THE BITCH STORY

BITCH' Eleven: Confession (Part II)

The look in Greg's face was a mixture of amazement, wonder, and disbelief. He was clearly overwhelmed and shock was an understatement.

"K-kapa. . . t-tid? H-how. . . How. . . I m-mean. . . I. . .Seriously?"

Napahilamos ako ng mukha at pagod na napaupo sa couch.

"I-I. . ." Ginulo ko ang buhok ko. "I don't know what to think anymore. Di ko na alam kung anong paniniwalaan ko, kung sino ang pakikinggan ko."

One moment I was living my life with only Greg and Manang. And it was fine for me. Tapos bigla na lang silang tatawag?

"They were here in the Philippines all those time, Greg! Nito lang sila nagdecide na mag-migrate sa London. And yet. . ."

Napatingala ako upang pigilin ang nagbabadyang luha sa mga mata ko.

". . . Yet. . . They didn't even bother to drop by and just say 'Hi Prim,buhay pa kami' and. . . And. . . Bigla na lang silang tatawag after fucking hell years to tell me what? Na may kapatid ako at kailangan niya ako?!"

Napapikit pa ko ng mariin. Remembering clearly the conversation I had with my father.

"I freakin' have a younger sister. And she needs me, Greg. And I don't know what to do."

Tuluyan na akong napahagulhol. Bahagya ko na lamang napanson ang pagkabig niya sa akin upang mayakap habang tinatapik-tapik ang likuran ko.

"I. . . I don't know what to say, Love. I mean. . ." Tumikim siya. "You, finally being able to hear from your parents was already too much to handle. Di pa ko nakakamove-on dun tapos, may kapatid ka pa pala? Wow."

Umiling siya tsaka ako inalayo para matitigan sa mga mata.

"You lived your life hating them, Love. I know. I witnessed how you shed tears just by the idea of them abandoning you."

He cupped my face.

"But I was also there when you wished you were with them."

That was wish back to my seventh birth day. Naaalala pa pala niya.

"Kase, Love, kahit gaano mo pa alagaan yang galit sa puso mo at kahit gaano mo pa kumbinsihin ang sarili mo na you don't want to hear from them, at the end of the day, you still yearn for their presence. You still long for their love."