(S&BS 1) String-knitted Hearts [Published by Psicom ICONS]

String 33: Forgiveness

*** 

NANGAKAUPO nang magkakaharap ang buong pamilya ni Charley sa conference room ng inupahan nilang hotel. Ipinaubaya nila sa program coordinator at sa mga MC ang pagpapatuloy ng anniversary party kahit na wala sila.

Everyone looked grim and tired. Nilalapatan ng paunang lunas ni Dr. HH ang mga sugat at pasa ni Tito Donald.

"Let's clear things now and get this over with. Ano'ng pumasok sa mga kukote n'yo at nagrerebelde kayo laban sa akin?" umpisa ng daddy niya. Kina Tito Donald at Tito Armand nakatuon ang mga mata nito.

"This is not rebellion, Kuya. It's just that we have made decisions for ourselves, okay? Decisions that will make us happy," si Tito Armand iyon.

Nakikita niyang seryosong nakikinig si Dr. HH sa kabila ng ginagawa. Napapasulyap ito sa balisang si Tita Berna.

"Decisions that will ruin our name!" matigas na pahayag ng daddy niya.

"Yes, Kuya. We made decisions na magbibigay ng imperfection sa pangalan natin. Kahihiyan? Siguro. But no one's happy with the perfect reputation you're impossibly trying to uphold. I am gay and I have Andy. Armand and Berna's divorced. And you. . . hindi ba't may itinatago ka rin? You have Miranda, Rupert, and Candy!"

Nagdilim ang mukha ng ama kasabay ng lalong pagkuyom ng kamao nito. Panay ang galaw ng paa nito sa pagkakaupo.

"I know about the divorce. I know about you being gay. But none of that will matter if only all of you were discreet about it. No one could have found out and we could have been saved from the shame!"

Natigilan silang lahat sa sinabi nito.

"You mean, you also know about me and Howard, Kuya?" tanong ni Tita Berna rito.

Napatayo ang daddy niya. "Of course! A lot of our acquaintances saw you together! Wala kayong ginawang effort para magtago. At hindi ka kailanman nagtatagal sa Amerika sa tuwing naroon ka. I'm no fool! I know that something's happening behind my back!"

Natigilan muli sila. Naramdaman ni Charley ang pagtitimpi ng mga kasama sa silid.

"Are you out of your mind?" tanong ni Tito Armand na napatayo na rin. "Kahit na alam mo, you didn't say anything about it and watched us suffer?"

"Suffer? You call yourself suffering? Don't bullsh*t me, Armand. You control half of our family's wealth while flawlessly pretending to be a good husband to a cheating wife! I bought all the reporters who came to me because of your wife. The society knows you as an enduring and ideal husband! How could you call that suffering?!"

Lumipad ang kamao ni Tito Armand sa panga ng daddy niya. Gusot ang mukha nito sa galit.

"Dad will be so proud of the kind of beast that you became! Berna deserves to be happy! Ikaw dapat ang nakakaalam kung paano ang hindi maging masaya dahil gano'n ka. Hindi ka masaya sa ipinilit sa 'yo ng Papa! I gave Berna her happiness because that's what I promised her when she married me!

"So what if she's not a Roxas anymore? So what if she's not my wife anymore? She's still the mother of my children! She put up with you and all our family rules! She chose me over and over for the sake of our family. But I am not heartless like you!

"You who keep Miranda because you love her too much you couldn't let her go even if all you could give her is sufffering. She's suffering because of your selfishness and because of the marriage you chose over her! I am nothing like you!"

Nahihilo si Charley sa palitan ng salita at sa tensyon na nasa silid. Inasahan niyang magkakaroon ng confrontation pero hindi sa ganitong paraan. At nanlumo siya nang makita sa mukha ng ama na totoo ang sinabi ni Tito Armand tungkol dito.