Yellow Ribbon

Chapter Eighteen

They all looked shocked to me.

Mommy gasped horribly, my father was confused and Tito Murphy winced his eyes and ate Faith was only waiting for me to explain of what my question was. They all looked puzzled, so, was I. I calmed myself down first and sit on the free sofa beside me and waited for them to explain as how my sister waits for me too.

I inhaled deeply and close my eyes first for me to construct words and let this shaking nerves get off of me.

“So, anyone?” I asked, innocently.

Papa glance at my mother, shocked and almost same with my emotions. Totoo bang wala kang alam?

I looked at Mama who only shook her head. Naiiyak na siya, bago pa makapagsalita ay humikbi na siya sa kinatatayuan niya. Dumalo sa kanya si ate Faith at pinaupo sya sa malapit na sofa. HIndi pa nga nagsisimula, eh.

Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko. Sasaya ba kasi nakadiskubre ako, o magagalit kasi itinago sa akin? I have the rights to know, so, why are you all depriving me from that? Masakit!

I blankly looked at Tito Murphy who only looked broke or lost. Walang nagsalita kahit na sino sa kanila. It made me frustrates more.

“You’re not gonna tell me?” I sternly asked.

“Its for your own good, Dennise.” kahit na umiiyak ay sinubukan niya pa ring magsalita.

“Pero hindi naman forever niyo yun itatago sa akin, Mama.” umiling lamang siya.

“We don’t know what happened to you.” singit ni Tito Murphy.

I frowned. My eyes felt really hot, not because I was about to cry, but, because I’m so angry to all of this drama.

“Bakit hindi niyo alam? Nakasaad doon sa newspaper na nakidnap ako at si ate Jan!”

Umiling si Mama. Nagbabadyang lumapit sa akin ngunit pinigilan ko siya.

“Anak.” she said, I shook my head.

“I need answers, not your embrace. Or I could just go to ate Jan and ask her instead!”

Nang tumalikod ako ay sumigaw si Mama at si Ate. I was almost at the door when someone pulled me back into the living room. It was Papa. His eyes was bloodshot and it was the saddest face I’ve seen from him, niyakao niya ako ngunit nagpumiglas ako.

“Papa! Bitawan niyo ko!” pakiusap ko sa kanya.

Imbes na bumuklas ay mas lalo niyang hinigpitan iyon.

“Den, stay calm. Relax, baby. Don’t do something stupid.” umiling ako,

“Hindi! Gusto ko malaman! Bakit ayaw niyong malaman ko iyon? Bakit ba?!” I said frustratedly.

I felt his kiss on my forehead. Ang aking mga kamay ay nasa gitna ng aking dibdib na naiipit sa kanyang yakap. Hindi ako magiging kalmado kung alam kong hindi nila ako bibigyan ng kasagutan. Mahirap ba talaga iyon?

“I’m sorry, anak. It was my fault!” si Mama,

“Mary!” suway ni Tito Murphy. Umiling sa kanya si Mama.

Tumigil ako sa pagpupumiglas kay Papa. But, the embrace was still tight that even I struggle, it won’t come off.

“She deserves to know everything, Murphy. Our daughters suffered enough until this day.”

Suminghap si Tito, hindi makatingin sa akin, ngunit tumango siya. He massaged the bridge of his nose like he’s stressing out.

I was waiting for Mama to start explaining but she was still crying. My sister brought her a glass of water to calm down. Ilang minuto pa ang hinintay ko para lamang makapagsalita siya. My eyes screams rage, so, when she tried to look at my eyes, she immediately looked away. Guilty.