I was about to kneel in front of Lola Sally nung bigla akong itayo at pigilan ni Raphael
"Huwag kang luluhod!"
"Paeng ano ba?!"
"Hindi naman sya kasali sa relasyon natin. Kung hindi nya ako tanggap, hayaan mo, pero h'wag na hwag kang luluhod para tanggapin nya. Hindi yan gawain ng isang pamilya."
"Bastos ka! Anong kinalaman mo sa pamilya namin?!"
Ilang beses syang sinampal ni Lola Sally, gusto ko mang pigilan, hawak hawak ako ni Paeng.
"Okay lang po kahit ilang beses nyo ako sampalin, pero h'wag naman sana si Ayie."
"Paeng! Ano ba!"
"Magpaalam ka na sa kanila. Umuwi na tayo."
"Paeng."
"Halika na."
"Lola---"
"Lumayas ka! Sumama ka jan sa lalaking yan! Wala kang kwenta! Manang mana ka sa nanay mo!"
Iniwanan ko si Lola ng pera. Nilagay ko sa isang envelope yun kanina at pinatong sa lamesa.
Paeng drove away. I cried while we are traveling back. Iyak lang ako ng iyak because it is too hard for me to think why is Lola Sally always like that? I cry and cry while he is driving and I appreciate Paeng not asking anything.
He stopped by a gasoline station and parked the car. We are facing a vast rice field.
"Pwede kang bumaba, wala masyadong tao, dun ka na lang tumingin sa palayan. Magpahangin ka muna. Hintayin mo ako, bibili ako ng pagkain natin."
Nakakarelax ang view. He went to the store and bought us something.
"Wala silang rice kaya heto na lang, pizza and juice."
"And chocolates?"
"Chocolates improve mood."
"Salamat."
He just smiled. We started eating. And I just think he needs to know some truth.
"I am adopted."
I don't know if he knew but I may need someone I could share my feelings with. Wala kasi akong mapagsabihan kung si Lola Sally ang topic.
"Lola Sally is my biological grandmother."
He's quiet but he's listening.
"My biological mother met Mama on a train from Switzerland going to Germany. Sabi ni Mama, 5 months na daw na buntis ang ina ko noon. Mama had a miscarriage, she must have been in the same month as my mother. My mother needed help, Mama helped her. Before I was born, my biological mother has arranged it all, in the papers and in the eyes of everybody, I am Dr. Luke and Atty. Traea Seigfreid's daughter they don't know that I was---"
"their daughter."
I looked at him.
"Whatever or however it may be, Ayie, Mr. and Mrs. Seigfreid will always be your parents, your Nana and your Lolo will be your grandparents, everyone in the Seigfreid clan, they are your family. I saw how they love you."
"Yes they love me and I love them."
"Ayie, I know what you are trying to do. Just remember this please,..."
He held my hand so tight.
"Family doesn't beg to each other, they love."
I don't know what happened, what's clear to me now is Paeng makes me calm and safe.
My heart is not too happy but I am not crying anymore. Nakarating kami ng payapa at maayos sa bahay.
"I'll go ahead."
"Paeng."
"Hmmmn?"
"Bakit hindi mo pa dalahin yung kotse?"
"Hindi na. Magcocommute na lang ako."
"Dalahin mo na, masyado ng gabi tsaka may isa pa naman akong sasakyan."
"No need Ayie. I can manage. You go inside and rest."
"Pero---"
"Don't worry, I'll text you when I'm home."
Paeng kissed my head and walk away, my heart beated so fast. Bakit ba ako parang kianakabahan sa twing lalapit ng ganon si Paeng.
Pumasok na ako, naligo at nagderecho higa. Sa totoo lang antok na antok na ako pero di ako makatulog kasi hindi pa nagtetext si Paeng. Hindi ko alam kung nakauwi na ba sya.
From: Doc Raphael
Msg:
I hope you are sleeping already. I'm home now.
Please know that there are people who love you so much. You don't need to beg for love.
Good night!
Mejo generic naman ang text nya pero bakit parang kinikilig ako?
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