When I Laid My Eyes On You

Chapter 20

My phone rang and we immediately exited the music. 

"Hello?" 

"A-Anak. M-Mom here." 

"Mom? What's wrong?!" Bigla akong napaupo ng maayos. 

"C-Come back." Tas bigla niyang binaba yung tawag. 

"MOM?!" Taranta kong sabi. 

Lahat sila napatingin sakin. 

"Ania, what's wrong?" Alalang alala na tanong sakin ni Eros.

"I-I don't know. M-Mom just called and told me to come back." Wala sa sarili kong sabi, bigla akong napatingin kay Manong. 

"Manong, kaya niyo po ba bumalik?" Naiiyak kong tanong. 

Nakita ni Manong and he immediately said yes. 

Mom, what's wrong? Please. Please let me know you're okay. 

Biglang tumabi sakin si Nyla at niyakap ako. 

"Shh, it'll be alright. Come on, smile!" She comforted me with a smile. 

I looked at everyone and they looked at me with encouraging faces. 

Bahagya akong tumango at nginitian sila. 

Asa gate palang kami ng bahay ko, pinatigil ko na at mabilis akong tumakbo papasok ng bahay. 

"MOM?! MOM! WHERE ARE YOU?!" I shouted with all my might. 

Biglang bumaba si Mommy. 

"MA!" takbo ko sakaniya at niyakap kaagad siya. 

She started sobbing. She's crying. 

Humiwalay ako sa yakap. 

"Mom? Si Dad? Where's Dad?! Ma! Answer me!" 

She shook her head, and just continued crying. 

Biglang pumasok yung mga kaibigan ko. 

"B-Baby girl, ang Daddy mo. Your dad... May iba siyang babae. Sumama na siya dun sa babae." Umiyak lalo si Mommy. 

Bigla akong natulala. Dad? Si Dad? There's a Mistress? Dad? 

Bigla akong napaluhod, biglang lumapit sila Lance sakin. 

Tinanggal ko yung pagkahawak nila sakin, at tumingin kay Mommy. 

"Mom, no. Tell me you're just joking, siguro surprise niyo lang sakin 'to? Nasan si dad, mama?" I smiled.

Umiling siya, "Wala na yung Dad mo. Please, Zea. Please, wag mo rin ako iiwan." 

"MOM! Please, stop joking. Stop crying, please!" Sigaw ko. 

Bigla akong hinawakan ni Lance, while Eros went to Mom. 

Dad naman, sana joke lang 'to. PLEASE! 

Lumabas kami ni Lance sa backyard namin, pinaupo ako sa bench swing. 

Bigla kong nilabas phone ko, and I dialed his number. 

After a few rings, he answered. 

"Dad!" I tried to sound happy. 

"Hi, babygirl! Kamusta diyan sa Ilocos Norte?" Masigla niyang sabi. 

Tell me you don't have a mistress, Dad. Tell me. Please. Dad.

"D-Dad." Tawag ko ulit. 

"Why, are you okay?" Alala niyang tanong. 

"Dad, please tell me, everything will be just fine."