A Love To Remember

Chapter 22: Vague Truth

Chiara

"Analaine, what the fuck are you doing here?" 'di makapaniwalang tanong ni Mommy kay Tita nang tuluyan siyang makapasok sa silid ko, Tita Analaine smiled mischievously as she looked at me instead at hinalikan ang pisngi ko, completely ignoring my Mom's question.

"Hi Chia! Dati, naglalaro pa tayo ng bahay-bahayan but now, look at you! Ang laki-laki mo na! You're now a fine lady, nagmana ka talaga sa 'kin!" masayang wika ni Tita, making me blush. You see, since I was a kid, idol ko na talaga si Tita Analaine.

I always told myself back then na when I grew up, I want to be like her! Ang ganda kasi niya and, she's a fashion designer and that's what I would like to be someday! Na-miss ko rin ang bonding namin noon. Simula kasi nang umalis si Mommy, nawalan na rin ako ng communication kay Tita, that's why..

"Thank you po, Tita. Na-miss ko po kayo." nahihiya kong sagot, magsasalita pa sana si Tita but Mom cleared her throat kaya sabay kaming napatingin sa kanya.

"Analaine, I'm asking you. Don't just snub me, what are you doing here?" mariing ulit ni Mommy sa tanong niya kanina. Why do I feel like may namumuong tensyon sa pagitan nilang dalawa?

"Ate, binibisita ko lang po ang pamangkin ko. It's not like bobombahin ko ang buong ospital na 'to or what." sagot ni Tita at ngumisi pa. She's pissing Mommy na ngayo'y, halatang naiinis na rin sa inaasal niya.

"By the way, where's your Dad, Chia? Na-miss ko pa naman si Kuya Aga!" wika ni Tita, changing the topic. I shrugged my shoulders, gusto ko sanang sabihin na, 'Andun, kasama ang kabit niya, nakikipag-landian' kaso huwag na, Mom might get angry.

"Lumabas po siya, bumili ata ng makakain." I answered and as if on a cue, the door swung open, revealing Dad who looks fuming furious upon seeing me awake.

Oh, 'di ba siya masaya at gising na ako? Seriously, I'm expecting him to freak out or mag-alala siya ng sobra sa kung anong nangyari sa kin but what's happening right now is the total contrary of my expectations.

Nagulat na lang ako nang may bigla siyang tinapon na bote sa sahig at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mapagtanto ko kung ano iyon.

"Buti naman at gising ka na. Poisoning yourself? Ano bang problema mo?" he asked me angrily at tila, nanginig bigla ang mga kamay ko upon hearing his voice.

I cleared the lump on my throat as I tried my very best not to cry in front of them. I won't cry. Hinding-hindi ako iiyak sa harap nila. Never.

"Sa— saan mo 'yan nakuha?" I asked him, kagaya nga ng sinabi ko, as long as I can deny it, hindi ako aaminin na ako nga ang may-ari ng lason na 'yan!

"From your bag." he answered, just like what Lea said earlier.

"That's insane, you guys just invaded my privacy!" galit kong wika, to my surprise, Dad raised his hand and he was about to slap me pero hindi iyon natuloy nang pigilan siya ni Mommy.

"AGA! Don't slap our daughter! Huwag kang mag-padala sa emosyon mo! Lumabas ka nga muna and breathe some fresh air so that you can relax! I'll come with you!" sabi ni Mommy as she nodded at me and Tita Analaine sabay hila kay Daddy palabas ng kwarto ko.

"Woah, that was intense!" Tita exclaimed nang tuluyan nang makalabas sina Mommy ng silid ko, I sighed in frustration.

Now I'm doomed. Bistado na ako at wala ng kawala, kung minamalas nga naman o! I forgot to throw that bottle right after using it. Stupid move.

"What was that, Chia? Ba't galit na galit si Kuya Aga and wait, did I heard it right? You poisoned yourself?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Tita Analaine as she sat at the chair beside my bed.

There's no point of denying it and besides, si Tita naman 'to, "Actually, hindi ko po nilason ang sarili ko, Tita. Intentionally, I will poison Lea nang tuluyan na siyang mawala sa landas namin but fate played a game on me and now, I'm here!" I answered while frowning.

"Lea? Sinong Lea?" she asked again. Oo nga pala, they still don't know about that woman and my father's relationship.

"Lea Salonga. Dad's mistress." sagot ko na ikinanlaki ng mga mata niya. Well heck, it's really surprising to know.

"Si Kuya at si Lea may relasyon? That's interesting.." Tita murmured. Interesting? What's interesting about them having a relationship?

Why do I have this feeling na parang..mas kinakampihan ni Tita Analaine si Lea instead of my Mom na kapatid niya mismo?

"Whatever you say, Tita. I will always loathe that woman. Sisirain ko ang buhay niya hanggang sa siya na mismo ang bumigay.." I said with gritted teeth.

Tita Analaine let out a playful smile, "If I were you, 'di ko na gagawin ang mga pinaplano ko ngayon. Sige ka Chia, baka ikaw rin mismo ang magsisisi sa huli."

What was that?

Magsasalita pa sana ako when I remembered one thing, geez, Chiara! You're spacing out too much! Nakalimutan ko na tuloy ang mga itatanong ko kay Tita tungkol sa pagkatao ko!

"Tita, can I ask something?" paninimula ko, completely changing the topic we had earlier.

"Yeah sure, ano ba 'yon?" aniya while looking at me, I heaved a deep breathe first before finally, asking the question I've been dying to ask them since then.

"Before Mom left us, naabutan ko kayo ni Mommy na nag-uusap sa bahay and I overheard everything. Everything Tita, everything. Narinig ko kung paano sabihin ni Mommy na hindi niya ako anak. Tita Analaine, is it true?" I asked making her gasped, my heart is pounding really fast for the possible answers.

"Na--rinig mo 'yon?" ulit niya sa 'kin, tumango lang ako as response.

"Yes so now, Tita, please tell me, anak ba nila ako?" tanong ko ulit, ngumiti sa 'kin si Tita as she gently caressed my cheeks.

"I don't have any rights to tell you everything but one thing's for sure, you're Kuya Aga's daughter."

Parang, mas lalong gumulo lang ang lahat dahil sa narinig ko..

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