"Ysha I think your dad is cheating on me." I frozed as I heard what my Mom said. My heart skipped a beat.
I swallowed hard as I avoided her gaze. Agad akong umisip ng sasabihin ko sa kaniya.
"Mom, baka naman hinala nyo lang 'yan." I try not to stutter in front of her. Hindi siya sumagot at ngumiti lang ng pilit.
"B-bakit Mom? Paano mo nasabing may babae si Dad?" I cussed multiple times in my head when I stuttered.
"Wala, nanlalamig kasi sa'kin ang Dad mo." She answered.
"Baka naman nagpapalambing lang, parang hindi niyo naman po kilala si Dad. Konting lambing lang 'yon." I teased her.
"Sana nga, hindi ko kakayanin kung may babae ang daddy mo." I saw the pain in her eyes and it broke me into tiny little pieces.
I can't bare to see my mom like this.
"Wag kayong mag isip ng kung ano ano, mahal kayo ni daddy. Don't overthink too much mom, okay? You're just stressing yourself out." I said as I fight the urge to cry.
She smiled at me and patted my shoulder. "Ang baby ko, dalaga na." Sinuklay ni Mom ang napakahaba kong buhok gamit ang mga daliri niya.
"May boyfriend ka na ba?" Nasamid ako sa sarili kong laway dahil sa biglaang pagtatanong ni Mom.
"Mommy naman..baka marinig kayo ni Dad." I said as I bit my lower lip and look around, chinecheck kung baka nasa paligid lang si Dad.
"Oh bakit? Nasa tamang edad ka naman na. Don't you have any suitors?" I was about to answer when a manly voice spoke.
"Ysha. Don't. Accept. Suitors." Ramdam ko ang awtoridad sa bawat salitang sinasabi ni Dad.
"Jordan, 22 years old na ang anak mo ano ka ba." My mom said and giggle. "Ikaw kahit kailan napakastrikto mo."
"Ysha will still not accept suitors, end of discussion." He answered and was about to walk out when my mom called him.
"Aalis na ako, hindi mo man lang ako ihahatid sa may pintuan? Walang halik o kahit yakap man lang?" My mom said like a teenager.
"Tigil tigilan mo nga ako Rosa hindi na tayo mga bata." My dad coldly said and walked out.
Kita ko kung paano nawala ang liwanag sa mga mata ni Mom. I held her hand and she just force a smile at me.
"Wag mo akong intindihin, tulad ng sabi mo mahal ako ng Dad mo. Oh siya papano, aalis na ako." Agad kong tinulungan si Mom na dalhin ang mga bagahe niya.
"I love you, my baby Ysha."
"I love you too, mom" I said and hugged her tight.
"I gotta go, take care of yourself and your dad while I'm away for two months." She said and looked at me.
"Why are you crying?"
Agad 'kong pinunasan ang mga mata 'ko na ngayo'y lumuluha na.
"Nothing mom, I will just miss you." My mom's workplace is far so she always need to leave. Kami lang palagi ni Dad ang naiiwan sa bahay.
"Aww, I will miss you too my baby." She said and cupped my face. She kissed my forehead and bid me goodbye.
Lumabas na siya at pumunta sa taxi na kanina pa nag aantay sa labas.
'Bye mom.' I mouthed before she entered the car.
Sinundan ko ng tingin ang sasakyan hanggang sa hindi ko na ito makita pa.
I closed the door. Napasandal ako dito at agad na tumulo ang masaganang luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan.
I covered my mouth so my dad won't hear me. Parang tinutusok ng libo libong karayom ang puso ko.
Nang makarinig ako ng mabibigat na yabag papunta sa direksyon ko ay agad kong pinunasan ang mga mata ko at inayos ang sarili.
My dad is cheating, I've known it for several years already. In fact, I knew it right from the very start. But I don't have the heart to say it to her---
"Is she gone, babe?"
---because I am my dad's mistress.
"Yes babe, she already left." I said as I smiled at the first man I love.
I love my dad, but as a lover.
---
<3
cttro of the picture.
