Forgetting Samuel

Kabanata 59

Kabanata 59
Tangled

"Do you want to see him?" Steven Dalton asked his son when they finally opened the DNA Test.

It resulted negative with Steven and Samuel. Making Skylar's statement valid.

"No." Samuel responded. "Ayaw kong makita ang demonyong bumaboy kay Mama." his jaw ignited as he thought about what's going to happen next.

Bumuntong-hininga si Steven.

"Samuel, anak..." he started. Tears immediately clouded on his eyes.

It was all thanks to Elias, Skylar, and Apollo (another police investigator in-charge with the recent case na connected sa nangyari sa asawa ni Steven) that he finally learned about what really happened to his former wife. It was all thanks to them, that Jacob Caballero is on jail now. It turned out, na lahat ng hinala ni Elias ay totoo. He pulled Samuel to him and hugged him tight.

"Anak, hindi naman natin kailangang magbago. You're still a Dalton. Anak kita, hindi magbabago iyon."

Bumuntong-hininga si Samuel. Kusang ngumiti ang mga labi niya. "It was a good decision though, that I gave the company to Stephen... After all, ibang dugo pala ang nananalaytay sa akin, Pa. Dugo ng rapist. I'm not a Dalton. Pangalan ko lang iyon sa papel." he said, as his mind wondered.

"Anak." Steven tried to wake him from his rumination. "We don't have to tell your brothers. Ibaon na natin 'to sa hukay. Anak kita, Samuel. You are my first child, and this event won't change that fact."

Tumulo ang mga luha sa kaniyang mga mata. Tumango siya sa kaniyang ama, pero iba ang pakiramdam niya. He felt too guilty. He felt that he doesn't belong.

He doesn't feel like a Caballero as well. Hindi niya matatanggap na isa siyang Caballero.

***

It was a cold night.

Ady was back on Moneva again. She was on the front porch of their mansion. There was a recliner positioned there for her. Kahapon lamang dumating, nang iorder niya on line last week.

She sipped on her tea, breathing in the leafy smell, and held back her head to look up at the starry night afterwards.

Bumukas ang pinto at nakaramdam ng yabag sa floor board ang dalaga. Nakayapak kasi siya at nasa wooden floorboard ng front porch ang kaniyang mga paa. Hindi siya lumingon, bagkus ay nanatili sa mabituing ulap ang kaniyang paningin.

Napakaganda sa Moneva. Iba ang haplos ng hangin sa kaniyang mga balat dito. Presko. Masarap sa pakiramdam.

"Ate, hindi ka ba nilalamig?" Pancho asked. He was carrying a blanket.

Lumingon si Ady at nginitian ang kaniyang nakababatang kapatid na agad namang inabot sa kaniya ang kumot.

"Salamat." aniya at saka ibinalot sa katawan niya ang kumot. Nanatili si Pancho na nakatayo sa kaniyang likuran.

"Alam mo Ate, kaya mo 'yan." panimula ni Pancho at saka siya nilapitan. Naupo ito sa armrest ng kaniyang recliner at inakbayan siya. "Ikaw pa, e napaka lakas ng espiritu mo?" dagdag pa nito.

Sumandal si Ady sa kaniyang kapatid. Sa iilang buwang pananatili niya dito sa rancho ay nagkaroon sila ng kahit paano ay bond ng kapatid na hindi niya nakilala. It somehow comforting, lalo pa sa mga nanagyayari sa buhay ni Ady ngayon.