EPITHYMÌA (Book 2): Love and Desires

14

Daryl

"Look at this Daddy! It's so big!" Lumapit sakin sa Dale ay pinakita ang pinitas niyang strawberry.

Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na may anak kami ni Hera. It's been five years at sa limang taon na yun ay hindi ko nakasama ang mag ina ko.

Sobra sobrang pagsisisi ang naramdaman ko when I found out that Dale is my son. Kung sana hindi ako sumuko at pinaglaban ang meron kami ni Hera siguro ngayon sobrang saya ko. But I know everything happens for a reason.

"Dale baby, that's enough na. The basket is already full." Marahang suway ni Hera kay Dale habang nakaupo sa tabi ko.

"A few more mommy. Please.." Dale pouted.

Napangiti ako when Hera gave up and nodded to Dale. Iba talaga ang charm ng anak ko. Now I know why I had that feeling when we first met. Dale got almost all my features except the lips from his mother.

"How can you do it?" I blurted out."

"The what?"

"This? Taking care of Dale all by yourself."

She sighed.

"Di naman ako ang iisa eh, Tita was there and also Alice. They helped me along the way hanggang sa naman ay si Tita 2 years ago because of cancer."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"It's okay, I'm sure she is in a happy place now."

"What about Rivera?"

Kumunot naman ang noo niya.

"Si Ethan?"

"Sino pa ba?" I cant help but to be bitter. He is the reason for all of this! Edi sana nakasama ko pa ang mag ina ko!

"Daryl... Ethan got married 3 years ago."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya.

"B-but I saw you together. I followed you in Florida a year after you disappeared. When Dylan found out that you and his wife were communicating agad niyang sinabi sakin kung na saan ka and there I saw you with him. I-I thought you're living together."

"Yes we were living together back then because he offered his home to us. Hubris na din ako noon and its his way to help us,but Ethan got a girlfriend. Naging katrabaho ko sa isang cafe noon ang asawa niya. When they got together tuluyan din silang nagsama ."Ang gago ko! Why didn't I have it investigated!?

Sandali akong natahimik. I even want to punch myself for being an asshole!!!

Scarlet

Kaya pala... noong inakala kong talagang pinabayaan na kami ni Daryl dahil pinili niya si Bridget ay hinanap niya pala kami but then it went in a wrong situation.

"Kaya ba nagpakasal ka kay Bridget?" Hindi ko mapigilang itanong.

Kimi itong ngumiti.

"After I went back Bridget went to my office. Galit na galit ako sakanya especially when she just told me that it was a set up, na nawala naman talagang nangyari samin. I cleared things out to her but then she doesn't want to let go and she confessed that she is dying."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Bridget was sick!? At higit sa lahat hindi totoo yung mga nakita ko!! I was so stupid!

"At first I thought she just said that para maawa ako sakanya but then her parents told me about it. She had a coronary heart disease at may taning na ang buhay niya. Her parents beg to me na kung sana ay wag kong iwan si Bridget and convince her to get treatment. And I did but then si Bridget na mismo ang umayaw. All she wanted was to be with me until her last days."