THE BROKEN SOUL'S PLEA

CHAPTER 49

CHAPTER 49

TAHIMIK LANG NA NAKAUPO si Lucky sa bermuda malapit sa puntod ng kanyang ina habang ang kanyang ama ay nakatayo sa harap ng puntod. Pasulyap-sulyap siya sa ama niyang kamukhang-kamukha nga niya.

She felt awkward around him. It was like she didn't know what to say to him even though she had a lot of things in her mind.

But she was glad he was trying to reach out to her, lessening the awkwardness between then.

Nang yakapin siya nito kanina noong una silang magkita, natulos lang siya sa kinatatayuan. At nang hayaan sila ng kapatid na mapag-isa at bisitahin ang puntod ng kanyang ina, wala siyang imik mula pa kanina. Ito lang ang nagsasalita. Pinapakiramdaman pa niya ang sarili.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas bago hinaplos ng kanyang ama ang puntod at naglakad palapit sa kanya. Akala niya patatayuin siya nito at aalis na sila, pero nagulat siya nang umupo rin ito sa bermuda, sa tabi niya.

"I'm sorry for everything, Lucky," kapagkuwan ay sabi nito pagkalipas ng mahabang katahimikan.

She smiled. "It's okay, Sir—"

"It's not." Bumaling ito sa kanya at pinakatitigan siya. "Alam kong hindi ako naging mabuting ama sa 'yo. At wala ako sa tabi mo noong kailangan mo ako." May American accent ang pagta-Tagalog nito. "Iniwan kita sa pag-aakalang hindi ka akin. Hindi lang 'yon, iniwan ko rin ang mommy mo. And I have no excuse for what I did. I will not justify what I did in the past because I know how wrong I was. Just know that I'm sorry and I hope that you'll give me a chance to make it up to you and be your father."

Napatitig si Lucky sa kawalan ng ilang segundo bago nagsalita. "You hurt my mom," sabi niya. "It wasn't her fault that she was violated like that. You're unfair to judge her and leave her. Hindi ko alam ang rason mo pero grabe ang paghihirap ng mommy ko nang umalis ka. Naging lasengga siya. Palaging galit. Kaya hindi mo ako masisisi kung may maramdaman akong kaunting galit sa 'yo.

"But my adopted parents taught me to be grateful and to be positive in every situation, so, of course, I'll give you a chance to be my father. Kasi sino ba naman ako para hindi magbigay ng ikalawang pagkakataon? Just don't force me to love you like how I love my mom. It will take me some time."

"I understand." Her father took a deep breath. "I have a question, if you don't mind."

Tumango si Lucky. "Go ahead, Sir."

"Were you... abused?" he asked. "Your sister told me."

Umiling siya. "More like I wasn't loved."

Bumalatay ang pagsisisi sa mukha nito. "I'm sorry because I wasn't there for you."

"As I said earlier, it's okay." She glanced at her father and smiled. "You're here now so stop saying you're sorry and let's get to know each other. I choose to let go of my past to enjoy my present and future." Wala sa sariling napahawak siya sa dibdib. "Thank you for helping me find a new heart, by the way."

Nakangiting tumango ang ama niya. "You're welcome. I'm glad you're well and alive. Nang malaman ko ang tungkol sa 'yo at nakita ang larawan mo, sising-sisi ako sa ginawa ko. Sising-sisi ako na iniwan ko ang mommy mo. If only I could turn back the time, I would've done differently."

Tipid siyang ngumiti. "We all did something in the past that we regret, I think that's human nature. But we can't turn back the time. All we can do is be better and try to make up for it."

Napatitig ito kanya. "You grow up to be such a wise woman."

Mahina siyang natawa. "My Mommy La taught me that," she said, proudly. "She's the wise one."