BS #2: Margarita's Pretentious Lover

Margarita :: 31

The ride towards our new home was silent. Tulog na tulog sa bisig ko at sa bisig ni Sol ang kambal. Si Jason naman ang nagmamaneho ng kotse papunta sa paroroonan namin.

"They're so adorable," namamanghang saad ni Sol saka hinalikan sa noo at pisngi si Artemis. "Siguro kung pareho silang babae o lalaki, mahihirapan ang iba na makilala kung sino si sino."

Sumang-ayon ako. "Pero hindi naman sila talagang magkamukha."

"Siguro dahil babae at lalaki." Tumingin siya sa akin. "May lahing kambal ang side ng mom ko. May kambal si Mom. Pero she died when she was 8 months old due to dengue."

"I'm sorry to hear about that."

"I have no emotional ties with my mom's twin so it's okay." He shrugged.

I smiled. "May lahi ring kambal ang pamilya ko. Sa side rin ni Mama. May kambal ang Papa ni Mama at namana ng dalawang kapatid ni Mama iyon. Tatlo silang magkakapatid at si Mama ang gitnang anak at siya lang din ang hindi nagkaanak ng kambal. Pero siguro nakuha ko pa rin ang gene. Parehong may dugong kambal ang pamilya natin kaya nagkaroon agad tayo ng kambal."

"I haven't seen any of your relative. Aren't they around here?" tanong niya.

"Kadalasan sa side ni Mama, nasa probinsya. Visayas, mostly. Ang side naman ni Papa, either nandito lang sa Metro Manila o nasa ibang bansa. Hindi ako masyadong close sa kanila dahil minsan lang naman kami magkita-kita lahat. But we're all in good terms. Ikaw?"

He once again kissed Artemis who smiled in her sleep.

"Dad is living in Australia. Ilang taon na rin siyang hindi umuuwi. Mom died two years ago. Kidney problems. She had a bad habit with liquor. That's why."

"I'm sorry," sambit ko.

"I already expected it to happen. Tho it was too soon and I was not ready, I had no choice but accept it. Ever since her marriage with Dad sank, she drowned herself with alcohol. Pretty tough experience for me but I'm fine now."

"Was..." I debated if I should ask him this but I still did. "Was your dad hurting your mother before?"

He stilled. Natahimik siya saglit at umiwas ng tingin sa akin.

"When he's angry or drunk, yes," mahinang sagot niya.

Now I know where he got this attitude of hurting a woman when he's angry.

I reached out for his arm. Gulat siyang napalingon sa akin.

"Hurting a woman isn't normal, Sol. May it be physical or mental," saad ko. "Let's work on fixing that, okay?"

Tipid siyang ngumiti.

"I'll let you straighten out this thing about me, langga. I'll try to do better for you."

Hindi na ako nakagalaw nang lumapit siya sa akin at ako naman ang hinalikan sa noo.

"I'm just so glad you're here with me now. I can't blow this chance up, langga," bulong niya.

Napangiti ako. His affirmation mean so much to me. I am so glad he is open about this matter.

"We individually need some fixing before we fix our relationship, Sol," ani ko. "But I prefer doing these fixings together."

Right. Maybe I'm foolish for leaving him and choosing him again right now, but he is even more foolish for taking me back despite the pain I've caused him.

Pumasok kami sa isang private village. It was not far from where he live before and it was just near the area. Parang mas mahigpit lang ang siguridad dito.