"P-pa... hindi k-ko na kasi a-alam gagawin ko..." garalgal ang boses na sagot ko.
After some years, this is the first time I called him my father eversince that conflict happened... and the feeling now is nostalgic and filled with longingness.
"Tell me... what is it?" he tapped my back and caressed it. Hindi ko na napigilan ang bugso nang damdamin.
"P-pa... naaksidente s-si Darlene... n-niligtas niya ako k-kaya siya ang n-nabunggo...m-malala lagay niya P-pa..." I said in between my sobs.
Walang naging sagot si Papa at hinimas himas lang ang likod ko. That gesture of him seem to give me permission to tell more and rant everything that's heavy inside my chest.
"P-paolo's gone... then another p-person so special to m-me will be t-taken again... b-bakit? B-bakit nangyayare tong lahat???" I held my head out of frustrations.
"Everything happens for a reason. Kung hindi mo man maintindihan ngayon, siguradong sa hinaharap, malalaman mong lahat ang kasagutan... just be a tough lad. This is a trial that will test how brave you are... Alam kong kaya mo, that's how I knew my son..." he calmly said and shake my other shoulder.
"D-dad... I love her... and i-it hurt so bad... it h-hurts that I can't take it..." I sob louder and cover my both palms at my eyes.
"She'll be okay... trust her. She will fight for you and for the people who's waiting for her recovery. I know that..."
I hum and nod. Paulit-ulit akong tumango habang pinapagaan niya ang loob ko.
"I'm sorry... it's just too p-painful..." i uttered nang medyo gumaan gaan na ang pakiramdam ko. I wipe off my tears with my palm and keep looking down.
"Whenever I-i'm hurt and crying... mom was there for me... and if she wasn't around... you'll do it in place to her..." bulong ko and chuckle a bit.
"Yeah, I remember those times..." natawa na rin siya habang inaalala ang nakaraan.
"So now... i'm hurt so bad... and I wanted to see someone whom I can run into once again just like before... Sorry for disturbing you this late... it's just I n-need my father n-now..." I whispered.
No words came from him and I just felt his warm hug. He's crying that's why my tears fell down again.
"T-thank you... you don't know h-how much it means to me. It r-really made me happy... T-thank you f-for letting me b-become y-your father again..." aniya sa gitna ng paghikbi. I nod and hugged him back.
I miss this feeling, to have a parent who's caring for you. The love of a mother might be unconditional and can't be measured, yet the same with the love of a father that makes you feel secured and protected.
"Pfft.. go on. Kainin mo na 'yang cake. Your cocoa drink might get cold. Finish it already..." he reminded before breaking the hug and patted my head.
I did what he said. Inubos ko ang binigay niya. After crying my eyes out, I feel hungry and dehydrated.
Ilang minuto ang lumipas, may nagdoorbell sa pinto and when my father opened it, it was Theo.
Halos isang oras rin kaming nanatili roon bago napagdesisyunang bumalik sa ospital. My father asked me if he can visit. Pumayag ako dahil gusto niya ring makita ang kalagayan ni Darlene.
The next day came. Nang buksan ko ang mata mula sa pagkakatulog ay bumungad na kaagad sa paningin ko si papa na abala sa pagbabalat ng mansanas.
"You're finally awake..." he said at inilapag na sa mesa ang platitong may lamang mansanas.
I lean my back against the headboard of the bed nang maupo ako ng maayos.
"Am I that early? Kakabisita ko lang rin sa kaibigan mo..." aniya na may pag-aalinlangan sa tono dahil wala akong naging tugon.
"Did you came here once? I feel like I have a glimpse of memory... that you're peeling an apple here... o baka... baka panaginip ko lang..." at first I'm asking but then it came that I'm talking to myself.
He chuckle at inabutan ako ng mansanas.
"I came here so often, hindi mo lang napapansin. Darlene let me enter here, kapag tulog ka lang... I'm also the one who's bringing you apples and peeling 'em..." aniya.
I chuckle in amusement. Hindi ko inaasahan na ginagawa pala iyun ni Darlene.
"She's reminding me as well... about the sort of conflict we had. She's hoping that we... make it up..." I look down and rub my nape.
"Morning..." Theo greeted after opening the door at pumasok ng walang pag-aalinlangan.
"Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit nakuha niya ang puso ng anak ko..." wika ni papa na nagpainit ng mukha ko.
"Ohh... inamin na ba niya tito?" usyoso ni Theo bago kumuha ng buong mansanas sa basket.
"Yeah, last night he confessed it..." sabay ngisi ni papa.
"W-will you both s-shut up..." I hissed but they continued talking like I'm not in front of them.
"Ohhh... kung hindi pa siya umamin siguradong ako ang manliligaw kay Darlene..." then he smirked at me.
"Yeah knock it off Mr. Piss the Pants..." I fought back which made him frown.
"Kaya pumasok sa mansion dahil may mga naririnig na kaluskos sa paligid, imagining like those scenes from horror movies..." I added na mas ikinalukot ng mukha niya.
"And how about you Mr. Crybaby? Iyak ng iyak sa papa niya..." ganti niya na ikinahalakhak ni dad.
I glared at him but he just stick his tongue out, pissing me more.
"Kung ipagpapatuloy mo pa pagiging indenial mo, aagawin ko na lang sa'yo si Darlene..." he seriously stated that made my brows furrow.
"Then be the best man win..." hamon ko na mas ikinangisi niya.
"Huh... no thanks. Bakit ko pa siya ipaglalaban kung alam kong nasa iba na ang puso niya? It's a waste of time, isn't it?" and he nonchalantly yawn.
Naiiling na lamang na nakinig si dad sa naging usapan namin. He continued peeling the other apples while smirking.
Ilang minuto ang lumipas, dumating naman si Professor Jed. He said that he have something to tell to dad alone kaya't inimbita niyang lumabas muna ito.
"After the talk, I'll be leaving..." paalam ni Dad bago tumalikod.
"Pa..." tawag ko bago pa siya makalabas. Huminto siya at nagtatakang lumingon.
"My next chemo will be next week... h-hope that y-you'll come..." I uttered, quite enough for him to hear.
He smile warmly at me and nodded bago tuluyang umalabas kasabay nina Professor Jed at Theo.
I smiled in relief and look at the clouds. Pakiramdam ko ngayon ay may malaking tinik na nabunot sa dibdib ko.
End of Chapter 43:
A pathernal love
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Teen Fiction[Soon to be Published] BLURB Eve I. Meneses, a principled fourth year Architecture student and an artist who started hating people after what happened two years ago which changed his outlooks in life. The loathing in his heart created an overwhelm...
Chapter 43: A pathernal love
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