Escaping Away From Him [Short Stories #2]

Kabanata 16

ILANG araw nang hindi nagpaparamdam sakanila si Aleg. At hindi niya alam kung sinadya niya ba ito o ano. Ang sabi ni Prior sakanila dapat nung lunes pa ito dadating pero hanggang ngayon walang nagpakitang Aleg Zeus Chan.

"Mama!" Napatingin siya kay Dark nang makitang patakbo ito papunta sakanya na may dalang laruan.

"Baby? Saan mo nakuha ang laruan na iyan?" Tanong niya nang makaakap ito sakanya.

"Kay Papa po." Aleg is here. Agad siyang yumuko para magkapantay sila ni Dark.

"Your Dad is here?" Tumango lang ito at hinila siya papunta sa salas. There she saw him standing while carrying Light. Her son smile so brightly. Alam niyang palangiti ang anak pero iba ang mga ngiti nito na ngayong nandito ang ama nila.

She look at them. She smile as she see how happy her son and it softened her heart at that sight. Napaayos lang siya ng tayo nang makitang nakatingin na sa deriksyon niya si Aleg.  Binaba nito si Light at agad naman itong tumakbo papunta kay Dark na nasa gilid niya lang at inayang maglaro sa bago nilang laruan.

"Hey." Malumanay nitong tawag sakanya. Hindi niya alam kung anong pumasok sakanya at naramdaman na lang niyang naluluha na siya.

"Baby don't cry please." Mabilis niyang pinunasan ang mga luha niya at tinitigan si Aleg.

"Why?" Nakitang niyang lumambot ang mukha nito.

"I'm sorry." Umiling siya at yumakap rito.

"All these years sinisi kita. Inisip kung sinaktan mo lang ako. Na ginamit mo lang ako. Inisip ko na wala kaming halaga sayo. A-akala k-ko hindi mo talaga ako minahal. Aleg.." Mas humigpit ang yakap nito sakanya. Dahilan para lumakas ang hagulgol niya.

"Baby please stop crying. Our sons might hear us. Baka isipin nilang inaaway kita." Suminghot-singhot siya habang nakaakap parin rito.

"C-can I ask you a question?" Natigilan ito bago siya hinila papunta sa sofa.

"How many questions?" Napangiwi siya bago sumagot.

"A hundred? Gosh Aleg ano sa tingin mo isang tanong lang! No. You have to explain everything that I need to know." Napabuntong hininga na lang ang binata sakanya.

"Tell me. Please. After Brandon got us he said something that made me confused. Aleg.." She held his cheeks.

"Please tell me everything. Please.Baby please?" Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Aleg sakanya.

"Fine. But promise me don't get mad at me." Napaiwas siya ng tingin.

"I can't guarantee."

"Baby.."

"Look, after all this time Aleg I've through a lot thinking of ways to kill you! Damn it. Sinisi kita! Galit ako sayo. So I can't say that I won't be mad at you." Napailing na lamang ito sakanya at masuyo siyang inakap.

"Fine. I will tell you everything." Ngumiti naman siya rito.

NAKAUPO parin sila sa sofa. Habang magkayakap sa isa't isa.

"What do you want to know first?" Tanong niya sa dalaga.

"Did you really loved me back then?"

"Yup. I've been in love with you ever since I saw you." Napatingala ito sakanya.

"Then why did you left me? Bakit ka nagpakasal sakanya? Why didn't you fight for us? Aleg?" Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang pisngi nito at tinitigan niya ang mga mata nito.

"I don't want to leave you. But I have too. And I didn't marry her Dame my grandfather oppose the wedding. I try to fight for us but you will be in danger if I did." Nakita niya ang gulo sa mata ng dalaga.

"Listen Dame. You're the real Daughter but your Dad has been manipulated by Diana. They don't want to hurt you. They try to protect you by pushing you away. Your Mom suffered from depression when you left them." Nakitang niyang nag-aalinlangan itong makinig sakanya but he continue.

"Alam mo bang hindi naman dapat nila aampunin si Diana but they don't have a choice. Her mother is one of your Mom's Bestfriend but after knowing that she's a mistress of a duke they try not to adopt her but it was too late. As Diana grow with you they saw what she really is. She threatened your Dad that if he won't push you away you will be hurt, if they won't do what she want she will get you in danger. Dahil kahit anak siya sa labas may dugo parin siyang bughaw." Tinitigan niya ang dalaga.

"B-but.. How? I-I mean my parents hate me for knowing that at such a young age I'm pregnant. I still clearly remember everything that they've said to me." He kiss her hair as he continue the story.

"The Duke is dying that time Baby. And he need to find the cure of his illness. Pero hindi iyon sakit Dame isang lason, isang lason ang unti-unting pumapatay sakanya. And that's why Diana got him wrap in her hand. She was desperate Dame." He comb her hair to relax her.

"How about the wedding? How did it's stop?" Napangiti siya nang maalala ang kanyang Lolo.

"It's because of my Grandfather. He oppose it." Napatingin ito sakanya.

"How?" He kiss her temple.

"By threatening Diana." Nakakunot ang noo nito at halatang nagtatanong ang mga mata na nakatitig sakanya. He find it cute.

"He... Ahm... I'm not just a normal person Dame."

"Malamang abnormal ka naman talaga." Napailing siya sa sinabi nito.

"I'm a Crowned Prince." Napatahimik ito sa sinabi niya at lumuwag ang pagkakaakap nito sakanya. He didn't force her to hug him back.

"I know." Napatingin siya sa dalaga.

"You know?" Tumango ito sakanya.

"Zeve told me." Siya naman ngayon ang nangunot ang noo.

"What?" Ngumiti ito sakanya.

"Remember when I told you before that I have a Bestfriend?" Tumango siya.

"Her husband happened to be Zeve's twin brother." He gaped.

"Zygmunt?" Tumango ito. Yeche's husband.

"Paano kayo? I mean paano niya nasabi sayo?" Yumakap ulit ito sakanya at inihilig ni Dame ang kanyang ulo sa dibdib niya.

"Nagkita kami nung nakaraang araw. The day that I thought you will be coming." That jerk I will kill him. Nag-iisip pa siya kung papaano niya papatayin ang lokong iyon dahil sa pagsabi nito na prinsepe siya inunahan pa siya ng ugok na iyon. Nabalik siya sa realidad ng maramdaman niyang may humalik sakanya. Then he look at her.

"Don't try to kill him. Storm is a good man." Napatingin siya rito how did she know na Storm ang nickname ni Zeve when they're in a battle.

"Zyg told me." Napahilamos siya sakanyang mukha. Tang-inang magkambal iyon!

"Hey listen to me. Alam kung bawal na sabihin iyon pero pinilit ko sila. Kasi akala ko hindi ka na dadating." He sigh as he hug her tight.

"I'm sorry for hiding a lot of things." Yumakap lang ito ng mahigpit sakanya.

"It's fine. Now can we continue."

"Sure. Ano pa ba ang tanong mo?"

"Did Diana really want to kill me? I mean she became a drug addict together with her friends and she cause adultery too."

"She don't want too."

"Pero ang sabi ni Brandon si Diana dapat ang gumagawa nung pag-kidnap sa amin."

"Nope. Diana... She's a victim."