Pretending Mrs. Acosta (COMPLETE)

Chapter Six

Bullet's POV

Hindi ko pinansin ang masamang tingin sa akin ni mama habang naiwan kami sa harap ng hapag. Nagkunwa akong abala sa pagkain dahil ayokong magtalo pa kami. We've been doing that since that woman came into our lives.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You terrified the poor girl!"

Napahinga lang ako ng malalim at hindi ako sumagot. Ipinagpatuloy ko lang ang pagkain.

"Kung ano-ano ang mga kailangan mong itanong sa kanya. Bakit kailangan mo pang itanong kung saan sila nagkakilala ni Hunter? Kung saan sila ikinasal? Do you think that is important?" Galit na galit ang tono ni mama.

Kahit gusto kong ibagsak ang hawak kong kubyertos ay marahan ko iyong ibinaba sa plato ko at pinahiran ang bibig ko ng nakita kong table napkin.

"'Ma, that woman is afraid because she knows I know that she is faking it. I was just asking the basic questions. Where did they meet?" Natawa ako ng nakakaloko. "It was just a simple question na hindi niya masagot ng tama. She would say in a church? Trust me, ma. Hunter would never step foot inside a church kung hindi ka kasama." Muli kong hinawakan ang mga kubyertos ko at nagsimulang kumain.

"I don't believe that your brother does not believe in God anymore. Maayos ko kayong pinalaki, pinalaki na may respeto at may takot sa Diyos kaya mali ang sinasabi mo."

"Whatever you say. Lagi naman ganoon, eh. Si Hunter lang ang pinapaniwalaan mo. You never believed in me," matabang kong sagot.

"Because everything you say is always a joke! Everything you say is not believable. How many times did you trick us? Yeah it was funny at first but what happened? You almost died because of that," galit na sabi ni mama at inis niyang binitawan ang hawak na table napkin.

Hindi ako kumibo at wala sa loob na sinalat ko ang pendant ng kuwintas na suot ko tapos ay nakapa ko sa dibdib ko ang isang peklat.

A scar that reminds me, if not for this pendant, I shouldn't be alive today.

"That was a long time ago, 'ma. And bakit ba sa akin napunta ang usapan? We are talking about the stranger that you invited in our house."

"She is not a stranger, Bullet. She is your sister in law. Asawa ni Hunter. Kailangan ba akong paulit-ulit doon? I don't understand you. Napaka-simple ng pinag-uusapan natin pero ginagawa mong kumplikado. Akala ko ba magaling kang businessman?"

Alam kong maysakit sa puso si mama pero ako yata ang mauunang atakihin sa puso sa mga sinasabi niya.

"'Ma, please be reasonable. I am saying this because it's a fact. She is pretending to know Hunter but she is using us. I don't know why or what is her reason for doing that but I can tell you that she is lying to us. And please stop saying that she is my sister in law. We don't even know what kind of a person is she.  And they got married in a mountain? In a mountain, 'ma. I am going to check the NSO if their marriage is valid," sabi ko.

"I don't care if they got married or they didn't get married. She is pregnant with your brother's child. That child is your brother's flesh and blood. Apo ko ang nasa tiyan niya kaya hindi ko sila pababayaan." My mother's voice is so firm at alam kong hindi ko na ito kaya pang baguhin.

"How you would know that it is really Hunter's child? 'Ma, let's be realistic. Let's do a paternity test para masiguro natin na anak ni Hunter ang ipinagbubuntis niya." Sabi ko.

"Bullet, please stop meddling with this. Please. I know this is your way of coping up for your brother's death. I know it's hard for you too. Lahat tayo nasaktan sa pagkawala niya." Nakita kong yumuko si mama at umiling. "Mas tanggap ko na wala lang dito si Hunter at namumundok lang siya at least I know he is still alive and exploring somewhere. Pero ito? The reality that he is not coming back to us?" Tuluyan ng napahagulgol si mama. Parang nakunsensiya naman ako sa nakita kong itsura ni mama kaya tumayo ako at yumakap sa kanya.