MISSION 3: Claiming You

Chapter 33 - Overheard

"Narinig mo ang sinabi ng apo ko, Letty. Wag mo siyang pangunahan sa desisyon niya," kalmanteng salita ni Lolo Gener.

"Myca is a wonderful person, Papa. Compassionate, kind, strong and very brave. She will be a wonderful addition to this family. At hindi mahihirapan si Clifford kung sakali dahil alam ni Myca ang demand ng trabaho namin. Pare-parehas kaming nasa serbisyo, after all," pangangatwiran ni Letty.

"At iyon mismo ang ayaw ko. Ayaw kong danasin ng mga magiging anak ko ang pinagdaanan ko dahil parehas kayong nasa serbisyo ni Daddy. Both of you, you were never there for me. Ginawa ko ang lahat para tuwing school year ay may award ako. Hoping na uuwi kayo para isabit ang medalya ko. Pero wala. Ibinuhos ninyo ang lahat ng oras sa serbisyo, habang ako na anak ninyo, namamalimos ng atensyon ninyo."

The room was dead silent after that.

Itinakip ni Pretzhel ang kamay sa bibig para pigilin ang ingay na muntik na niyang magawa. The pain and anger can be felt in every word that Clifford uttered.

And it cuts Pretzhel's heart. Deeply.

But a new kind a fear grew in her heart. A fear she never saw coming - a fear that threatens to break Pretzhel's steely resolve.

"Clifford, anak..."

"Sa sobrang kagustuhan kong mapansin at mapalapit sa inyo ay tinalikuran ko ang pangarap kong maging arkitekto. Pumasok ako sa PMA. Umaasa na kapag nagsundalo ako, matutuwa kayo. Pero naroon nga ako, ramdam ko namang parang wala rin. Hindi ko maramdaman ang concern ninyo."

"Alam mo naman na hindi ka namin pwedeng bigyan ng special treatment sa PMA, di ba? Pag-iinitin ka ng ibang kasama mo sa akademya," sagot ni Lorenzo.

Rinig ni Pretzhel ang pagtunog ng bangko, kasunod ang mga hikbi. "Clifford, anak. I'm so sorry."

"Kung talagang gusto ninyong mag-sorry ay wag ninyo akong panguhanan sa desisyon ko. Bata pa lang ako ay hinayaan niyo na ako, kaya bakit ngayon ay biglang manghihimasok kayo? It's too late for that. I want Pretzhel to be the mother of my children. Just accept that."

Want. Mother. Children.

Pretzhel's eyes suddenly filled with tears.

She's holding on to the thought that Clifford wanted her because he loved her.

But her treacherous mind reminded her of what Clifford once told her.

Love and lust. When it comes to opposite sex, there's a very thin line that separated them, sweetheart. I won't even deny that I used the love excuse before just to get things that I want.

"It may not seem like it, but I'm just looking out for your future, anak," ani Letty sa pagitan ng paghikbi.

"And I'm also looking out for mine. But most of all, I'm looking after my kids future. Nasa serbisyo na ako at madalas wala sa bahay. Mas mabuting ang ina ng mga magiging anak ko ay lagi lang nasa tabi nila. Ayaw kong danasin ng mga magiging anak ko ang dinanas ko. Pretzhel loved me since she's a teenager, and she loves me still today. She prioritized me and I'm sure she'll do the same to our future children."

Pretzhel felt as if a brick crushed her heart as a new memory played on her mind.

I know you will be a wonderful mother and I can't wait to make you one.

Lord knows how much I want to make you pregnant.

They'd been talking about future plans before, but how come she never noticed it?

They'd been discussing her being a mother to Clifford's children, but never as Clifford's wife, his life partner.

"Sisiguraduhin kong hindi sila mamamalimos ng atensyon sa mga magulang na parehong wala sa tabi nila. Ayaw kong iisang tabi nila ang totoong pangarap nila dahil lang naghahanap sila ng atensiyon at validation mula sa mga magulang na iba ang prayoridad."