Monasterio Series 8: Nights in Casa Vallejo

Chapter 45

"Why are you here, ate?" Terrence asked.

"I just visited them. Nagdala rin ako ng pastry para sa kanila." kaswal na sagot nito.

Her fierce eyes have once again dug a hole in my soul. This time, she didn't smile and gazed back to Terrence.

"I'll go now."

Pumihit siya patalikod para halikan sa pisngi ang kambal. Iyon lang ang ginawa niya at naglakad na paalis ng kwarto.

At some point, I realized that maybe she's mad at me. Kung alam niya ang totoong nangyari sa akin, maaaring ang ikinagagalit niya ay ang biglaan kong pag-alis... at pang-iiwan ko sa kapatid niya.

Narinig ko ang malalim na paghinga ni Terrence. Nilingon ko siya. Hindi ko na magawang alisin ang alinlangan sa puso ko lalo pa at hindi pa rin nasasagot ang tanong ko sa kaniya.

"I'll just tuck them in bed." he said.

He let go of my hand. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin hanggang sa puntahan niya ang mga bata. He whispered something to them that I didn't hear anymore. Sumama ang kambal sa kaniya patungo sa magkaibang kama ng mga ito.

I watched how Terrence put them in bed. I witnessed how he can easily tame Alexene with just a butterfly kiss on her forehead. I realized that it's me who should be doing that but ended up watching them from afar.

"Good night, Daddy. I love you."

"Good night, Dad."

Tipid akong ngumiti nang marinig ang bati nilang 'yon kay Terrence.

"Aren't you going to say good night to your Mommy?" Si Terrence.

Sabay na tumingin sa akin ang kambal. Alexandre's way of looking at me was a bit chilling. Habang si Alexene ay tila ba natatakot pa rin sa akin.

"Good night." seryosong bati ni Alexandre bago nag-iwas ng tingin at humiga na.

"Alexene..." may paalalang tawag ni Terrence.

Alexene sighed as if she's having no choice.

"Night."

I was about to answer when she immediately lay down with her small back facing me. Napailing si Terrence, nakapameywang habang titig na titig sa dalawang bata.

"This isn't what I'm expecting from you." his voice was in pain.

Matapos lagyan ng comforter si Alexene ay tumalikod na siya at pumihit paharap sa akin. Nagtama ang mga mata namin. I swallowed for I felt a lump suddenly blocking my throat.

Ako ang naunang tumalikod at lumabas ng pintuan ng kwarto. Ilang segundo lang at naramdaman ko na rin ang pagsunod niya.

He gently held my elbow that made me stop. Huminga ako nang malalim at pumihit paharap sa kaniya. Alanganin akong ngumiti lalo pa nang makita ang lalim ng pagtitig niya sa akin.

"I'll just sleep in the guest room."

His eyes darkened. Jaw clenched tight.

"We have a room here. Ours. Together in the same bed."

Umiling ako. "Huwag natin biglain ang mga bata, Terrence. It might shocked them if they see or find out that we are sleeping in the same room-"

"I see nothing wrong with that."

"It might be wrong..." I insisted. "Now that they are fond of someone else."

Hindi siya nakasagot. The mere fact that he couldn't answer despite knowing what I was talking about gave me pain.