Masked

Twenty

    "Dad, it's not what you think it is. Wag naman kayong mag conclude ka agad."

    "Paano ba yan Leandro?" baling nito kay Tito Leandro na katabi niya sa upuan, ignoring my remarks.

    Nilingon ko si Terrence at minura gamit ang mata ko. Kibit balikat lang ang sinagot ng kumag. He sipped his cup of coffee so calmly. Sarap buhusan ng kumukulong kape eh!

   "I did not expect this son. You betrayed my trust. Our trust. How could you do that?" puno ng paghihinakit ang tinig ni Tito Leandro ng kausapin ang anak.

    Pero sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, di ko mapigilang maging sarcastic. "Guys, it was just a hug! For Pete's sake! No one gets pregnant with a hug! Wag naman kayong oa. Friends do hug each other!"

    "Kaya pala ayaw mo akong papasukin kanina kasi may... May itinatago ka pala. I'm disappointed with you Jacky."

    "But Dad..." I tried to reason out but he cut me with his words.

    "Wag ka nang makisali dito," saway ni Daddy sa akin bago nito kausapin si Terrence.

    "Now young man, tell me, ano ba talagang nangyari?"

   "Papanagutan ko po si Aki."

   "Shit! Ba't mo sinabi yan Terrence? Baliw ka ba? Anong papanagutan mo? Nagyakapan lang tayo! Utang na loob naman! Pati ba naman ikaw makikisali dito?"

   "Jacky! Manners? Where are your manners? Hindi ka dapat ganyan magsalita!"

    "Margarette." I rolled my eyes without looking back dahil alam kong si Margarette nga iyon. Bakit kaya andito 'to?

    "Narinig mo ba Arturo? Hindi na ako ginagalang ng anak mo!" sabi nito ng makalapit sa amin.

    "Tama ka! Anak ako ng Daddy ko! Tita lang kita kaya wala kang karapatang manduhan ako at ang buhay ko!"

    "Jacky!" My Dad yelled at me. "Respect young lady! She is still your step-mom."

   My vision blurred as I looked to my Dad. "I thought I have someone to lean on Dad nang mawala si Mommy pero you choose to work. You choose to be with Margarette. Naisip mo ba ako Dad? Akala ko quality time natin 'to together, katulad noon pero tingnan mo naman anong nangyari? You know what? Gawin niyo na lahat ng gusto niyong gawin, I don't give a shit anymore!" I looked at Terrence as my tears came running down like a dam. "I hate you. I hate all of you!"

    Dali-dali akong tumalikod at tumakbo papalayo sa kanila. I have enough of their bull. I ran as far as I could until my feet are sore.

    I stopped and breathe, inhaling the cold air of Baguio. This place would have been majestic kung di lang sana nangyari lahat ng 'to.

    I sat at a bench and cry hard like there's no tomorrow. Wala namang turistang dumadaan dahil back part na ito ng hotel.

    "Walanghiya silang lahat! Mga mukhang pera! Saksak na nila lahat ng pera sa fallopian tube at esophagus nila! Bwesit!" May mga tao pala talagang kayang gawin lahat sa ngalan ng pera. I felt so stupid and used.

    Was these all part of the plan? Am I part of the plan?

     And who knows? Baka nga si Terrence ay kasabwat din dun.