Sprouted Desire ✔

Kabanata 50

Nagpaalam ako kay Mamáng na hindi ako uuwi dahil plano kong doon matulog katabi ng anak ko mamayang gabi. Pumayag naman si Kristine na doon muna sa bahay matulog sa unang pagkakataon.

Simon and Donya Melvira didn't go to the farm so I held my son all day, didn't let someone hold him aside from me.

Ilang beses sinubukang kunin ni Simon ang anak sa 'kin pero hindi ko kailanman pinagbigyan. Conrad on the other hand was nowhere to be found. Nasanay lang siguro ako sa pagkabrusko niya kaya't nagtaka ako nang 'di siya makita.

In the afternoon, I was busy sitting on the terrace with my son playing above my lap when I saw Pet and Shiena arrange the table outside the shadows of mango trees. It was already time for afternoon snacks. Napakunot-noo ako nang pagbalik nila'y may buhat silang pang-barbeque.

I asked Shiena when she called me to join them, "Ano'ng mayro'n at parang bongga ang meryenda ngayon?"

She arranged the bbq's while she was fanning them. "Ngayon daw kasi darating ang ipakikilalang girlfriend ni Sir Conrad ate."

Hindi ko naitago ang pagkagulat. "May girlfriend siya?" Hindi ko akalaing may papatol pala sa mayabang at nakaka-intimidate na taong 'yon.

Natawa si Shiena. "Gulat din ako! May mga inuuwi na kasi siya dati rito pero kailanman ay 'di niya pinakilalang girlfriend."

Napatango na lang ako. Ilang saglit pa'y lumabas na ang lahat maging ang mga tauhan para mag-meryenda. I quietly sat in the corner with my son. The rays of the afternoon sun heated my skin but I was too engrossed with the excruciating pain pulsing inside me.

After this day, I wouldn't see my son for a while again.

Mula sa pagtitig sa magkahugpong na kamay namin ni Silious ay napaangat ako ng tingin nang may aninong nagtakip sa naaarawang mukha ko.

I saw Simon put my food above my table. He stared at me longer before he moved back. Napalunok ako nang malalim pero hindi ginalaw ang pagkain. I just fed my son.

Natapos na ang meryenda at magsisimula na ang dinner sa mansyon ng Valdez ngunit wala pang dumadating na Conrad. Donya Melvira was already worried but his sons assured her that their brother was already on the way. I heard the rumors about their quarrel before and I was genuinely happy to witness that everything about them were now okay.

Alam ng Donya na dito ako matutulog sa unang pagkakataon kaya't alam din ng lahat. Buti na lang at wala akong natanggap na bayolenteng reaksyon. I was delighted that she let me. Maybe because the fact that it would be my last visit.

We were all quiet in the dining. I snatched a glance to the young fine Valdezes who were busy devouring their food. Since Donya Melvira's sons came back, I never witnessed the two showing disgust and spitting insult toward Simon, me and my son... well of course, aside from the eldest. Natutuwa ang aking puso na kahit papaano'y 'di nila kailanman pinakitaan ng kasamaan ang anak ko.

The dinner was about to finish when we heard footsteps coming from the living room. We all looked back only to witness Conrad, holding a woman in his arms.

Our eyes met and my mouth fell open. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa kanila bago nalipat kay Simon na bakas rin ang pagkabigla sa mukha. I turned back my gaze on her again yet she just gave me a cold stare. As I'd expected.

"Winona," sambit ni Simon bago bahagyang napatayo.

Kita kong bumagsik ang mukha ni Conrad at bahagyang hinila ang dalaga padikit sa kaniya.

Naiwan na silang lahat sa sala samantalang nagpaalam na akong patulugin si Silious. Isa pa, hindi naman ako karapat-dapat na makisawsaw doon dahil hindi ko naman sila kaano-ano. I moved seeing Donya Melvira nod her head.