The Last Trade

TRADE 8

Samantha Cruz

"Good evening, Tita." Kaagad na usal ni Conan, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, sa akin bago siya lumapit at yumukod para hagkan ang pisngi ko.

Sumunod sa kanya ang kambal niya na pareho din ang ginawa.

"What brought you here, Tita? It's been a long time." Tanong ni Connor.

I suppose that's what they're going to say.

Ngumiti ako sa dalawang binata, "indeed. It's been such a long time since we last saw and talked with each other." Sambit ko sa kanila, "why don't you sit first?" I offered.

Tumango ang dalawa at umupo sa tabi ng kanilang Ina.

Suddenly, the atmosphere became serious.

"Well, it's good to see the two of you, Conan and Connor." Muling sabi ko, "I came here to discuss something with you and I want your mother to be here just so there could be transparency and so there's a witness." Dagdag ko bago ako dumekwatro.

"Discuss about what, Tita?" Seryosong tanong sa akin ni Conan.

"Very well, then." Sabi ko, "I came here to tell you that my family is back in the Philippines." Panimula ko, "me, my husband together with our only son." Patuloy ko, na naging dahilan para mapalunok si Conan.

"And since we're here again, it's just a matter of time that the three of you will cross each other's paths." Patuloy ko habang sila naman ay nakikinig at nakatingin lang sa akin.

"And what do want to tell us then, Samantha?" Amanda asked.

Ngumiti ako, at sinabi nang direkta ang pakay ko, "I don't want what happened long ago to happen again; I don't want my son, Allyson, to be hurt again." Tuloy-tuloy na sabi ko.

"And what if it happens again?" Tanong ni Connor.

"I expected that question, Connor." Sagot ko, "I won't let it happen, that's why I came here in your house." Dagdag ko.

"I came here to tell you two, Conan and Connor, not to go near my son ever again." Seryosong sabi ko habang nakatitig sa kambal.

"I am a mother and I know that Amanda will understand my sentiments, I don't want Allyson being hurt just because of the two of you again."

"Matatanda na kayo, and I'm sure that you do understand the point where this conversation is going to: don't ever go near my son." Sabi ko bago ako tumayo.

"I hope we understand each other." Sabi ko bago ako lumapit sa kanila at binigyan ang kambal ng tapik sa balikat, bago ako lumapit sa ina nila at niyakap siya.

"I said what I came here for, it's time for me to leave." Paalam ko, "good bye, Alvez family." Huling sabi ko bago ko sila talikuran at maglakad patungo sa labas.

I hope that my decision is for the best.

...

Connor Alfred Alvez

Tita Samantha wants the two of us not to go near her son again.

"And I hope that you understand her side, my sons." Sabi ni Mama na siyang nakapag pabalik sa akin sa realidad.

"No!" Sigaw ni Conan na siyang nakapag pabigla kay Mama.

"Did you just raise your voice against me, young man?" Tanong ni Mama.

"I can't do what she's asking us to do. You know that, Mom." Sagot ni Conan bago siya tumayo at naglakad papunta sa hagdanan.

"Samantha just did the right thing, keeping his son from the same pain." Mama continued, "the best way for that to happen is the two of you not going near him again. Even if you want to." Patuloy niya.

But how can we do that?

How will I do that?

Ngayon pa na...

ALVEAR

"Sir, nandyan na po ang Mama niyo." Pagbibigay alam sa akin ng isa sa mga kasambahay. Kaagad akong tumayo at dumeretso sa sala.

Jesus!

"Ma!" Napasigaw na sabi ko nang makita ko siya na naka upo.

She looks relaxed.

"Oh, dear. Naka kain ka na ba?" Patay malisyang tanong niya sa akin.

"Ma!" Inis na sabi ko.

Ngumiti naman ito sa akin, "I guess naka kain ka na." Sabi niya bago tumayo at lapitan ako. "Anak, listen to me. I came to them myself just so I could clarify things with them." Sabi niya.

"I am a mother and a mother will never want her child to feel pain, not even for once. Nasaktan kana dahil sa kanila and I don't want you to go through the same pain anymore, not again!" Sabi niya pa matapos niya akong lapitan.

"But you should have not gone there. Dapat hindi mo nalang sila pinuntahan!" Inis na sabi ko.

"And what do you want to happen!?" Sigaw niya sa akin, "meet them and then remember what they have caused you years ago!?" Tanong niya.

"Ma!" Sabi ko sa kanya, "I understand where you're coming from but what you did is unnecessary because I have no plan in meeting them again." Paliwanag ko.

Umiling nang mabilis ang Mama, "you cannot do that anymore, Allyson. Our families will work together from now on." Dagdag niya na ikinagulat ko.

"W-What do you mean?" I asked her.

"Our company just expanded and we needed more partnership and their family is one of our partners now." Sagot niya sa akin, "you cannot avoid them anymore, Allyson." Dagdag pa niya.

"Why are you just telling me that now?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Because I knew that you would do everything to avoid them, anak." Sabi niya sa akin at muling umupo. "Your father needs you in the company." Sabi niya na mas ikinagulat ko.

Ang ibig ba niyang sabihin ay nagsinungaling siya sa akin?

"Did you lie to me para maka uwi ako?" Tanong ko sa kanya, "kaya ba gusto mo akong sumama sa inyo pauwi dahil dito? Huh, Ma?" Tanong ko.

"No, anak." Sagot niya.

"Then what!?" Sigaw ko sa kanya, "maayos na ako sa America, Ma! I have forgotten everything about the past kasi ayos na ako dun, Ma! I have work, friends and life back there!" Dagdag ko at hindi naiwasang maiyak.

"I did not lie when I said na gusto ko ng umuwi dahil namimiss ko na dito, Allyson. That was one of the reasons why I wanted to come back here." Sagot niya.

"Then bakit ngayon niyo lang ito sinabi!?" Inis na tanong ko. "Para ba sumama ako at hindi makatanggi sa inyo!? Yun ba?" Tanong ko.

Umiling sa akin si Mama na umiiyak na din, "Anak, you should understand." Sabi niya pero iling lang ang ginagawa ko, "We are doing this for you, for the company and for our family." Dagdag niya.

"Anak..."

"No, Ma." I said, "I can't believe you lied to me." Sabi ko, "out of all people, I never expected you to do this." Dagdag ko at walang abog ko siyang iniwan kahit umiiyak.

Fuck!

A/N: I just wanted to tease you but I'm not officially back yet.