Lips Don't Lie

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13

Baby

I was stunned. Hindi pa rin ako makarecover sa nangyari kanina. Alam kong matalino ang anak ko, pero. Ghad, he's just three years old pero tila naiintindihan na niya ang lahat ng ito. And worst? Rich knew about him? It seems that they were talking and knew each other for a long time.

"Matagal ka pa ba?" Katok ko sa pintuan ng banyo kahit halos kakapasok  lang roon ni Rich, hindi ako mapakali.

He's not answering. Fck. It's useless.

I've waited here for about thirty minutes. Argh. Sobrang tagal. Gusto kong ibaling sa iba ang atensiyon ko pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang uunahin ko. Ghad. It's making me insane.

"Nananadya ka. Sobrang tagal mo." Paratang ko matapos niyang lumabas sa banyo.

He's. He's. No shit.

"Magbihis ka na nga!" Sigaw ko matapos madistract sa katawan niya.

Umalis siya sa harap ko habang umiiling. Nakatapis lang ng tuwalya ang lower part ng body niya. Those abs. Tumutulo pa ang buhok niya. Mababaliw na talaga ako.

Another fifteen minutes matapos siyang magbihis. I cannot compose myself. Para kong addict na sobrang high dahil sa mga nangyayari.

"Hey." Untag niya.

"What!" Sigaw ko.

"Stop shouting Hill. What's the problem?" Malumanay niyang sinabi matapos tumabi sa akin.

"None! Care to explain to me everything?" Masungit kong sinabi.

"I've already explained myself many times. Ano pang gusto mong malaman?" Aniya sabay buhat sa akin papunta sa kandungan niya.

"Uhm." Hindi ko maituloy, I feel so distracted.

"Yes. What was that Hill? Para naman okay na ang lahat bago tayo umuwi." Malambing niyang sinabi.

"About..." Lumunok muna ako bago muling magsalita. "About Rayven." Matapos kong sabihin ang pangalang iyon ay bigla akong napatungo.

"Oh. Our child." He said with amusement.

"How did you..." He cut me.

"How did I know about him?" He smiled bitterly.

"The night that you went to our house, I was so wasted. I drink until I cannot feel anything. After a day, kuya mo naman ang nagpunta sa bahay. Natatawa pa ako nang harapin ko siya. He welcomed me with a punch. And he's not contented with that, binugbog niya ako hanggang sa mapagod siya. Sabi niya papatayin niya daw ako kapag hindi ako umayos at magpakalalaki, hindi dahil gay ang tingin mo sa akin ha. Alam naman niyang I'm straight noon pa. He said that I must act matured dahil I've hurted you so much at magkakaanak na tayo. And there, naalala ko lahat. Nang itaboy kita nung sinabi mong buntis ka. Hours after, nasa eroplano na ako papuntang Paris, papunta sayo." Malungkot niyang sinabi.

"So you're there the whole time?" Gulat kong tanong.

He answered me with a shrugged.

Hinampas ko siya sa braso. "Ano nga!"

He smiled before he answered. "Yes. I don't want to miss every thing."

"But how?" Naguguluhan ko pa ring tanong.

"I lived next to you in Paris, and because you're mad at me, I asked your brother not to tell anything to you, even your mom. Para na rin mas panatag ako. Ang hirap pala na ang lapit lapit mo pero hindi man lang kita makapitan." Aniya habang hinahaplos ang pisngi ko.

"Kung sinabi mo lang sana." Maktol ko.

"I've tried so many times. Pero nang binaggit ng kuya mo ang pangalan ko ilang araw mo siyang hindi kinibo. You're pregnant that time. Ang tindi ng mood swings mo, mas malala sa normal mong mood swings." Halakhak niya.

"You're so mean." Simangot ko. "Hindi mo man lang ako sinamahan kahit noong manganak ako." Pagtatampo ko.

"I was there. I held your hand nung nakatulog ka na after mong manganak. I was so happy and thanking God kasi buhay kayo pareho ng anak natin." Aniya sabay yakap sa akin.

"Bakit hindi ka pa rin nagpakita after kong manganak?" I asked.

"I was afraid. I know you so well. Ang hirap. Hindi ko alam kung paano ka lapitan. So I make ways to own you kahit malayo." Nakangiti niyang sinabi pero ramdam ko ang pait at lungkot niya.

"Huh?" Iyan lamang ang nasabi ko.

"Nagmodel ka after few months. What do you expect me to do? Hayaan na lang na may magpantasya sayo? I just can't pull you out there dahil sa contract mo. Sht. I became violent when someone touch you, when I'm there seeing you from afar." His jaw clenched.

"If you just said." Sambit ko at kinagat ang pang ibabang labi ko.

"Maybe things meant to happen like this." Aniya.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Look at you now. You've grown and became matured. You became tough. The playful Hill became serious."

"Kahit na. Kung alam mo lang. Kainis ka." Tulak ko sa kaniya dahilan upang mapahiga kami pareho.

Nakapatong ako sa kaniya ngayon habang nakatitig sa mga mata niya. I cannot read his eyes. He's about to kiss me nang umiwas ako at tumabi sa kaniya.

"But Rayven's surname is.." Hindi ko maituloy.

"It was already fixed." Aniya sabay harap sa akin.

"Rich." I said.

"Yes?" Aniya.

I just hugged him. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko.

"If you're still afraid that all of this is temporary, let's make it real this time Hill. Marry me." Seryoso niyang sinabi.

Halos mabingi ako sa sinabi niya. Kasal?

"Seryoso ka ba?" Gulat kong sambit.

"Lagi naman akong seryoso pag dating sayo"

"But."

"No buts Hill."

"I can't marry you Rich."

"Why?" Gulat niyang sinabi at biglang napaupo dahil sa gulat.

"You're marrying me because we already have a child. I don't want that. Marrying is not just about obligation and rights, I hope you understand." Paliwanag ko habang nakatingin sa kisame.

"So let me court you."

"That's fine with me." I said.

"By the way. Rayven is coming home. Concepcion's has a reunion. Come with me together with my child." He said.

Change is coming I guess. But it made me feel more afraid of everything. Now that he's coming closer. Things will be deeper. The connection even the pain.