First and Only

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

"Come with me anak, I don't want to be alone Anemone." Patuloy pa rin siya sa pag-iyak habang nakahiga na sa kama.

She wanted to sleep beside me so I let her in my room. Hindi pa rin halos magsink in sa akin kung ano sinabi niya kani-kanina lang.

My dad... a mistress... pregnant...

Hindi ko alam pero parang biglang napuno ng galit ang puso ko. My mom is the sweetest. Alagang-alaga niya kaming lahat. She is beautiful. She is smart. She is loving.

Paano nagawa ni daddy yun? How can he do that to her? To us?

At alam ni Kuya ang kataksilan ng daddy namin. He knew for almost a year now and he didn't even bother to tell us, to tell mom, at least. Kasi kung ako, I would tell her immediately. Kung sana sinabi niya agad edi sana tapos na ang lahat sa kanila ni daddy noon pa man.

"Saan po tayo pupunta mommy? Babalik tayo sa Canada?" Agad akong kinabahan.

I don't want to leave. Not this early.

"Sa Spain anak. Matagal na akong pinipilit ng kompanya na lumipat sa pinakamalaking building namin and I stayed in Canada for your daddy pero ngayon, ibibigay ko kung ano ang gusto niya. Hindi na ako magpapakatanga sa kanya." Mariin niyang sabi.

Spain. That's too far from Massachusetts or New York. That's too far from where Miguel is in the future. Where Miguel wants to stay.

"M-mom..."

I know I am being very selfish right now. Dahil gusto kong doon lang kung saan mas malapit kay Miguel.

"A-Ayaw mo bang sumama sa akin?" I immediately felt guilty. "H-Hindi ko lang kasi alam kung kakayanin kong mag-isa ngayon, Anemone. Pero kung kasama kita alam kung magiging masaya ako, dahil may kasama akong mag-aalaga sa magiging kapatid mo."

I hugged her tightly.

"I want to be with you mommy pero pwede bang sa Massachusetts nalang tayo? I want to study in Harvard, yun ang gusto mo diba?"

I was expecting too see just a bit of excitement and happiness in her eyes but pain was the only thing I see.

"Cambridge... doon nagsimula kung ano ang meron sa amin ng daddy mo. You know I met him there, right? Hindi ko kaya doon anak."

Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin. Of course! How can I be this insensitive?! It was where she went to college. Doon na siya tumanda at lumipat lang ng Canada dahil sa trabaho ni daddy. Mas lalo lang siyang masasaktan kapag nandoon kami!

"Gustuhin ko mang suportaan ka sa gusto mo anak pero hindi ko kayang manatili sa lugar kung saan marami kaming ala-ala ng daddy mo." Ilang ulit siyang umiling. "Kasi alam kong kung babalik ako doon, hindi ako makakamove on. I can't forget your daddy."

"I understand, mommy. I understand. Please, calm down? Stop crying now please? Hindi ko kayang makita kang ganyan."

"Kasi hindi ko alam kung saan ako nagkamali... Kung saan ako nagkulang... I took really good care of myself to stay beautiful even if I age. I tried my best to be a good wife and the best mother... Hindi ko lang alam kung saan ako nagkamali at bakit niya ako ipinagpalit." Her sobs make my heart break in to million pieces.

"Wala sayo ang problema mommy, it's dad. Dahil nakita ko kung gaano ka kabait at kamaalaga. He is the one to blame here. He is stupid."

Nakilala ko si mommy na isang masayahing babae. She is a confident and proud woman. A lot of people praise her because of how wonderful she is and how successful she is. She is just in her early 40's.