Hide And Seek (A Series #4)

Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Shares

"Did you two got lost?" tanong ni Mommy nang kumalma na ang babaeng ginang.

Umiling ang lalaki. "No, we came here intentional after we...uh, we heard." he trailed off. "Pardon us, I'm Felipe and this is my wife, Carmen."

"Oh, uhm, how about breakfast?" aya ni Mommy.

"We're fine. We already ate along the way. Kakagaling lang namin ng States."

"Oh really? Saan kayo ngayon nakatira?"

"We checked in in the nearest hotel. Vista De... Ano nga ulit iyon?" baling ng ginang sa asawa.

"Vista De Lao."

"That's where my daughter is working," masiglang sabi ni Mommy.

Silang tatlo ay tumingin sa aking direksyon. My lips parted a bit when I notice every resemblance they had. It's like I am looking at another older version of my mother. Their smile is so alike!

"Hi, there." nakangiting bati nila. "Ang gaguwapo at gaganda nila."

"Aiofe and Kaden, my only two kids." proud na banggit ng aming ina.

Ngumiti sa amin ang matanda. Bahagyang siniko pa ako ni Kaden at napalunok ako. I already know what he thinks. The smile resembles Mommy a lot!

"Ate..."

Nagtatanong ang nakangiting mukha ni Mommy sa aming dalawa. Tumikhim ako at ngumisi para sa kanila.

"Nice to meet you po. You guys should talk and, uhm, me and my brother will prepare snacks."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sasabihin nila at itinulak ko na si Kaden paalis doon. May pagtataka ang kanyang mukha pero nagpatianod naman.

"Ate, did you see that? It feels like I am looking at Mom!" aniya. "Like another and older Mom."

I sighed sharply. Napahilot din ako sa aking sentido. Kunot noong napatitig sa akin ang aking kapatid. Ito pala ang pagkakataon na talagang hindi ko alam kung saan magsisimula. I looked at him and then I inhaled a deep breath.

Bumaba ang kanyang tingin sa aking hawak na black folder.

"Mukhang kanina ka pa bothered, Ate?"

"N-Nothing. It's just..." I trailed off.

"Something wrong with the company?"

Agaran akong umiling. "No, no, no. Hindi iyan."

He seems worried now. Binitawan ko ang kinagat na labi at tinuko ang isang kamay sa counter habang tinulak sa kanya ang itim na folder.

"I found that in Dad's office. It seemed that he hired someone to look for Mommy's parents, Kad." diretsahan kong bulalas.

Tumaas ang dalawa niyang kilay at kinuha ang folder na iyon.

"But even the orphanage has no clue about Mom's origin. I mean they found her outside the church,"

"Yeah and... and Dad found them."

Sandaling nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin. "Well, that's good news, Ate. I'm sure Mommy wants to know them. Is that why you're worried and bothered earlier?"

I shrugged. May sasabihin pa sana siya ngunit nang tinutukan ang pagbabasa sa nakasaad sa report, naging seryoso ang mukha ni Kaden. I bit my lips again and kept glancing at the opening to the living room and back to Kaden.

Naririnig ko lang ang tawanan doon sa sala ngunit bigla naman tumahimik. Ewan ko ba, dapat kalmado lang ako pero ito ang aking puso, kumakalabog ng malakas.