Whatever We Had

Twenty-seven

#WWH27
27
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Father

"Babe, what happened? You're tulala."
I snapped out from my reverie when Ari spoke. She leaned on me more when I only stared at her. I went silent for awhile. I still can't believe it. I'm... out of words. "Daddy's... not my real father."

"What? Paano it happened?" "What the fuck?" Ari and Raven asked in unison.

We're now back at Foretrieth after a week. Ang daming nakanselang plano dahil sa nangyari sa akin. VDC's branch expansion was left on hold. And the Loyolas flew here as soon as we got back. Kaya lang, isang araw lang akong nanatili sa bahay.

Ari and Raven visited me as soon as I got back at my unit. Nauna pa nga sila sa amin ni Lisle sa unit ko. Akala mo isang buwan hindi nagkita.

"Wraia, are you okay ba? Kailangan mo something or what?" Tanong ni Ari nang mapansing hindi ako kumikibo.

I just shook my head.

"I thought you're kidding me." Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Lisle.

Noong gabing malaman ko iyon ay sinabihan ko siya agad ngunit nagdalawang isip akong ituloy na ikwento dahil sariwa pa sa akin. That's why he thought I was kidding dahil makalipas ang ilang minuto ay sinabi kong biro lang iyon.

I smiled sadly and started to tell them what happened after I went home from the hospital.

I was admitted at a hospital in Habux, the town nearest to Ferris, that's why we booked a hotel room here before finally going home tomorrow. The Clementes, on the other hand, had their separate rooms.

"Wrailette," Dad called as I passed by them in the sofa. I sat in between my parents and glanced at the television. They're watching a series but they seem out of focus. Kanina ko pa sila pinagmamasdan at kanina pa rin sila tinginan nang tinginan.

I heard mom breathed heavily beside me. "Wraie, honey, kung ano man ang malalaman mo ngayon..." Mom was suddenly out of words.

I felt dad went near me. "... always remember that I love you, like my own," he whispered.

I gave them a confused look. Like his own? "Dad, what do you mean..." kinakabahang sabi ko. I'm starting to think of something else. Ano bang gusto nilang sabihin?

"Anak, patawarin mo sana kami kung ngayon lang namin sasabihin sa'yo."

"Dad, kinakabahan naman ako sa inyo, eh. Can you spill the tea already?" I tried to crack a joke but none of them laughed. I just smiled awkwardly.

"Your dad and I met when we were in college. Your dad... is a typical playboy, anak, like any other guys in your generation."

Napangiti ako doon. Dad's just like how I met Lisle? Kaya siguro magkasundo ang dalawang iyan. Birds with same feather flock together.

"Like in a fictional love story, your dad changed because of me. We were just... good friends back then. I thought he was someone I know from the past that's why I made friends with him. Bata pa kami noong makilala ko iyong lalaki kaya akala ko ang daddy mo iyon."

"Who's that someone, mommy?"

She didn't answer me. Instead, she gave me a sad smile. "He... looks exactly like your dad that's why I really thought he was your dad. And he was the first guy I fell inlove with kaya sa pagaakalang ang daddy mo ang lalaking iyon, kalaunan ay naging kami ng daddy mo."

Kumunot lalo ang noo ko doon. Who's he? "I'm confused, mom." I glanced at my dad to ask him a question but I saw his eyes full of unshed tears. "Dad," I called. "Daddy, are you okay?"