THE ADVENTURE OF AUGUST BACK TO EARTH

42. Royalties Reunion

"Her name is Emerald... She's my daughter. Your niece." Pakilala nito at hinila nito si Emerald at iniharap sa akin.

Dahan dahan akong nag squat hanggang sa pumantay na ang tingin namin ni Emerald.

"Hi..." bati ko rito. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya.

Hindi ito umimik at nakatitig ito sa akin na tila nagtataka. I can hear her breathing and see the movement of her shoulders. Napatingin ito kay Augusta at bumalik naman sa akin bago nagsalita.

"Awe you mama fwom the past?" Tanong nito sa akin.

Biglang natawa naman si Kaye at si Lucas kahit ako ay muntikan ng matawa dahil sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko naman masisi si Emerald. If she saw Augusta's picture when she was my age malamang hindi maiiwasan yun.

Kaya umiling ako rito bago sumagot. "No dear. I am your mom's twin sister. My name is August. I am your aunt." Pakilala ko rito.

"A twin sistew." Ulit ni Emerald at ngumiti naman ito. "Yow pwetty." Nahihiyang saad nito at lumapit ito sa akin at yumakap. "You look like mama."

Napangiti naman ako rito. Despite her age, hindi siya nabubulol. Maybe walang baby talk na itinuro rito kaya maaga itong magsalita ng hindi bulol. Binitawan ko na si Emerald at tumayo naman ako at si Augusta naman ang niyakap ko. Somehow, wala na akong maramdaman na galit. Maybe the reason because she's now old. Epokrita ako kung sasabihin ko na dahil wala na akong maramdaman na galit rito. Yes wala na akong maramdaman galit sa kanya because I can no longer see her as a threat with Cayden. I may sound like a bitch but that's the truth. Siya ang unang minahal ni Cayden at hindi ko maiwasan na hindi makaramdam ng takot. But with her current situation right now, it's impossible already. Not unless yung mga type ni Cayden ay matatanda.

"But wait, who is her father?" Nagtatakang tanong ko rito.

"Of course I am the father." May nagsalita naman at lumitaw na katabi ni Augusta.

Napatingin ako rito at naigilid ko pa ang ulo ko dahil nag-iisip ako kung sino ang taong to until I realized kung sino ito.

"Clint?" Naitanong ko pa rito. "Oh my god, I did not see this coming." As in si Clint? Like I can't imagine. Hindi ko talaga ito inaasahan.

"Uhuh, I know what you are thinking. Marami ang nagyari ng nawala kayo dito sa Pandora. Everything has changed." Saad naman ni Clint na nakangiti.

"I'm happy for the both of you." Saad naman ni Cayden and as usual with his stoic face. Akala mo nagbabasa lang ito ng isang sentence.

"Wait! This is too much for me! August? Did I heard it right? This woman is your twin sister?" Shock na tanong ni Misha na ngayon pa nakuhang magtanong. Malamang sa dami ng nalaman nito delay na ang naging reaksyon nito at hindi na nakatiis na hindi magtanong.

"Hhmm... yeah, you heard them right." Sagot ko naman rito. I was eyeing Misha like I am apologizing for something that it is not even my fault.

"Good grace, so that means you're.........?" I know what she was trying to confirm. Kaya tumango ako.

"Yeah. I'm not human. But don't you dare freak out or pass out! Let me explain." Saad ko rito kaya bago pa ito makareak ay kumalma na ito pero alam ko na nagulat na naman ito. "I didn't know I was not human until 5 years ago—"

"What? 5 years ago and you did not bother to tell your best friend?" Sumbat nito sa akin.

"And if I tell you maniniwala ka like? Misha, hindi ako tao. Baka ipadala mo lang ako sa mental bruha ka." Sagot ko naman rito at tinaasan ko pa ito ng kilay.