Uncovering the Camouflaged Daughter

30

This isn't what I'm thinking of right now, right?

Lumapit si Daddy kay Lani at sinabing, "Umalis na kayo, at wag kayong babalik dito!" Nanggigigil na sabi ni Daddy. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa lito.

Why would she be here at this time of night?! And who is that girl that she's with?! I mean, Daddy said that she's just a business acquaintance... it's not work hours anymore. So why would she be here?! And how the hell did she know where Daddy lives?!

Lot of questions has been running in my mind right now and I don't even know if those would be answered that easily.

Isa lang ang sigurado ako... mayroon talagang sekretong tinatago ang babaeng 'to.

"Why, Greggy?! Ayaw mo pa rin bang ipakilala sa kanila ang—" Lani was cut off by my Dad.

"Shut up! You shut up!" Sigaw ni Daddy na nakapagpagulat sa akin.

The girl that Lani's with was just eyeing me, galit ang nasa mata niya. Inirapan niya ako noong nagtagpo ang tingin namin.

"Ang ano? Is there something that I don't know, Gregorio?!" Galit na sabi ng Mommy ko.

Daddy held Mommy's hand maybe to console her but Mommy pulled her hand away from his, harshly. Mommy angrily pointed at Daddy.

"Don't you dare touch me!" Mommy angrily spatted.

Nakita kong may iba nang mga kasambahay ang naglalabasan sa mga bahay ng mga kapitbahay namin dito.

"Mag-usap tayo sa loob. I don't want to cause much attention!" Sabi ni Mommy at hinila ako papunta sa loob ng bahay namin.

Nagulat sila Kuya ng nakita na sumunod si Lani at yung kasama niya sa amin. My brothers and Ate Xandra greeted me with a kiss and a hug. Nag mano sila Kuya at Ate kay Mommy at Daddy, tila naguguluhan pa rin.

"Why is she here, Mom? Do you know her? Kanina pa yan nag-iiskandalo sa labas ng bahay," sabi ni Kuya Alfonso.

Napaupo na lang ako, nawawalan ng lakas. I still can't process it in my mind of what Lani was supposed to say before Dad cut her sentence off. Naguguluhan ako at kinakabahan kung ano bang maari kong malaman ngayong gabi.

Pinagkrus ni Mommy ang kanyang mga braso sa harap ng kanyang dibdib. Nakataas ang kilay na para bang galit. Humarap siya kay Daddy.

"What do I have to know, Gregorio? What do my children have to know?" Mommy seems like she was forcing herself to be calm.

"Why, Mommy? May dapat... ba tayong malaman?" Naguguluhan na tanong ni Kuya Luis.

"Ask your father about that, Luis... kasi kahit ako, naguguluhan at natatakot sa ano ba ang hindi ko alam." Tears started to form on Mommy's eyes. Nilingon ni Kuya si Dad.

Walang nagsalita kahit isa sa amin. I was just silent the whole time, not knowing what to say. Umupo sa tabi ko si Ate Xandra at mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay ko.

Lumapit si Daddy kay Mommy at pinipilit na mahawakan ang kamay ng Mommy ko. "Hon... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." naiiyak na sabi ng Daddy.

Kumunot ang noo ko. What is he apologizing for? I looked at the girl that was with Lani, she rolled her eyes and said, "Ugh! Too much drama. Just tell them that I'm your daughter."

Nagulat kaming lahat sa sinabi niya. What the fuck is she saying? No fucking way! No!

Tears started to pool my eyes. Please tell me that what I heard was wrong. I'm pleading... please. Sana mali lang yung narinig ko.

"What the hell?!" Sigaw ni Kuya Alfonso at lumapit kay Daddy.

Nanghihinang napaluha si Mommy. She started crying. Nanatiling nakayuko ang Daddy at napabitaw sa pagkakahawak niya kay Mommy.