Unbind the Strings

Eight

I was waiting outside the house when I saw a car approaching. He quickly parked the car at dali daling lumabas para puntahan ako. Hindi na siya dapat nag abala. It's already 11 PM.

"Come here." he said before wrapping me around his arms. I was crying the whole time and wala na akong pakealam kung makita niya akong panget kakaiyak.

"Shhhh. It's okay. Iiyak mo lang 'yan. Stop when you feel better, okay?" sabi niya habang tinatapik ang likod ko ng dahan dahan.

I stopped crying and let go of the hug. I was looking down when he pulled up my face and said, "What happened? You can tell me everything, makikinig ako."

We entered the car and he drove it to the park. We sat down the swing and I started to open up to him.

"I entered the house and I saw my mom sitting on the floor na para siyang binugbog. There was this man, in his middle 30's standing behind her. Tinanong ko kung sino 'yung lalaki but she just told me to leave. Syempre 'di ko kilala 'yun tapos ganon pa makikita ko, ayoko siyang iwan..." I'm starting to cry again.

He was caressing my hand and he's just looking at me with a worried expression. "You can continue whenever you feel like it, okay? No pressure. I'm listening."

"Hindi ko alam kailan pa naging sila nung kupal na 'yon pero wala siyang karapatang saktan si Mommy ng ganon." Pasigaw kong sabi dahil inis na inis na ako.

"After my dad left, we never talked about something serious. I never thought...I never thought na nasasaktan na siya ng ganyan."

"When was the last time you asked her kung kamusta na siya?" Napatigil ako sa pag iyak at napatingin sakanya.

"I think the reason why she hid it from you is because she doesn't want you to worry and she thinks that the guy can make her happy and accompanied..."

"Cali, hindi lahat ng nakangiti, masaya. Sa likod ng mga ngiti na 'yon ay may problema silang dinadala pero hindi nila sinasabi kasi ayaw nilang mag alala yung malalapit sakanila... rhymes baby 123 ABC joke!" Hinampas ko siya sa braso bago ako natawa sa sinabi niya.

"Panira ka talaga eh 'no?" I said while smiling.

"Being happy looks so much better on you." he said while smiling at me.

"Thank you, Jay. Thank you kase you never left my side lalo na kapag kailangan kita." He just smiled back and held my hand.

"Go inside. I'll drop you off. Make sure to talk to your mom, okay? 'Wag ka matutulog hanggat hindi kayo naguusap ng maayos." he reminded me.

We went inside his car and he dropped me at the front of our house. He waved and gave me a sweet smile before signaling me to enter first. I waved back at him and smiled. I entered the house and it seems like wala na rito 'yung lalaki.

Dahan dahan akong umakyat ng hagdan nang marinig ko si Mommy.

"Cathan...can we talk?" she looked hurt and her voice sounded like she was in so much pain. Bumaba ako ng hagdan at tumingin sakanya.

"Sorry Ma." I said.

"No Cali, you don't have to say sorry. It's my fault. I didn't tell you about Arthur because I'm scared na baka magalit ka or mag worry ka sa'kin and I don't wanna see you worrying about me...Your dad left me and I feel so alone...pero 'wag mo iisipin na 'di kita inaappreciate nak, you're always here but I can't see you..." She said while crying and holding my hand.