He's My Cousin!

[Ch.56] Tell Me

"Tatanungin ko kayo ng isang beses," madiin niyang sabi sa harap ni Tito Jay at Tita Carissa. "Bakit hindi kami pwede ni Aya? Why is it so wrong to love her?" Ang boses niya tila ba nagpipigil ng galit. I looked at him as he was holding himself back. Why would he even ask that question? Gusto pa ba niyang maisupalpal sa mukha namin na kahit kailan ay hindi kami pwede? Gusto pa ba niyang marinig iyon mula sa bibig ng mga magulang niya upang paniwalaan niya 'to? Was he crazy?

"B-because you're co-cousins!" sagot ni Tita Carissa. Napapikit ako. Ito ang realidad na kailanman ay hindi ko matatakbuhan.

Nagulat na lang ako nang napaupo si Paolo sa sahig, sa paanan ng kaniyang magulang. He started sobbing and my heart broke into million little pieces as I stared at him. If only I could do something, if only I could ease his pain. If only I could take away his worries, his insecurities, his hardships.

Sumisikip ang dibdib ko. Hindi ko na kayang makita siyang ganito. We'll just run away... away from all these. I'll give up everything for him. Kakayanin ko iyon. Iyon ang naisip ko noong mga oras na iyon. Hayaan nang itakwil nila ako huwag ko lang makitang unti-unting masira si Paolo. I couldn't take seeing him like this.

I was about to reach for him when he looked up to Tita Carissa, and I stopped on my track. "Hanggang sa kahuli-hulihan ipagkakait niyo sa akin ang totoo?" Tears were continiously flowing down his cheeks. W-what was he talking about?

"Paolo, anak, anong--" his mother was trying to pull him up but he resisted.

"Trystan Paolo!" saway sa kaniya ni Tito Jay. I wasn't sure, but I think I saw fear in his eyes.

"Hindi niyo pa rin sasabihin sa akin ang totoo?" sigaw ni Paolo. "Gusto kong marinig mula sa inyo..." He sounded frustrated.

Buong lakas siyang tumayo.

I was staring at them all the while, but I didn't know what was happening anymore. Yes, I knew they were arbitrating us for the relationship that we had, but I couldn't understand what Paolo was doing anymore. He seemed to be forcingly extracting something from his parents. Something I didn't know about. Something I was dying to know about.

"P-paolo..." banggit ni Tita Carissa. And the tables have turned. Ang boses niya'y parang inaamo ang anak. She was about to reach for him, but he stepped back. "Anak--"

"I am not your son!" sigaw ni Paolo at nabalot ng katahimikan ang buong bahay.

I saw Jiro shut his eyes and bit his trembling lips. Ella's jaw dropped. My parents were staring at them with their eyes rounded in shock. I heard Tita Joanne's gasp. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? Was he cutting his blood ties with his parents? Was he out of his mind? Was he still drunk? Was he being delusional? Or...

Napasapo ako sa bibig ko. No, no, no. That can't be. That just can't be.

"You owe me a 21-year worth of explanation and you couldn't even tell me the truth!" No. Please, no. "Na kahit na sinabi kong mahal na mahal ko si Aya ay hindi niyo nagawang sabihin sa akin ang totoo kahit na alam ninyo na 'yon ang magpapagaan ng nangyayari sa amin. Among all of us, it's you who's selfish!"