged her daughter tight. "Baby,  why don't you go with Manang Cely? We're just in the middle of a conversation. I'll explain everything to you later, okay?"

Alyanna didn't respond but obeyed her mother's wishes. She let go of her hands and went with Manang Cely back to the house.

Hugo was still waiting for an explanation himself, "Lillian, why did she just call me papa?"

Lillian recollected herself, sniffing and wiping the tears away, she swallowed. "Because you are her father."

"A-ano?! You're kidding me right?"

"Hindi Hugo. Ikaw ang ama ni Alyanna."

"At bakit ngayon ko lang nalalaman ito? Kailan mo balak sabihin sakin? O kung meron ka man lang bang balak na sabihin sakin?"

"To be honest with you, wala akong balak. Or at least hindi ko naisip. In fact, I didn't even want to tell you."

"Lillian, what the hell?! She's my daughter! After all this time, I didn't even know she existed until today! I've lost so many years with her, I don't even know her!"

"Hugo, I'm so sorry---"

"Sorry? Are you being serious right now? Tangina Lillian, bakit hindi mo sinabi sakin na may anak tayo? When I found out about Alyanna, I thought she was my half-sister!"

Lillian kept crying. 

"Save your tears and apologies Lillian. I don't want to waste my time with you. Whether you like it or not, I'm spending time with my daughter and I will tell her everything about what happened and what kind of mother she has. Makikita natin kung kanino nya mas pipiliin sumama when she finds out everything."

Lillian's anger returned, "Don't you dare take my daughter away from me."

Hugo looked at her, emotionless. "Watch me."

...

Alyanna watched the silhouettes of Hugo and Lillian at the beach from the big glass window facing the ocean. 

"Manang Cely, are they fighting?"

Manang Cely was unsure of what to say, "Naku Alyanna, hindi ko alam. Halika kumain kana, wag mo na sila pakialaman."

"I don't want my papa and mommy fighting, manang." Alyanna's tears started rolling down.

"Wala tayong magagawa kung nag aaway sila Alyanna. Usapang matanda yan."

She didn't respond. She kept staring at Hugo and Lillian from the distance when she noticed that Hugo was walking back towards the house.

"He better not be making my mommy cry or else I would rather just be with mommy than have him around."

Alyanna turned away and walked to the dining table.