Raging Affection (Isla Contejo #1)

Chapter 38

"We are also hoping that you could somehow forgive us. Hindi kami naging mabuting magulang sa 'yo at sa Kuya mo. You've seen how cruel we were and at some point, that reflected both of you. We have failed in giving you proper guidance. Hindi kami naging magandang ihemplo."

"Mommy, that's not true—"

Umiling-iling siya. "That's that truth, Fleury. Parents are the first teacher of a kid. Parents should know how to be a good role model so the kid would emulate that. But we failed in that part and we are so sorry." She sobbed. "Malaki 'yong naging kontribusyon namin sa kung paano ka lumaki. Pasensya na dahil habang lumalaki ka, nakikita mo 'yong mga kasamaan o kung ano mang panlalamang namin sa kapwa. You shouldn't have seen that. You could've been a much better person from the very start if we just showed you how to be a good person."

Umiling ako at mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay ni Mommy na nasa aking pisngi.

"It's not your fault, Mommy." Napatingin ako kay Daddy. "You were both good parents to me."

Ngumiti lang si Daddy sa akin at hinaplos ang aking buhok. Muli akong napatingin kay Mommy nang hawakan niya nang mahigpit ang kamay ko.

"Basta... whatever mistake you did in the past, may it always serve as a lesson for you as your life goes on. We are more proud of you right now. Keep doing good things. Keep being better. Not for everyone else, but for yourself. Okay?"

Tumango-tango ako at muli siyang niyakap pati na si Daddy. I felt him kissed my head.

"I love you, Mom and Dad. Please stay here? Don't ever leave me again..."

Hindi sila sumagot at mahigpit lamang akong niyakap.

"Fleury? Fleury..." I heard someone calling me from afar. "Fleury, wake up..."

Nakaramdam ako ng mararahang pagtapik sa aking balikat. Kumunot ang noo ko at unti-unting naidilat ang mga mata. Gamit ang nanlalabong mga mata ay nakita ko si Kuya. Napakurap-kurap ako at may mga butil-butil ng luha ang tumulo sa gilid ng mga mata ko.

"Are you okay? You're crying," Kuya said while looking at me worriedly.

"She may had dreamt of something," I heard Ms. Ongpauco.

What? Dreaming?

Agad akong napabango mula sa pagkakahiga. Nasa ospital pa rin ako at narito pala ang doktor kong si Ms. Ongpauco. Inilibot ko ang mata ko sa bawat sulok ng kuwarto.

"Where's Mom and Dad?" I asked.

Kumunot ang noo sa akin ni Kuya habang si Ms. Ongpauco naman ay marahan lamang akong tinitigan.

"What?" litong tanong ni Kuya.

Nagkatinginan sila ni Ms. Ongpauco at nakakaintindi namang ngumiti ang huli.

"Napanaginipan mo ba ang mga magulang mo, Fleury?" she gently asked.

Umawang ang bibig ko at napakurap-kurap sa isang realisasyon. Nakaramdam ako ng lungkot at napayuko na lamang.

So... they weren't real. I just dreamt about them.

Bumuntonghininga si Kuya at umupo sa gilid ng kama. Marahan niyang pinunasan ang gilid ng mga mata ko na may luha. He smiled a little at me.

"Buti ka pa, dinadalaw nila sa panaginip. Ako, hindi."

Tipid ko siyang nginitian. Muli akong napatingin kay Ms. Ongpauco. Hindi ko alam na dadalaw siya ngayon. Binigyan niya ulit ako ng isang magaan at mainit na ngiti bago nagsalita.

"Ysmael called me and informed me of what happened. I'm just wondering if you wanna talk about it with me."

*****