A Rose Hidden in The Thorns.

Chapter 13: Looking.

Mom:

pack your things.

Seeing mom's message I knew something already happened.

And that something ain't on our side.

Nanlulumo kong inayos ang mga gamit ko.

After the confrontation with Aidan ay tuluyan siyang sumama sa kaibigang si Fritz. The next thing I knew ay nag text sakin si Mommy. Her message itself tells na alam na ni Dad.

I don't know how or when, but he knows.

"AIRO!"

Napanalikwas ako nang bangon nang marinig ang boses ni Mommy.

Alam kong uuwi sila. But I didn't it'll be this fast.

I panicked at lumanas na ng kwarto. I was stunned when the guy I treated as a father for months was the first thing to meet my eyes.

"D-dad," Kinakabahan kong turan.

Hindi ko pa lubos na kilala si Dad or Tito Airo. Hindi niya pa 'ko napagalitan O nasigawan. But seeing his dark and deep aura infront of me is enough to shatter the preparation I made earlier.

He didn't say anything. But his eyes shows disappointment, pain, and betrayed.

Alam kong mali ang ginawa namin ni mommy. We lied to him and Aidan. If he throw us away, his reason is completely acceptable.

Pero napamahal na 'ko sa kanila ni Aidan. Sakim ba at makasarili ako kung hinihiling ko na sana ang alalahanin niya ang mga araw na magkasama kami? Yung mga araw na tinurong ko siyang ama't tinawag niya 'kong anak?

"A-anak..."

Ako na ang unang nag-iwas nang tingin nang marinig ang boses ni mommy.

I can feel Dad's stare still on me, but I don't have to courage to face it.

Napaatras si Mom na nasa harap ko nang umangat ang kamay ni Dad at akmang aabutin ako.

From here I can feel my mom trembling. Nasaktan ako nang masilayan ang pagbabago sa tingin ni Mommy kay Dad. From the eyes that's full of love to the eyes nothing but hesitation and fear.

"J-jessica, hayaan mong makausap ko ang anak ko... Please," Napaangat ang tingin ko kay Dad nang marinig ang nagsusumamo niyang tinig.

Anak ko?

Hindi ba....siya galit sakin?

After finding out about our lie he still think of me as his child?

My mom's eyes widen too. Mukang nagulat rin siya sa tinawag sakin ni Dad.

"A-airo..."

Kusa akong napaiwas ng tingin nang magtama ang tingin namin ni Dad.

Pero iba sa kanina. He's eyes is now longing, wants, and hesitation.

"Khai, pumasok ka sa kwarto mo. Me and your t-tito's gonna have a talk."

I saw how Dad's eyes went to my mom, looking so offended by how he addressed him.

Hindi ko na narinig ang usapan nila. I'm here, in my room sitting and waiting for update. Sinusubukan ko rin tawagan si Aidan but he blocked my number.

I stood up when my room's door opened. Mom with teary eyes came in.

"H-hey..." Unti-unti siyang naglakad sa akin at niyakap ako. "I-i'm sorry... Sorry a-anak, ha..." Kusang pumatak ang mga luhang kanina ko pa pinipigan nang marinig ang paghikbi ni Mommy. "T-tayo na lang m-muna... K-kaya naman n-natin diba?"