How To Make A Serial Killer

| 37 : The Good Son |

----- CHAPTER 37 -----

Pagbaba ng sasakyan, nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan nang makita ang mansyon sa harapan ko. Kulay puti ang kabuuan nito, maliban lang sa mga sulok at naglalakihang mga french window na kulay itim.

Kung tutuusin, halos pareho lang ang laki nito sa safe house na pinagdalhan nila sa amin noon.

Ang kinakagulat ko lang ay ang katotohanang mula ngayon ay dito na ako titira, kasama nila. Ibang-iba kumpara sa kinalakihan ko. Walang Tito Maynard.

"What do you think?" Inakbayan ako ng tatay namin at nag-angat siya ng tingin sa mansyon. May kalungkutan mang natitira sa mukha niya, kahit papaano ay ramdam kong totoo ang ngiting pinapakita niya sa akin.

Ngumiti na lamang din ako at nag-angat ng tingin sa mansyon.

"As long as the food is good, I'd live anywhere," biro ko na lamang. It's not like I'm going to tell him what's really going on in my mind. He just buried his beloved wife a few hours ago.

"Well, you should know. Your old man studied culinary arts in his golden days," pabiro niyang pagmamalaki kaya kahit papaano ay natawa ako.

"Don't believe him, Wren! Nag-enroll lang 'yan doon para landiin si Mommy!"

Kapwa kami napalingon at nakita si Donovan na nasa loob pa rin ng sasakyan, nakadungaw lang sa bintana. May suot pang sunglasses ang siraulo, akala mo sobrang init eh makulimlim nga ang langit.

"Dondon, get the hell out of there and help me with these!" reklamo ni Andros na nasa likurang bahagi ng sasakyan, hirap na hirap habang inilalabas ang napakaraming mga paper bag. Kailan pa siya nag-shopping?

"Sabi ng doctor, bawal akong mabinat!" sigaw ni Donovan, parang tangang nakapatong ang mukha sa bahagyang nakababang salamin ng sasakyan. "Wren, sub!"

"Just call the maids! I won't let my little girl carry all of those," giit ng tatay namin at saka muling ngumiti sa akin. "I'll show you your room. Magpahinga ka muna doon dahil alam kong pagod ka. Nga pala, hindi namin sigurado kung magugustuhan mo ang kuwarto mo. Sabihin mo na lang sa akin kung ano man ang gusto mong ipabago."

Napakarami pa niyang sinabi pero panay lang ako sa pagtango at ngiti.

Giniya niya ako papasok sa mansyon, nakapatong pa rin sa balikat ko ang magaan niyang braso.

Natigilan kaagad ako nang makita ang napakalaking litrato sa ibabaw ng grand staircase.

It's a photo of my mother. Dressed in white, she sat on a bench with the trees surrounding her. She had a bright smile on her face while holding her baby bump.

I our father heave a pained sigh. Hindi ko namalayang kahit siya ay natigilan din at napatitig sa litrato.

"If only she's here with us . . ." The smile on his face is still there, but I can tell he's feeling nothing but sorrow again.

"She's always with us . . ." I assured him with a smile. "Tito showed me a video of her when I was a kid. She wished me a happy birthday and told me how much she loved me . . . How she wanted to hold my hand."

I sighed and closed my eyes for second or two, trying to stop myself from crying. "I forgot about that video for years, but while I was on the brink of death, her voice came back in my head. I think it was her, trying to console me. Trying to let me know that no matter what happens, she's always with me."

"V-Video?" Tears streamed down on his face as he looked at me with disbelief. "I-I want to see the video . . . D-Do you still have it?"

"Siguro nandoon lang 'yon sa bahay. Hahanapin ko—"