He's My Cousin!

[Ch.29] Seizing Vindication

[Ch.29] Seizing Vindication

// Ayanna's Point of View

"A-aya," mahinang tawag saakin ni Papa habang nasa hapag-kainan kami at sabay-sabay kumakain ni Mama ng lunch. Paopao was still at the university. I didn't know why but there was an abrupt feeling of trepidation in me, I knew there wasn't anything sentimental about Papa calling me that way, or at least that was what I thought. I must say I felt something uncanny about the atmosphere since Papa came back after a long trail of business trips and tons of to-do's he had to face. I gazed at Mama's side and she seemed to have been stiffened on her place. Nakatingin lang siya sa kawalan at hawak-hawak ang kubyertos niya sa magkabilang kamay.  

"Po?" I slightly lifted my head up. Papa looked slightly uneasy. He kept on looking away from one point to another. "Ma-may problema po ba?" tanong ko. Binaba niya iyong mga kubyertos niya at tumingin sa akin. He smiled slightly, but I didn't think it was of any means implying that he was happy or something like that. He seemed to have done that to ease the earnest atmosphere.  

"June... please," rinig kong sabi ni Mama. Nakatingin siya kay Papa at para bang may kung anong pangangamba ang nararamdaman niya. Napakunot ang noo ko. Ano bang mayroon? Napakapit si Mama sa may edge ng lamesa. I stared at her in confusion. "June..." Still, Papa didn't look at her.

"Ok ka na ba, Aya?" nag-aalangan pa siyang itanong iyon sa akin. I didn't even saw him look at Mama's direction. I saw pity in his eyes as he was looking at me. I gave him a veritable smile and I nodded unto him. "Si-sigurado ka ba, anak? Akala ko pa naman iba 'yung lalaking 'yun. Kaya nga’t kahit bata ka pa ay hinayaan ko siyang manligaw sa’yo at maging kayo," he let out a sigh. "Everything will be okay. I’m here for you… we’re here for you," nginitian ako ni Papa at tumingin siya kay Mama. "Right, Amie?" biglang baling nit okay Mama. Parang nataranta naman bigla si Mama at napatango na lang kahit parang wala siya sa kanyang sarili. 

“Alam ko naman po 'yon. Sana lang po, huwag kayong magalit kay Ian. Malulungkot ako kung magagalit pa kayo sa kanya,” yumuko ako

“Hindi namin maiiwasang magalit sa lalaking nanloko sa’yo, anak. Hindi naman basta-basta ‘yung ginawa niya. Anak kita, Aya, nag-iisang anak, babae ka pa… syempre magagalit si Papa,” tukoy nito sa sarili niya. I reached for his hand at hinawakan iyon.

“Please, Pa. Intindihin na lang natin. Besides, he’s still my friend. Pag balik niya rito sa Pilipinas, maybe we’ll still hang out? Ayoko namang masira ‘yung friendship namin, Pa.”

Papa squeezed my hand. “I’ll try, anak.”

Matapos kaming kumain ay sinabi ko na lang kina Mama at Papa na ako na ang bahalang magligpit ng lahat. Tutal ay mukhang parehas silang stressed out. Sana maayos na nila kung ano man iyong problema nila. Matapos kong iligpit at hugasan 'yung mga pinagkainan namin ay sinamahan ko na sila sa living room.  

"Papa," tumabi ako sa kanya. "Na-miss po kita," dagdag ko. Hinalikan niya ako sa noo. "Mama, bakit mas stressed ka pa kay Papa?" tumawa kami ni Papa.  

"Hayaan mo na 'yang Mama mo, masyado lang kasi akong na-miss niyan," nakita kong ngumisi si Papa. Sinamaan naman siya ng tingin ni Mama at tska siya bahagyang tinpik sa braso. "Ang cute niyo! O siya, akyat na po ako sa taas at maglabing-labing muna kayo," kinindatan ko si Papa. Natawa naman siya.  

"Teka bakit parang baliktad? Di ba dapat kami 'yung umakyat kasi naroon 'yung kwar-- aray!" Hinampas na naman siya ni Mama pero this time mukhang napalakas na. Tinawanan ko na lang sila pero bago ako tuluyang umakyat.