His Unloved Wife

33

Napadilat ng mata si Athenna nang maramdaman niyang may humahaplos sa buhok niya. Agad siyang napaupo ng maayos nang makita si Sohee na nakatingin sa kaniya. Tinignan niya ng mabuti ang anak at hinalikan ang kamay nito. Biglang nalaglag isa isa ang mga luha niya nang ngumiti ang anak niya sa kanya.

"I'm sorry baby.. I'm so sorry.. Mommy really doesn't intend to lie.. S-Sorry Sohee-ya.." hikbi niya at nakatingin lang sa kanya si Sohee.

"Baby I'm sorry. I-I promise Mommy won't lie anymore just p-please Sohee-ya, don't be mad at me." dagdag niya at agad na inalis ni Sohee ang kamay niya sa pagkahawak ni Athenna. Biglang kumapal ang mga luha na nagsigbagsakan sa pisngi ni Athenna habang nakayuko sa tabi ni Sohee. She doesn't want to stare at her daughter's eyes. Athenna knows Sohee really hates her at the moment.

Napatingin si Athenna sa dumamping maliliit na daliri sa kanyang pisngi at ramdam nito ang pagpunas nito ng mga luha niya. She stared at her daughter who is busy wiping her tears away. "Mommy told me that she will never cry again, so why letting this tears drop Mommy?"

Napahagulgol si Athenna at sinubsob ang mukha sa katawan ni Sohee habang yakap ito. Sohee plays with her hair. "I just wanna know my Daddy. I wanna see him...touch him.... hug him... kiss him...
walk with him... play with him...tell him how I love him and miss him. Is it too much to ask for Mommy?"

"No baby, it's not." Umiling si Athenna at tinignan ang anak.

"Then why lie?"

Napatigil si Athenna sa sinabi ni Sohee. Why though? why did she choose to lie? Simple question with a long explanation. Bakit nga ba nagsinungaling siya?

"It's a long story for you to understand Sohee---"

"Then let me know Mommy."

Tinitigan muna ni Athenna sa mata ang anak bago umiwas ng tingin. Nilibot niya ang paningin niya at hinahanap niya ang bulto ni Suho. Napatigil ang mata niya sa lalaking natutulog sa kabilang side ng kama ni Sohee. Suho was leaning on the bed while holding Sohee's hand tightly not wanting it to let go. That's how should a father be.

"Mommy wasn't love by Daddy because he loves someone else. Then something happens Sohee-ya so I migrate to Germany with Tito Jongsuk and Tita Hyeonjoo. Mommy filed a divorce with Daddy and I didn't know that you are already in my tummy. Daddy back then was bad so I didn't let your Daddy knows about you. Until you came to the world and I did lie to you because I don't want your Daddy to get you away from me. Your Daddy doesn't even know that he has a daughter named Sohee. Then things happened for us to migrate back to Seoul and after what happened to you, Mommy told Daddy about Sohee. Is it enough baby?" Tanong ni Athenna at mahinang tumango si Sohee.

"So where is Daddy then?" Napabaling ang tingin niya sa natutulog na si Suho sa tabi ni Sohee at huminga ng malalim.

"Mr. Chocolate is your ... d-daddy, Sohee-ya." nagdadalawang sagot ni Athenna,

"You said Daddy was a bad guy but Mr. Chocolate is not bad. He is kind. He help me to find you when I was lost."

"It's because he doesn't know about you. Me and Papa Tyron lied to your Daddy that you are my daughter with Papa Tyron that's why." Napakunot ang noo ni Sohee sa sinabi ni Athenna.

"So if Daddy was Mr. Chocolate, so Daddy now was already a good guy? so Daddy change?" May kislap sa mga mata ni Sohee habang nagtatanong kay Athenna at agad na tumango si Athenna.

"So you two are like this?" Inilahad ni Sohee ang kamay niya at bahagyang inilayo ang dalawa niyang daliri na nakadikit. Umiling si Athenna. " No baby. Daddy didn't pass the divorce paper to the judge so Mommy and Daddy are still married but then things between us are like.... complicated."

"Do you think Daddy loves me?" tanong ni Sohee. Napatingin si Sohee sa kabila niyang kamay kung saan hawak hawak ni Suho at ibinalik rin ang tingin sa ina. Bago pa makasagot si Athenna ay may narinig siyang nagsalita na baritono ang boses. That baritone and manly voice belongs only to someone she knew.

"Daddy loves you... so much." Iniangat ni Suho ang ulo niya para makita niya ang anak na gising na. Nginitian niya si Sohee at agad siyang tumayo para punasan ang luhang kumawala sa mga mata ni Sohee habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"I'm sorry Sohee. I only know about you when your Mommy told me. I don't know about you until now---" Suho was cut off when a pair of arms encircled around his neck and sobs was visible.

"I miss you so much Daddy. I really do." hikbi ni Sohee at hinagod lang ni Suho ang likod ng anak na umiiyak. Napagawi ang tingin niya kay Athenna na nakatingin sa kanila habang may tumatakas na luha sa mga mata nito.

"I know Sohee-ya. I know." mahinang sambit ni Suho at dahan dahang inilayo ang anak sa pagkayakap. Pinaupo niya si Sohee sa kama nito at inayos ang anak baka kase mabaklas ang dextrose na nakakabit sa kamay nito sa biglaan niyang pagtayo at pagyakap sa kanya.

"You should be careful when moving Sohee. Your head is still sensitive." sabi ni Suho at tango lang ang sagot ni Sohee habang pinupunasan nito ang mga luha sa mata gamit ang maliliit na kamay.

"Do you want to eat something baby?" tanong ni Athenna sa anak na kinukusot pa ang mga mata.

"Mommy chocolates~"

"But baby--" Napatigil si Athenna nang iniabot ni Suho ang isang box ng Ferrero Rocher kay Sohee. She dart glares to Suho and Suho only shrugs. "Let her be. Sabi ni Tyron okay naman daw basta dahan dahan lang sa pagbibigay ng gusto niya."

Kinuha ni Suho ang wipes na binili niya at inilagay iyon sa tabi ng anak na kumakain ng chocolate. Binuksan ni Suho ang sisidlan ng wipes at sinusunod ang kalat ni Sohee habang kumakain. Nakatitig lang si Athenna sa mag-ama at napangiti. She knew Sohee deserves everything like this.

"Mommy say Ahhh!" ani ni Sohee at nakalahad ang kamay na may hawak na isang piraso ng chocolate. Ngumanga si Athenna at kinagat ang tsokolateng nasa kamay ni Sohee sabay punas nito ng wet wipes upang mawala ang lagkit.

"It's enough na okay? You need to drink water and eat those fruits. Para lumakas ka at mabilis ang paggaling mo. Tapos gagala tayo. Will it be okay?" tanong ni Suho at tumango si Sohee habang may malaking ngiti sa labi.

Suho mentally captured the first priceless smile he ever receive from Sohee right after knowing that she is his daughter. That's it! He needs more of his daughter's smiles and laughter. Maybe this is the feeling of being a father. Umupo si Suho sa tabi ng anak at kumuha ng pinggan sabay lagay ng sliced pineapples at sinusubuan ang anak na masaya namang tinatanggap ang prutas na pinapakain sa kanya.

Athenna was almost lost staring at Suho and Sohee. For 3 years she is with Sohee, this is the first time she saw Sohee smile with a contentment in her eyes telling that knowing about her father is the last thing she need to complete her priceless smile. The priceless smile that was been hide because of Athenna. Dahil sa pagkakait ni Athenna kay Sohee na makilala ang ama ay dun pala may tinatago si Sohee. Sohee was just a 3 year old kid but then she know Sohee was longing for her father everytime she saw childrens having a father beside them. She knew Sohee was feeling sad and incomplete but her daughter manage to smile and let everyone believe that she is okay. At the age of 3, Athenna knows that Sohee already mastered the art of hiding her emotions.