Forlorner: Fill The Space #Wattys2019

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Europa

When they said that my father is in detention, I believed them. Nagpunta ako roon at hinanap sila sa mga presinto na alam kong ipagdadalhan nila ang papa ko. I searched for a Samonte and Andreadis but they were nowhere. Saan nila dadalhin ang papa ko?

Pagod akong bumalik sa bahay, pursigido pa rin na kulitin si mama tungkol sa kinaroroonan ng mga kapatid niya. Ngunit ibang tao ang naabutan ko sa tanggapan ng aming tirahan.

There's Aunt Eura alone, sitting on the sofa, carefully sipping her tea. Sumasayaw ang byzantine niyang hikaw sa paggalaw ng kaniyang ulo na lumilibot ng tingin sa kabuoan ng sala.

Her eyes stopped wandering when she saw me standing on the doorway.

"What are you doing here?" Nag-aalangan kong tanong.

I don't know if she's a bad news or not. Sa paningin ko ngayon ay lahat ng Andreadis ay kakalaban sa akin at sa Samonte.

"I've been waiting for you. Where have you been?" Ngiting-ngiti siya at sinalubong pa ako upang dalhin sa katabi niyang sofa. "Have you seen your mother?"

Umiling ako, masusing binabasa ang mga intensyon niya. Isa-isa ba ang mga Andreadis na bibisita rito?

"I'm looking for my father. Your brothers took him away, handcuffed his hands and I don't where they put him." I said. "I'm gonna ask you, Aunt Eura. Where is my father?"

Matagal siyang nakipagtitigan sa akin bago umiwas at sumimsim sa tasa niya ng tsaa. Hindi iyon ikinatuwa ng kalooban ko.

"Are you torturing my father?" Matapang na pagsasatinig ko.

Marahas na bumaling sa akin ang tingin niya at gulat akong tinignan. "Do we look like we have grown horns and tails like devils, Maeve Samonte?!" Her voice started rising.

"Then where is he?" Giit ko.

"Giatí epistrepsame stis Filipínes?" Narinig kong bulong nito na wari ay nahihirapan sa nangyayari. "Maeve, we aren't guerrillas to defy your country's laws. My brother, Vasilios, is a lawyer, and Santos is a---"

"Wala akong pakialam sa pamilya na nagpapahirap sa amin ngayon! Where is my father, where are you taking him?"

"To our custody!" She answered. "He's with us. He's with his lawyer. They are getting ready for the hearing."

"Bakit kailangang dalhin siya roon? Bakit hindi sa—"

"The case was filed in our country. Our family will handle his case and Dela Torre's case."

"Who are you?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. My heart started beating loudly. Ramdam ko ang biglaang kaba ko sa maaari niyang isagot. "Why do I have this feeling that you are someone from—"

Kinuha niya ang tasa at sumimsim muli roon. Maingat na maingat ang bawat galaw niya.

That elegance, my mother's elegance, their conservative movements and clothings. Aunt Eura's golden earrings. Their suffocating aura. My grandparents' nerves to threaten us in our home and my father's business. Who are the Andreadis? Who is my mother?

"Well, Vasilios is a prosecutor, not only a lawyer, for your information." Mabagal niyang pagimporma.

"Santos and my father, Archon Urion, is a judge. Archon means the chief magistrate, also add that to your mental note. My mother, your grandmother Atlanta, is a former prime minister of the country and leading the Andreadis' international business."

Nagpakawala ako ng hangin. Kung nakatayo ako, siguro ay bumagsak na ako sa panginginig ng aking tuhod dahil sa mga nalaman.

"Your mother will inherit the business, for she was the first child."