Fierce

Chapter 45

Chapter 45
Ruined

Pagkalabas ko ng taxi nang makarating sa aming bahay ay agad ding lumabas si Daddy sa taxi na kaniyang sinakyan.

"Blair, anak, let's talk first." hinihingal na pagtawag sa akin ni Daddy ngunit dire-diretso lamang ako sa paglalakad. "I'm sorry! Let me explain!" pakiusap ni Daddy.

Sandali namang akong tumigil para humarap sa kaniya. I want him to see how mad I am even though I know that whatever I feel doesn't matter to him.

What would he explain? How he cheated on my mother?

"Hindi ka sakin dapat magsorry, Dad. Hindi ka rin dapat sa akin mag-explain kundi kay Mommy." I told him before I turned my back on him again.

I heard Dad called me a lot of times but I didn't mind his calling until I was inside of our house.

"Mom!" pagtawag ko kay Mommy at gulat naman siyang napatayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa couch. She's watching a movie.

She smiled when she saw me. "You're home—"

Napatigil si Mommy sa pagsasalita nang dumako ang kaniyang mata sa lalaking kasunod kong pumasok.

I went closer to Mom before I looked at Dad who's now with trembling eyes, looking my Mom who's in front of him.

See her, Dad? She's your wife that you cheated on with another woman.

"Speak now, Dad." hamon ko kay Daddy. "Gusto mo kong kausapin diba? Talk to me in front of Mom. Explain what you want to explain."

"Jay, what is this?" punong-puno ng paghihinala ang boses ni Mommy at sobrang tulis ng kaniyang pagtatanong kay Daddy. "Why are you here?"

"Go ahead, Dad. Tell Mom what I saw." sabi ko't punong-puno na galit ko.

He better speak up and admit everything to Mom. If not, he won't be able to escape his sins. I'm still going to tell Mom everything.

Napalingon naman si Mommy sa akin. "What did you see?"

She's looking all over my face trying if she can find an answer by the way I look.

"Tell me, Blair, please." halos magkaawa na sabi ni Mommy sa akin. "Tell me, anak. Please, tell me."

I bit my lip and pursed my lips, trying to keep my mouth shut and giving Dad a chance to admit everything on his own.

"Helena, I'm sorry..."

Mom stopped asking and begging me for answers. She slowly turned her head to look at Dad.

Dahan-dahan namang naglakad si Mommy papalapit kay Daddy at kita kong punong-puno ng takot ang mga mata ni Daddy.

"Look, Helena, I'm sorry. I'm going to tell you once I'm home—"

Ang mabilisang pagpapaliwanag ni Daddy ay natigil nang dahil sa malakas na paglagapak ng palad ni Mommy sa kaniyang pisngi.

"Jay..." halos mawalan na ng boses si Mommy nang tawagin niya ang pangalan ni Daddy.

Punong-puno na ng luha ang aking mga mata. Gustong-gusto nang tumapon ang mga luhang naipon ngunit hangga't kaya kong pigilan ang pagbagsak nito ay ginagawa ko. I need to be strong for my Mom. Kung pati ako ay masisira, wala nang magiging matatag para sa aming pamilya at para sa pagsasama nila.

"Am I not enough?..." Mom cried, asking Dad.

Agad namang umiling si Daddy at sinubukang abutin si Mommy ngunit mabilis na iniwas ni Mommy ang kaniyang sarili.

"Don't touch me!" she exclaimed, full of hatred and pain.

"Helena, wala kang kasalanan. I'm a fool for giving in into temptations. Wala kang pagkukulang. You love me more than anyone could give me—"