"Dad, what are we even doing here?"
Aurora started ranting the moment we got out of the car. I took her to La Union. Isang bagay na hindi ko naman ginagawa nang kasama siya. Nagpupunta ako rito, kasama si Samsam but I never took Aurora here. Alam kong kailangan ko siyang dalhin dito. I feel like we have to have this talk here. Kailangan, lalo na ngayon na marami siyang tanong sa kanyang isipan.
"Dad, we drove for four hours. Kung alam ko lang na dadalhin mo ako dito, sana hindi na ako sumama. I asked you a question, and I was waiting for an answer tapos dinala mo ako dito? Why are you doing this? All I wanted to know is if you love mom the way she deserved to be loved."
Dama ko sa boses ng anak ko ang kalungkutan. Alam kong galit siya sa akin. Alam kong maraming pagdududa sa isipan niya. I took her by the hand and made her walk with me. Pumasok kaming dalawa sa green house. Tulad noon ay malinis pa rin iyon. Callix and I hired someone to clean this. Hindi na rin kasi ako halos nakakapunta rito. I used to come here, a lot but after Cindy and Belle were born, I stopped coming here. Magkasunod kasi iyong mga bata at kailangan ni Arielle ng tulong sa pag-aalaga sa kanila.
Most of the times kaming dalawa talaga ang kaharap noong dalawang bunso namin. Arielle is a hands – on mother and she made me a hands – on father too. She wanted us to have a happy family at nakuha naming dalawa iyon. We helped each other achieve our dreams.
Pilit kong pinaupo si Aurora sa couch.
"Ayoko dito. Uuwi na ako." Sabi niya. "Kung hindi mo ako iuuwi, Daddy, maglalakad ako pabalik ng Manila." Sabi niya pa sa akin. I made her sit again. Naupo na rin ako para hindi na siya magtangka pang tumayo at lumayo sa akin. I held her both hands and looked at her in the eye.
"I haven't had this talk with anyone other than your mom. No one knew about this, I think your Uncle Simoun knew but he never confirmed it..."
"What are you saying? Na alam ng lahat na hindi mo mahal si Mama at panakip butas lang siya? That you never gave her the love she deserved? Ano? Ang hirap naman kasi, Dad, hindi lang si Mommy ang nasasaktan, ako ang pinakanasasaktan sa lahat because of all of these. Hindi pa maiintindihan ni Belle o ni Cindy, but I can see the way you treated Samsam, para bang napaka-espesyal niya. You named her after your first love, kahit saang anggulo mo tingnan, kahit pumayag pa si Mama, maling – mali! How dare you do that to her? Tapos ngayon, tinatanong kita, hindi ka makasagot, hindi mo ako masagot. Is that so hard?!
"Samsam is special, Aurora, but that doesn't mean I love any of you less. Samsam will always be special because she brought your mother back to me."
Natigilan si Aurora. Para bang naguluhan siya. Tumaas ang sulok ng bibig niya.
"Are we talking about my sister or your first love?" Inis na wika niya. "Hindi ako komportableng pag-usapan ang taong nananakit sa Mama ko."
"I am talking about your sister." Sagot ko. "Aurora, makinig kang maigi dahil ngayon ko lang sasabihin ang mga bagay na ito sa'yo. You are allowed to ask questions but please understand me first..."
Bumitaw siya sa akin. She looked away. Arielle should be here. But I didn't want to see the pain in her eyes again.
"Samsam isn't my daughter."
Aurora looked at me with horror in her eyes.
"W-what?"
"Your mother was a rape victim at si Samsam ang bunga ng kahayupang ginawa sa Mama mo noon."
Aurora's tears fell. Bakas na bakas ang sakit sa mukha niya.
"Oh my god..." That was all she could say...
