Playing With Seduction

Chapter Seven

BRYCE

Dad made me promise to never speak of Mom and Vito's affair ever again. It broke my heart to do so but he forced me to. He was genuinely scared of losing Mom. He thought if someone opens up about it magkakaron ng lakas ng loob si Mom at lalo siyang magkakaron ng dahilan na sumama kay Vito dahil hindi niya na kailangan itago ang kung anuman ang namamagitan sa kanila. 

"Ganon na lang yun, Dad?" I asked with tears flowing from eyes. "You'd let what she did to you go? Hahayaan mong iputan ka niya sa ulo? Bakit hindi mo sila harapin? I'll talk to her!"

"Bryce!" He firmly held me by my shoulders as I tried to walk away. He looked me straight in the eyes, trying to stop his tears from falling. "No, don't do that! Listen to me. Your mother had been a wonderful wife to me and a mother to you and your siblings. She may have made a mistake, she's at her most vulnerable right now. Siguro may pagkukulang din ako."

"No, Dad..." I shook my head. I'd seen how hard Dad tried to get into Mom's head since Lolo's death.  Wala akong nakikitang pagkukulang. He'd always understood and tried to comfort her the best he could. "Dad, she was the one who cheated on you."

"Bryce, I don't want to believe your Mom could ever do that to me. We've had a wonderful marriage and a beautiful family. Gusto kong kumapit sa paniniwala na maayos pa rin ang lahat sa amin. Pwedeng nagkamali lang tayo ng akala-"

"I know what I saw, Dad."

"Maybe your mother did make a mistake. But sex isn't love and love is not perfect." He let out an exhale as his voice quivered. "I know this is hard to understand for you. Masyado ka pang bata. Pero hindi ko bibitawan ang Mommy mo dahil lang sa isang pagkakamali. We've already been through a lot. Kung aamin siya sa akin, I will forgive her. Kung hindi, kalilimutan kong nangyari ito. I can't afford to lose her. Please, don't make any move that could possibly ruin this marriage. Hindi ko makakayanan kapag nawala sa akin ang Mommy mo. I'd rather die than live without her."

An overwhelming sense of pity and sadness washed over me. Dad's eyes were already red with unshed tears. Seeing the man I'd always looked at as my superhero crying was the worst thing in the world, nothing had ever broken my heart more than that.

He held me by my shoulders. "Bryce, honey, you have to promise me tayo lang ang makakalaam nito. Whatever they had, it will be forgotten once we go back to Manila."

"I... I promise..." My voice croacked.

"Thank you, Bryce." He forced a smile.

I could not stand even the sight of my own mother as it reminds me of her unfaithfulness. Ako na mismo ang lumalayo sa kanya. I was afraid of what could possibly come out of my mouth whenever I was around her. Nangako ako kay Dad na I would never open that up to anyone. Even to Ate Anais who I share everything with.

"Do we really have to leave so soon, Axel?" Mom said in a sad tone when Dad told her about us leaving. "Can't we stay here for a little while?"

"Hon, I know it's hard for you to have to leave the hacienda but we have to. I have work waiting on me. Isa pa, malapit na ang enrollment ni Toffie. Kailangan na natin ayusin iyon." Dad gently explained.

Mom's face fell. "I understand."

"I'm sure Dad would understand, too." Dad brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Babalik naman tayo. Bibisitahin natin si Dad, I promise."