Chapter XLII
"Are you with Emmy today?" tanong ko kay Zack. Tumingin pa ako sa likudan nito upang tingnan kung kasama niya ba si Emmy ngayon.
"No. She's busy with something." sagot nito.
"Do you have time today?" I asked.
Nagtataka itong umiling sa aking sagot. "I have something important to do tonight." anito.
"May anak na ba kayo ni Emmy?" tanong ko pa.
"Wala pa." medyo awkward nitong sagot.
Tumango ako at bahagyang nakahinga dahil wala pa silang anak. Baka mabaliw ako kapag nalaman kong may ibang pamilya na si Zack habang matagal namin siyang hinihintay ng mga anak niya.
"Do you have time tomorrow?" I asked.
"I think so. Why?"
"Can we meet somewhere? Please don't bring Emmy." pakiusap ko.
"What for?"
"I have something important to tell you." It's about your sons, Zack. What happened to you? Bakit hindi mo ako nakikilala? I am your wife, Zack.
"We'll see..." medyo nag-aalinlangan na nitong sabi.
"W-well if you don't have time tomorrow, you can go with me today." sabi ko nang mapansin ang kanyang aalinlangan na makipag-usap sa akin bukas.
"Why can't you tell me now? Mukhang sobrang importante ng sasabihin mo." naguguluhan niyang sabi.
"You may not remember me but I am your wife. Your name is not Adrian, your name is Zack. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari o kung anong dahilan kung bakit hindi mo ako matandaan pero maniwala ka sa akin. Emmy's been lying to you."
"What are you talking about?" may bakas na galit sa kanyang boses. Hindi ko alam kung para saan ang galit sa kanyang boses ngunit marahil masyadong mabilis sa kanya ang pangyayari. For me it's not. Three years is a long time. That Emmy have stolen so many time from us and I won't let it happen again. But that doesn't mean that I will rush things out.
Bumuntong-hininga ako at pumikit. Pinigil ko ang galit sa aking dibdib at pilit na kinalma ang aking sarili. Pinilit kong mag-isip ng tama at huwag magpadalos-dalos ng desisyon dahil baka mas lalong maging magulo ang lahat kapag naging pabaya ako sa aking mga desisyon.
"If you want to know the truth, you will come with me."
This is my last straw. Kapag hindi siya sumama sa akin ay hindi niya na ako muling makakausap. I get that something might've happened but if he really want to know that truth then he will come with me. If he don't then it only means that he is already satisfied with the truth that Emmy told him. And I can't do anything about that. Kung mas pipiliin niyang mas maniwala kay Emmy kahit pa anong nangyari sa kanya ay susukuan ko na siya. I don't want to give him another chance to hurt me.
Ayokong tanggihan niya ang katotohanang gusto kong ipagkaloob sa kanya ngunit kung hindi niya iyon gustong tanggapin sa unang beses kong pag-alok sa kanya ay malamang ganoon din ang gagawin niya sa kambal. If he doesn't want to know the real truth then he doesn't deserve to meet our sons either. The moment that he denied the truth is the moment he denied his rights to my children and that's enough reason for me to give him up. Yes. This is my wrath and every mother have every reason to feel this kind of feeling because of her children.
I know that I am being irrational but it can't be help. For three long years I have endure those murdering thoughts. I have refrained myself from thinking that he might've been enjoying and having the time of his life with that Emmy while his sons are suffering and almost dying. I can forgive him if he have a valid reason for that, but now that I am offering him the truth and now that I am trying to tell him everything, if he rejected the truth that I am telling him, then this will be the beginning of my wrath.
"I'm sorry, Miss. I think I can't accept your offer." sabi ni Zack.
Tumango ako dito at mabilis siyang tinalikudan. Pumunta ako sa counter upang bayadan ang hinihingi sa akin ng kambal kanina lamang. Who would've thought that I will their father today? At this very moment? Who would've thought have that he not listen to me?
Matamlay akong umuwi sa bahay. Nandoon na ang ilang bisita at talagang lutang ang aking utak sa buong oras ng selebrasyon. Wala akong maisip na matino kung hindi bakit hindi ako nakilala ni Zack? Bakit kasama niya si Emmy? Anong nangyari upang mawala siya sa loob ng tatlong taon?
Ipinilig ko ang aking ulo. Marahil ay magkasama sila ni Emmy ngayon. Marahil nagpapakasasa sila sa piling ng isa't-isa.
Tiningnan ko ang kambal na masayang nakikipaglaro sa iba pang bata. Nakita kong binuhat ni Clinton si Ex upang ibigay kay Alexa at palitan ng damit. Humabol ng tingin sa kanila si Benjamin at pinagmasdan kung paano alagaan ni Clinton si Ex.
"Daddy!" tumatawang sabi ni Ex nang ihagis siya ni Clinton sa ere. Tumawa sina Clinton sa naging reaksyon ng anak.
"Momma, Dad?" nakita ko si Joseph na hawak ang dulo ng suot ng aking dress.
Malungkot akong ngumiti dito at binuhat siya. Niyakap ko ito ng mahigpit at bahagyang naluha dahil sa naging tanong ng akin ng anak.
"Momma! Me, too!" ani Benj na nakaabot sa akin ang kamay. Natawa at pinilit kinarga ang dalawa kong anak ng sabay.
"Ang bibigat niyo na!" natatawang kong sabi.
"Let me help you." ani Antony na nasa aking gilid na pala. I smiled at him and gave him Joseph who happily hugged Antony.
"Dad!" sigaw ni Joseph na nakapagpatigil sa aming lahat na nandoon. Tila tumigil ang mundo ko nang matanto na sa murang edad ng aking mga anak ay naghahanap na kaagad sila ng kalinga ng isang ama. It's just too sad to think that their father is with other woman right now.
Malungkot na ngumiti sa akin ang magulang ni Zack. Si Mommy ay maluha-luha habang pinagmamasdan ang tumatawang apo. My father on the other hand is shaking his head. I'm sure he is sad, too.
"Yes, Dad!" natatawang sabi ni Antony.
Tiningnan ko si Antony dahil sa gulat.
"It's okay, Paige. For the meantime, let us be the father of your children." ani Antony. Apparently he is not the only person who is fathering my children. Papa ang tawag ng kambal kay Kuya Mark dahil ito ang kasama namin sa bahay. My Kuya is very proud being called 'Papa' by his nephews and I'm glad that he is okay with it.
"Me too, Dad!" pumunta sa direksyon ni Antony ang kamay ni Benj at gusto ding magpabuhat kay Antony.
"Let Papa carry you, Benj!" ani Kuya Mark na kinuha sa akin si Benj.
"No! Dad, I want!" anito na pilit humabol kay Antony.
Tumawa si Antony at pinagbigyan ang aking anak. Hawak niya sa kanyang bisig ang kambal na tumawa habang nilalaro ni Antony. Tumingin sa akin si Kuya Mark at tipid na ngumiti.
"Let's eat na! Kanina pang naghihintay ang hapag!" tawag ng Mama ni Zack sa amin.
"Thank you for this, Antony." rinig kong sabi ng tatay ni Zack kay Antony. Tinapik nito ang balikat ni Antony. Tumango naman si Antony dito.
"This no big deal, Tito. I will do anything for the kids." nakangiti nitong sabi.
BINABASA MO ANG
Young and Married
RomantiekPaige Sanchez just turned 18, only to marry someone she barely knew. If it wasn't because of a clear misunderstanding, she wouldn't have to marry . Her parents' concern was her only concern until that day. She only wanted to live a simple life with...