Tears of Change ✔

23

Surprise

HIS eyes remained ernestly glued on the road while his other hand was rotating the steering wheel. I couldn't help myself from glancing at him time to time.

He's really sad that most likely anytime he will be crying loudly in rage. It's my first time I saw him show some vulnerability. I'm just used seeing him always so at ease and not Iike this.

"Hindi naman masama ang umiyak."

Hindi siya umimik. When we reached at the parking in his condo, he quietly opened the door for me. Naninibago ako kasi hindi ako sanay sa pagiging tahimik niya.

Pati sa loob ng elevator ay pareho kaming tahimik.

Nang makapasok na kami sa loob ng penthouse niya ay parang robot si Atriju na dahan-dahang naupo sa sofa. Tinabihan ko siya at niyakap ng mahigpit. I started sobbing, the reason why he pulled me away. Curiosity is visible on his face.

"Why are you crying?"

"Ikaw kasi e!"

"What?"

"Nakita ko kasi ang sarili ko sa'yo. Naalala ko na naman ang araw na 'yon, ang araw ng pagkamatay ni Mama..."

He shook his head and hugged me while caressing my back. Isiniksik ko naman ang mukha ko sa kanya.

"Ako dapat ang iiyak ngayon pero inunahan mo na ako. Ayaw na tuloy magpakita ng mga luha ko," he chuckled.

I lifted my head and kissed his jaw.

"Hindi ako makapaniwala na nagawa ni Tito Omar 'yon sa Mama mo," malungkot kong wika.

"Naalala mo ba ang araw na galit na galit akong dumiretso sa condo mo? No'ng araw na kakabalik ko galing sa probinsyang ginanap namin ang taping?"

I nodded.

"Bakit? Anong meron sa araw na 'yon?"

"I was mad that time because I caught him being with your Tita. I even saw that woman kissed my father on his lips. When he's already alone, I confronted him. That's why he promised me that he will talk to that woman again to end things. Siguro kanina ay kinausap niya na ang babae."

I heaved a deep sigh and wiped my tears.

"Pero bakit nagawa niya 'yon? Kung hindi mo ba sila nahuli, posible kayang magtuloy-tuloy pa rin ang relasyon nila? For pete's sake, they're both married!"

He gritted his teeth.

"He told me that before that day I caught them, he finally realized what the messed thing he had entered. Naghahanap na lang talaga daw si Papa ng tiyempo. Pero ang sakit Tanya..." he paused as the tears slowly dripping on his cheeks.

"Nandiyan naman si Mama pati ako pero bakit naghanap pa rin siya ng iba? Hindi pa ba kami sapat?" his voice croaked.

Unti-unti na namang tumutulo ang malalaking patak ng luha sa pisngi ko at muling isinubsob ang mukha sa kanyang dibdib. He hugged me deeply while we're both sobbing. Para na kaming naging tanga ngayon ngunit pareho naming alam kung gaano kasakit sa parte namin ang mahuli na may ibang babae ang Papa namin.

Natatakot rin ako sa maaaring mangyari kay Tita Welma kapag malaman niyang nagloko si Tito Omar. Ayokong matulad siya kay Mama.

"Let's get drunk. Punta tayo mamaya sa Malzeryc," I muttered and softly wiped his tears.