TROUBLE IN PARADISE (Galvez Series #2)

Kabanata 34

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

Admiration

Sa tuwing ipapasok ko ang mga damit sa bag at kukuhang muli ay ilalabas niya naman na labis kong ikinaiirita.

"Ano ba, Zion!" Hinila ko palayo sa kan'ya ang bag.

"You're not going anywhere, Aisla." Pang ilang ulit na niyang sabi.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto at tinawag ang pangalan ng anak.

"Lascaux? Come here, baby!"

Binuksan ko ang pinto ngunit wala na  ito doon. I searched in the bathroom at baka nandoon ito. I knocked at the door.

"Las, are you there? Hurry up, please."

Nang walang sumagot ay sinilip ko ang loob.

My forehead creased when I can't find him in his room.

"Lascaux!" I called once again.

I peeked through the railings from  upstairs and scanned the living room from up here. Baka nasa baba lang ito.

"Las!" My voice only echoed but no signs of him.

Dinambahan na ng kaba ang dibdib ko. Narinig ko ang paglalakad ni Zion sa likod kaya marahas ko itong hinarap.

"Nasaan si Lascaux?"

He only shrugged at my question.

"Where is he?!" I shouted in total frustration.

Why is he doing this to me?

"I told you to mark my words but you didn't listen..."

In my most strength I can manage, sinugod ko ito at pinagpapalo ang dibdib at mukha sa sobrang galit na nararamdaman. He didn't budge. Not even a little. Walang ekspresyon nitong tinatanggap ang mapanakit kong kamay.

"Hindi mo siya pwedeng kunin sa'kin! Ibalik mo ang anak ko...!" My voice cracked until I released an ugly cry.

"He's all that I have... why are you doing this to me?! Anong ginawa ko para gawin mo 'to sa'kin ngayon?! Huh? Tell me!" I pumped another fist at him but he held my hand.

For the first in my whole years, I let my emotions go. Binitiwan ko ang tapang na ginagamit kong pantakip sa totoong nararamdaman ko. Sa ilang taong gusto ko nalang na sumuko at hayaang tangayin ng hangin.

My heart constricted in pain like it was being squeezed by a mad man. I look so fragile in every sense in front of him.

"You know how much I meant everything when I said my apologies..."

"H-Hindi naman ako maghahabol pa sa'yo kung hindi dahil kay Las. He's looking for you. For a father. Hindi ko natitiis panoorin siyang tahimik na maiinggit tuwing may makikitang bata na buo ang pamilya. I did all of it because I wanted to see him h-happy..."

"Gusto ko lang naman m-makasama ka niya. K-Kahit hindi na ako kasama sa litrato basta makasama ka niya." I wiped my tears that were harshly falling from my eyes.

"What do you mean? Kung wala tayong anak hindi ka mag aabalang lumapit muli sa'kin?" Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kan'ya.

He sounded a bit disappointed... at himself? What does he mean?

"Give me my son, Zion. Where is he? Lascaux!" Kinuha ko ang kamay sa kan'ya at lumingon sa kabilang dulo ng malaking bahay.

Napabalik rin sa harap niya nang kunin niya muli ito at mahigpit na kumapit roon.

"Answer my question." He demanded authoritatively.

"You ended everything between us! Anong tingin mo ang gagawin ko? Tinanggap ko ang desisyo—"