The Mistress's Daughter

Chapter 27

KABANATA XXVII

[JIRSTEN MYLES]

“Letʼs run away...”

Nakatingin lang ako sa mga mata niya. Kahit hindi niya sabihin ay alam kong may nangyaring hindi maganda sa kaniya. The sadness in his eyes was too obvious.

Sa halip na magtanong ay niyakap ko siya. I caressed his back to give him comfort. We stayed like that for almost a minute before I pulled back.

“Kailangan mong magpahinga.”

Agad naman siyang tumango. I guided him to his room and helped him lay on his bed. I took off his shoes before I switched off the lampshade. I was about to leave when he held my hand.

“Can you at least stay until I fall asleep?” tanong niya sa akin.

Nagdadalawang-isip naman ako. Ilang saglit pa ay tumango ako. Umusog siya sa gilid upang bigyan ako ng space. Umupo naman ako sa tabi niya.

“Lay down,” he murmured.

Naiilang man ay tumango ulit ako at nahiga. Ipinatong ko ang kamay ko sa unan bago ipinatong naman ang ulo ko rito. He was still holding the other one with his two hands as if he was afraid of losing me by his side.

He gradually closed his eyes. I watched him until he fell asleep. Hindi ko namalayang pati ako ay makakatulog din.

Kinabukasan ay late na akong nagising. Tulog pa rin si Owen sa tabi ko. Halatang pagod na pagod siya upang makatulog ng mahimbing. Alas dyes na ng umaga ngunit wala pa atang balak na magising.

Bumangon ako at napatingin sa buong paligid. His room was not organized. It was full of trophies and portraits of his mother. He must love his mother so much to keep all of these in his room.

Kaya pala walang pictures ang Mommy niya sa sala o sa kahit saang parte ng bahay ay dahil sa silid niya inimbak.

Napangiti ako habang tinitignan ang mga litrato niya noong bata siya. Nawala rin ang ngiti ko nang mapansin sa lahat ng naka-display na pictures ay isa lang ang larawan na kasama niya ang ina niya. Family picture pa.

Nagulat na lamang ako nang maramdaman ang kamay na pumulupot sa baywang ko mula sa likod. Agad ko siyang nilingon. Sumalubong naman sa akin ang mukha ni Owen na nakapatong sa balikat ko.

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Hindi man lang ako makapag-isip ng matino. Kailan pa siya nagising?

“That was the only picture I had with my mom,” he murmured. Muli akong napatingin sa family picture nila.

“Would you mind if I ask you why?” tanong ko.

“My mom was always busy with her career. She wasnʼt always at home, same with Dad. We are barely a family. Halos Manang Cora ang nagpalaki sa akin.”

Nalungkot ako sa kuwento niya. He had a lonely childhood.

“There was one time, I went to her work, but she told everyone I was her nephew. Hindi kasi puwedeng sabihin sa mga taong pamilyado na siya dahil kasagsagan ng kasikatan niya with her showbiz partner. Despite that, I didnʼt despise her.”

Kinalas ko ang pagkakayakap niya sa akin at humarap sa kaniya. Hinawakan ko ang magkabilang pisngi niya.

“You are a good son,” tugon ko.

Napangiti naman siya. “Am I?”

Muli niya akong niyakap. I could not bring myself to ask him what happened. I knew something was wrong. He was not acting like himself.