Heart of the Sea

XXXVIII

Kinabukasan ay agad naming pinuntahan si Valentina. Dun kami dumiretso sa condo na tinutuluyan nila matapos naming mag-almusal. Hindi na nag-aksaya ng oras at araw si Sebastian. Gusto niya nang makausap si Valentina.

Nung bumukas ang pinto ng unit nila ay sinalubong kami ng maamong mukha ng ina ni Valentina. Nagulat siya nang makita kami.

"Oh, Ian at Mya, good morning. Hihiramin niyo ba si Vienna? Tulog pa yung bata eh." She sais softly.

Umiling ako bago tumingin kay Sebastian. Makikita mo talagang galit na galit siya. I touched his clenched fist before smiling at him. Sumulyap siya sakin at hinawakan ang kamay ko bago suminghap.

"Good morning, Mrs. Martin. We're here to see your daughter." Malamig na sabi ni Sebastian.

"Oh, okay. Pumasok kayo, nagluluto pa kasi siya ng almusal. I'll call her." Sabi niya bago tumabi para makapasok kami.

"Thank you..." Mahina kong sabi.

"Please have a seat, be comfortable. I'll just call Tina." She said before walking towards the kitchen.

"....bakit daw, Ma?" Rinig kong tanong ni Valentina sa kanyang ina.

"Ewan ko, anak. Sige na, puntahan mo na dun. Ako nang bahala dito." Sagot naman ng ina ni Valentina.

Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na rin dito sa sala si Valentina. Kahit wala siyang make up at nakapambahay lang ay maganda pa rin siya. Sobrang bait niyang tingnan, parang anghel. But she's a liar. A lying angel.

Umupo siya sa sofa'ng nasa tapat namin. "Good morning, Ian and Mya. Anong--.."

"Why did you lie to us?" Diretsong sabi ni Sebastian.

Nakita kong nanlaki ang mga mata ni Valentina. Yumuko siya at tumikhim. "A-Anong ibig mong sabihin?" She whispered.

"Don't play dumb with me, Valentina. I know everything, I know the truth. I just wanted to know why," Malamig na sabi ni Sebastian. "why did you lie to us?"

Lumunok siya at nakita kong tumulo ang kanyang mga luha. She silently wiped her tears before looking at us.

"Because I thought you'll come back to me if I'll make you think that we have a child. Akala ko mas lamang ako kesa babaeng kasama mo ngayon dahil ako pinakaunang babaeng mahal mo," She faked a laugh. "but I was wrong. So wrong."

"You used your own child just to have him back?" Who would even do that?

"I was desperate! I wanted him back. I left because I wanted to study abroad and because...I was pregnant...with another man's child." She sighed before wiping her tears.

"With another man's child, huh? Your ex, to be exact. You cheated on me, Tina." I sensed sarcasm on Sebastian's tone.

She nodded. "Remember our party weeks before our Graduation? You were so drunk so I sent you home early. Kami nalang naiwan nun nina Clyde at yung barkada ko. We got so drunk and I forgot what happened that night but I woke up in a hotel room with a naked Clyde Monterde beside me," Humagulgol si Valentina.

"Oo, may nangyari na satin noon pero alam kong impossibleng sayo yung dinadala ko dahil buwan na ang nakalipas simula nung nangyari satin. And I was sure it was Clyde's child," Yumuko si Valentina. "pero ikaw ang mahal ko, Ian. Clyde knew about Vienna, he saw her pictures. Magkamukha sila eh, kuhang kuha ni Vienna ang dimples niya." Natawa ng mahina si Valentina.

"Vienna met him...sa lobby ng condominium namin." Mahina kong sabi.

Napatingin si Valentina sakin. "R-Really? What did he say?"