Concealed Truth

23

It’s been months since the revelation of my real relationship with Liam. Namimiss ko na siya. Sila ni Maddie. simula nung nag-usap kami ni Jho, she’s been updating me of Liam’s activities in school. Yes we are still good friends and she’s been helping me fix everything with Maddie and Liam.

“ Gusto mo bang puntahan si Liam? Maddie told me she’ll be late kasi may inaasikaso pa siya.” ani Jho. Tumawag kasi ako sa kanya when she told me na break time nilang mga teachers.

“ Okay lang ba?”

“ Oo naman. I know he misses you as much as you missed him.” sagot niya. Napangiti ako ang decided to visit Liam.

“ Sige. Dadaan ako. I just have to drop by at Tri’s office.”

“ Tapos mo na yung painting mo for him?” she asked

“ Yes. Finished it yesterday.” sagot ko

“ Okay. If you arrive in school na di pa dismissal ng mga bata, just let Kuya Brent know na alam kong bibisita ka ha? He’ll give you a visitor’s pass.”

“ Okay. Thank you, Jho.” sabi ko.

After namin mag-usap ay nagtungo na ako sa office ni Tri. He asked me if I could paint him a picture for his office. Nalipat na kasi siya ng office since his Dad retired and his brother took over as CEO. Siya naman, napromote as COO.

“ Uy! Yan na ba yung painting ko?” tanong niya. Natawa ako saka inalis ang blanket na nakatakip sa painting. His eyes grew wide when he saw the portrait he asked me to do.

“ Woah! Parang totoo!” aniya

“ Sempre ako pa ba? Wala kang bilib sakin eh.” mayabang na sabi ko. Natawa lang siya saka napailing.

“ Lintek! Balik sa yabang si gago.” aniya

“ Tulungan mo ko. Lagay natin dito.” sabi niya pa sabay turo sa part ng office niya na bakante. I helped him placed the portrait and we admired it after.

“ I get it right?” sabi ko. He smiled and nodded at me.

“ Thanks for this man. You don’t know how happy I am.” sagot niya

“ It’s been 15 years since I last saw Mom and Danica. Ngayon, mas maiinspire akong pumasok everyday dahil makikita ko sila.”

“ It’s nothing. Kinda missed seeing Danica too.” sabi ko pertaining to his little sister. His mom and sister died because of a road accident. Galing sa isang company party ang mga ito nang pauwi na ay nabangga sila ng isang truck na nawalan ng preno. Tita Danielle died on the spot and Danica was in a critical condition. Pero after a few days ay binawian din ito ng buhay. Nakita ko ang nagbabadyang luha sa mata ni Tri kaya agad kong iniba ang usapan.

“ Oo nga pala. I’m gonna visit Liam today.”

“ Talaga? So okay na kayo ni Maddie niyan?” umiling ako saka natawa.

“ I’m just gonna visit him in school. Sabi kasi ni Jho late siyang masusundo ni Maddie kaya naisipan kong puntahan siya.” sabi ko.

Natahimik siya saka napasinghap.

“ Bakit?”

“ Alam mo, patagal nang patagal naisip ko, tama nga lahat ng theory at pang-aasar ko sayo dati no? Naalala mo ba when you first saw Liam? Sabi ko magkamukha kayo. Then nung matagal kayong di nagkita ang sabi ko sayo parang tatay ka kung magdrama saka nung magsesleep over siya sobrang concern mo sa kanya kaya lahat ng binili mo pang recess. Tapos today, naisip ko, Maddie named him after you…”

“ Ha? Tangina nakadrugs ka ba?”

“ Ulol! Di mo ba alam ang full name ng anak mo ha? It’s William Bailey… Liam has all the clues pero bakit nga kaya di natin naisip agad na ikaw yung ama? Or maybe all of us knew it pero hindi lang natin inentertain yung thought na yun because we all believe na galing sa IVF si Liam. Na it’s impossible na ikaw yung tatay dahil galing sa sperm bank yung unknown donor na reason bakit siya nabuo… and lastly maybe because you’re both angry with each other.