PAINFUL LOVE #SunflowerAwards2k18#TLA2018

Chapter 34

"Andrea! I'm glad you're already here." Tumayo ang ina niya sabay pahid ng mga luha saka lumigid sa kanyang likuran.

Nanatili siyang nakatalikod, malakas ang pagtahip ng dibdib, at hinahabol ang paghinga. Isa lang ang kilala niyang Andrea rin ang pangalan.

"Nak, panganay namin ng Tito Dale mo..." doon pa lang siya pumihit paharap sa mga ito, "...Andrea Kathrilynn."

Lumaki ang mga mata nito pagkakita sa kanya. Siya naman ay napayuko.

"And Andrea," boses iyon ng kanilang ina. "Siya ang tinutukoy kong isa ko pang anak."

Naramdaman niyang lumapat ang kamay ng ina nila sa kanyang balikat kaya't napilitan siyang mag-angat ng mukha. Sumalubong sa kanya ang matatalim na mga mata ng bagong dating.

"I thought her name was Nicky," wika ni Kath na sa kanya nakatingin.

"It was my nickname for her." Kunot-noong bumaling ito sa huli. "Haven't I told you that her real name is Janna Nicola?"

"No, mom. Because if you did,  I'm pretty sure I won't forget that name. Ever."

Hindi nakaligtas sa pandinig ni Janna ang diin ng pagkakabigkas ni Kath sa huling salita; unlike their mother who seems had no idea about the tension between her daughters.

Humila ito ng upuan katapat niya. Maging ang mama nila ay bumalik na rin sa dati nitong pwesto.

"A-akala ko ma, walang nakakaalam ng existence ko sa p-pamilya mo."

"Last year lang nalaman ni Andrea ang tungkol sa'yo, Nic. Labis-labis na kasi ang pangungulila ko sa'yo kaya madalas akong umiiyak. Then, one day she caught me and asked me why. That was the moment I confessed everything to her." Hinagod nito ang buhok ng isa pang anak na ikinangiti naman ng huli. "I knew she would understand and I'm glad she did."

In Janna's sight, adoration was very evident in their mother's eyes as she fondle Kath. The same thing could be observe to the latter.

Iniangat niya mula sa pagkakapatong sa ibabaw ng mesa ang mga kamay, letting them rest in her lap. She was happy for them. She truly did. However, aside from happiness, another emotion was also building within her.

'Dapat ako ang inalagaan ni mama...'

'Dapat sa akin ang affection na 'yan... '

Her palms curved as she bit her lower lip. Magkaagaw na nga sila ni Kath sa pagmamahal ni Trent pati ba naman sa ina magkahati pa rin sila?

She smiled bitterly. But do I have a choice? She's my sister after all.'

Why did fate was so cruel to her?

"Nak?" The soothing voice of their mother snapped her from wondering thoughts.

"Yes, ma?"

Reaching her hands, she placed it again over the table. And to Janna's surprised, their mother clasped both her ang Kath's fingers. She observed that Kath frozed from her sit, giving her the impression that she didn't also expect that action however Kath stayed still.

"It gives me greater joy to see my daughters in the same place, interacting with each other with the knowledge that they're siblings. I never thought that this day would come," maluha- luhang wika ng mama nila habang ang mga mata ay nasa magkasalikop nilang kamay.

Kapwa nagkatinginan sina Janna at Kath. Nasa ganoon silang posisyon nang biglang may narinig silang ringtone.

"It's Dale," their mother said. "Sandali lang mga anak ha? Sasagutin ko lang 'to."