Tempted to Touch 2

29

Plano ko naman ding sabihin dito pero hindi ko pa alam kung ano ba ang sasabihin ko. I mean, why would she care?

Nagpatuloy na lang kami sa pagkain at ang mga kasama ko na ang nag-uusap. Hindi na ako nakisali at tinatapos ko na lang ang pagkain ko.

"I already booked our tickets actually. Lean will fly with us back to New York."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Tita Becky.

"What?" I asked her. "I haven't given you my decision yet," sabi ko rito na nakakunot ang noo.

"And you know that we need to go back, Lean," sabi naman nito sa akin.

"What's going on?" my mom asked her. Napailing na lang ako habang ipinapaliwanag nito ang sitwasyon sa mga magulang ko. Alam ko naman ang obligasyon ko pero alam ko rin naman ang karapatan ko.

"Why don't you just let Lean decide on her own?" my dad asked Tita Becky. "She knows her obligations and responsibilities, I think you should let her do her things," he added.

"Mr. De Guzman–"

"Lean will decide for herself. You may be her manager but I am her dad. Are there any fines that need to be paid if she will go home a week later than you? Send me the invoice and I will send you the money immediately."

"Blue..." hinawakan ni Mommy ang kamay ni Daddy.

"Dad..." I heaved a sigh and looked at Tita Becky who was I think surprised with what my dad said. "It's fine. Don't worry about it," sabi ko pa rito.

Hindi naman na kumibo pa si Tita Becky at tumango na lang ito sa akin.

Matapos kaming makapag-almusal ay bumalik na ako sa kwarto. Narinig ko ang phone ko na nagriring kaya naman kinuha ko na rin agad iyon para sagutin.

It was Theon who's calling me.

Agad na pumasok sa isipan ko na marahil ay tungkol iyon sa resulta ng DNA test na ginawa sa kanila ng batang kasama ni Lucy.

Alam na kaya niya?

Muli akong huminga ng malalim bago sinagot ang tawag nito.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Lean. Good morning," he greeted me.

"G-good morning..." humigpit ang hawak ko sa phone ko. "Why did you call?" I asked him and I heard him yawn. Mukhang kagigising lang nito.

"Dad called and he's asking us to meet them," sagot naman nito sa akin. Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil isa lang naman sa palagay ko ang posibleng dahilan kung bakit kami kikitain ni Tito Thunder ngayon.

"Is it about the... the... result?" lakas-loob kong tanong kay Theon. Parang pigil din ang hininga ko habang hinihintay ko ang sasabihin nito.

"Yes, actually. They sent him the result already and we will meet him to know what it was," sagot ni Theon sa akin. "I'll pick you up in 30 minutes," dagdag nito.

"Okay..." halos walang boses ko namang sagot dito. Tanging ang resulta lang ang naiisip ko. Hindi ako mapakali na hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang resulta.

"Lean..." I heard Theon's voice.

"Yes?"

"I know that you're worried about the result, but... whatever it is... always remember that I have never loved anyone as much as I love you. I loved you then, I still love you now. Walang nagbago."

I nodded my head.

"I... I'll just prepare. See you in 30 minutes..." paalam ko na lang dito dahil hindi ko magawang sumagot sa mga sinabi nito. Wala namang naging reklamo si Theon at ibinaba na rin nito ang tawag.