Caressing My Perplexed Stella [HS #3]

CHAPTER 5

It was early morning when we arrived in the land, it was deadly tiring and I just want to sleep but I know I have an "appointment" to attend today. If only Kuya Meteo was here.

"Mama!" Tawag ko kay Tita Johannie, nakita ko siyang papalapit sa amin kasama ang kanyang asawa na si Tito Franco.

They are my Mama and Papa, that is what I call them either in private or public gathering. They are the one who raised me since I was a child. This is quiet odd, but when I was four, I already know that things are complicated and I had to live with them. I know who my Dad is, of course they won't hide that from me. Itinatago na nga ako, may itatago pa sa akin?

"Ah, Dale... I missed you so much." She whispered as she embraced me, I missed her warm embrace too.

Sandali siyang humiwalay at niyakap din ang aming kapatid na pupungas-pungas, halatang gusto na lang na matulog. I turned my gaze to Papa, he immediately went up to me and embraced me too.

"Parang nanaba ka yata sa france, 'Nak." Aniya, natawa naman ako sa kanyang sinabi at kaagad din siyang hinarap.

"Grabe ka sa akin, 'Pa. Medyo lang naman." Depensa ko pa.

I stayed with them until I was fifteen, when I turned sixteen, I moved to the house beside the Hechanova. No worries, we visit each other from time to time. It's just that, school is far from their home but close to the Hechanovas. Besides, Dad really wants me to move beside them.

They are in their 40's now, yet they still don't have a child. The family is very open with that topic, Tita Johannie can't just have a child. They tried, dalawang beses na nag-buntis si Tita ngunit hindi ito nagtuloy. Lagi raw na mahina ang kapit ng bata. Until now, they ever had one, Tita Johannie told me that because of me, she experienced motherhood. So when I move out of their house, it was a hell for her.

"Ihahatid na namin kayo, mukhang bagot na bagot na naman ang mukha ni Aster." Rinig kong sabi ni Mama.

"He is always like that," Bulong ni Comet at inayos ang buhok. Pinanood ko silang mag-tulong sa paglalagay ng aming mga gamit sa compartment ng sasakyan habang kami ni Mama ay nakatayo lang.

"How's France, dear?" She asked me.

"It was fine, 'Ma. There were a lot of foods dahil nagiging hilig na rin ni Kuya Meteo ang pagluluto, Dad and Mom will stay there until today, sa susunod na araw siguro ang uwi nila..." I shared. Nakita ko naman ang kanyang pagtango. "Did you already know?" Pabulong kong tanong sa kanya.

"What?" She replied, dumikit siya nang kaunti sa akin upang tuluyan kaming magkarinigan.

"Dad named me after him, I am now a Hechanova. He acknowledged me as his child now, in private papers."

Nanatili ang titig ko sa kanya matapos kong sabihin iyon, nakita ko pa kung paano siya nagbuntong hininga. Ngumiti siya sa akin at dahan dahang tinapik ang aking balikat, napakunot ako dahil doon. Para bang may gusto siyang sabihin sa akin ngunit alam niyang wala kami sa tamang lugar.

"I think we will just talk about it when we come home," Aniya, pinanood ko siyang maglakad papunta sa passenger seat habang ako ay nakatingin lang sa pintong kasasara niya.

"Dale, halika na..." Tawag ni Aster, nakabukas na ang pinto ng van at pumasok na si Comet. Hinihintay ako ni Aster sa labas kaya naman kaagad na rin akong lumakad papasok.

My siblings and I are on the backseat, pinagitnaan ako ng dalawa. Comet covered his face with his hand, halatang gusto na lang na matulog. Isinandal ni Aster ang sarili sa bintana at ipinikit na rin ang mata, isa pa ito. Ako lang ang tinging mulat sa amin, ang kaninang antok na nararamdaman ko ay nawala na. Gusto ko na lang kausapin si Mama.