Chapter ❼
***
Seryosong mga mukha ang naabutan niya pagdating sa kanilang bahay. Mom checked her over hastily the moment she stepped inside the house. Dad clamped his lips together. Poppy sensed tension immediately.
“Bumalik na siya,” Sabi sa kanya ng nanay-nanayan. Namutla siya saglit at napakurap. Alam niyang darating talaga ang araw na ‘to. Ito ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit gustong-gusto niyang manirahan dito sa Pilipinas. She was attracting death wish indeed. “Bumalik na tayo sa France.” Kapagkuwa’y dagdag ng ina sa tonong nag-aalala.
“Ma…” di makapaniwalang sabi niya sa ina at tumingin sa Pranses niyang tatay na nagpapatulong. “We can’t, I can’t.” Dagdag niya na nakatunghay lang sa mukha nito. Nanatiling nakatingin lang at tahimik ang kanyang tatay.
“Pero mapapahamak ka anak..” Dahan-dahang lumapit ang kanyang ina.
“Mom, we talked about it how many times before…” Pagpapaalala niya sa ina. “Ito na ang pinakahihintay ko.”
“Mon Dieu.” Napasinghap ito at tumingin sa kanya. “Poppy, I’m just playing it cool whenever you mention him but the truth is I am dying inside.”
“Kaya ko ‘to, maniwala kayo.” Yumukod siya nang bahagya at hinalikan ito sa pisngi. Umiiyak na pala ito nang maramdaman niya ang basang likido sa pisngi nito. “Mom naman eh, you’re making it harder for me.” Sabi niya sa medyo nagbibiro na boses.
“Poppy, you’re making fun of my feelings.” Mahina at galit-galitan na reklamo ng ina.
“No, I’m not. That’s the last thing I would do.” Seryoso niyang tugon na tumingin sa napakaitim nitong mga mata. “Nasaan si Trent? Mag-aalala yun kapag nakita niya ang hitsura mo at kapag nalaman niya ang pinag-uusapan natin. Sa atin lang tatlo ito Mom and Dad.”
“Pero Poppy…I don’t like the idea of you hurting..”
She cut her mother off. “Hindi mangyayari yan.” Puno nang kasiguruhan niyang sabi. “So can we just eat the tension away?” Bigla niyang sambit para mabawas-bawasan ang tensyon sa paligid. Her mother sighed and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.
Nakita naman ni Poppy na medyo nahimasmasan na ang nanay at hinahagod ng tatay niya ang likod nito. Sa harap nila kailangan niyang magpapakatatag. When in truth, she’s dying inside as well.
She had a choice, really. She could go back to France with her family. But that’s cowardice. She could live like she didn’t know him. Like she didn’t have any idea what he was and who he was.
Pero hindi pwede. Marami na itong nadamay. Marami na itong sinaktan. And she hated to admit it that she was related to him, her own blood. His blood running in her veins. That’s a bitter pill to swallow but it’s the truth. She hated to admit that her real father was a criminal behind his professional and rich man facade.
***
“Mom and Dad, I’m going out.” Paalam niya kinagabihan. Nagyaya kasi ang girls na lumabas. Ewan niya nga kay Shane kung saan nito balak gumala ngayong gabi. Basta nagpaunlak lang siya at pupuntahan niya ito sa bahay nila ngayon.
“Tonight?” Lumuwa ang mata ng nanay niya. Ang tatay niya ring Pranses inilayo ang mga mata sa telebisyon at tumingin sa kanya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Run Poppy Run
Aventura“Everything about him is dark. Tall, dark and brooding. Maybe those are three reasons why I am drawn to him.” -Poppy “Getting rid of someone has always been a piece of cake until her. But when she’s out of my sight, I begin to panic.”- Kael Naïve...
