He & She

Chapter 33 - Together again.

Chapter 33

 

KATH’S POV

“I love you DJ.” Sabi ko sakanya ulit. Tumingala ako at hinawakan ko yung magkabilang pisngi niya. “I love you. So damn much.”

Hinalikan niya ng mariin yung labi ko. “I love you more than anything, baby.”

Hinila niya ko at niyakap ng mahigpit. “Damn! I’ve waited so long to hug you like this again.” Sabi niya.

I let out a soft chuckle. Hindi lang naman ikaw, Deej. Ako rin.

 

Nagulat ako ng bigla niya kong hilain paupo. Pinaupo niya ko sa lap niya. Hinampas ko siya sa braso.

“Masyado naman ata tayong close Padilla.” Natatawang sabi ko sakanya.

He rested his head on my neck. “Matagal kitang hindi nayakap ng ganto, Bernardo. Pagbigyan mo na ko.”

Inilayo ko siya sakin at tinignan ko siya sa mata. “You didnt know?” I asked him in confusion.

“Didnt know what?” Tanong niya.

“Im not a Bernardo, Deej.”

“What? How did that happen? Kung hindi ka Bernardo, then sino ang tunay mong magulang? Wait ang gulo.” Nagtatakang sabi niya.

I looked at him seriously. Wala ba talaga siyang idea? I mean did he not stalk me or anything over the past year? Well, obviously, not. Kasi mukhang wala talaga siyang idea. Nabasa ata niya yung nasa isip ko. I was disappointed na wala siyang alam sa nangyari sa buhay ko.

“Sorry. Hindi ako nakibalita sayo. Ayaw kong makarinig ng balita sayo nung nasa Cali kami. I was afraid I’d always come back running to you pag nalaman kong may iba ka ng mahal. Natakot akong humingi ng balita tungkol sayo dahil baka makatanggap ako ng balitang ikadadagdag ng sakit na nararamdaman ko. Im sorry, baby.” Mahabang sabi niya.

I kissed his nose. “I understand.” I told him. Tapos nagumpisa na kong magkwento. “Right after the graduation rites. Nakilala ko si Mr. Teddy Manuel and his wife, Min Manuel.”

“You mean the richest businessman?” Putol niya sakin.

I nodded. “They claimed na anak nila ko. My parents confirmed it. Pinaliwanag nila sakin na kaya ako pinaalagaan all my life kila Mommy ay para protektahan ako. Unfortunately, there’s this guy na baliw na baliw kay Mama. By the way, my Mama is Min Manuel. So ayun, may baliw na baliw kay Mama, he raped my mom kahit na kasal na sila ni Papa. The rapist didnt know that my mom’s pregnant with me that time. Kaya nung nanganak si Mama ay akala niya, anak niya ko. They had to give me to Mommy Alicia para mailayo ako sa lalaking yun. They waited a long time, nang mamatay na yung lalaki, tsaka nila ko binalikan. I’ve lived with them for almost a year now.” Kwento ko.

Niyakap niya ko. “Im sorry, baby. I wasnt there when you needed me the most. F-ck it! Hindi ko maimagine. I left you, and two weeks after nalaman mong hindi mo pala pamilya ang mga Bernardo. And I wasnt there to help you cope up things. Im sorry. I shouldve been there.” Sabi niya.