Aga
"So Dad, 'di ba sabi mo kanina, nag-bonding kayo nina Mommy at Ada?" Ara asked while looking intently at me.
Akala ko pa naman, tapos na ang interrogation portion but it looks like I'm wrong. Part two's currently in the making.
Buti na lang at wala si Cae dito, she excused herself to go to the comfort room awhile ago dahil kung hindi? Kung saan-saan na naman aabot ang usapan namin.
"Yup, what about that?" sagot at tanong ko, Ara paused at tila nag-isip pa ng susunod niyang katanungan.
"So tell me something about Ada!" she beamed, smiling widely. I bet excited na siyang makita ang kakambal niya and yes, Ada and Ara are twins. They're both 18 years old while Cae on the other hand is 16.
"Si Ada? Well, we met two days ago and all I can say is that she's now a fine lady, just like you." pagkwento ko na ikinangiti niya lalo.
"Really? Is she still childish thou?" she asked again and giggled, pati ako natawa rin ng mahina. Childish pa rin nga ba si Ada?
"Slight. Nag-mature na ang kakambal mo, kagaya mo." I replied.
They're fraternal twins so it's pretty easy to identify if who is who. At saka isa pa, both of them have different personalities.
Ada's the sweet one. Mabait, palaging nakangiti at may pagka-childish. She's the reserve one, nag-mana sa'kin 'yon while Ara on the other hand, she's the serious one. She's frank which is obviously, naipamana sa kanya ng Mommy niya.
"So, may naikwento ba siya sa inyo about having uhm, like, a boyfriend?" she asked again and I immediately glared at her because of that.
Masyado pa silang bata sa mga boy friend-boyfriend na 'yan! "Of course not! 'Di pa siya, or should I say kayo— pwedeng magka-boyfriend ano! You girls are still my babies."
Ara, who is now laughing at my response raised her hands, "Defensive much, Dad? I was just asking, at saka isa pa, that's what you call social life!" sambit nito.
"Basta, hindi pa pwede!" I said with authority and glanced at my wristwatch, it's almost 8 pm. Ang tagal naman ata ni Cae sa banyo?
Speaking of, Cae is now walking towards our direction. "Dad!" she called, problema nito? Namumutla ata..
"O? Anyare sa'yo?" I asked worriedly, binalewala niya ang tanong ko at pilit akong hinila patayo since nakaupo ako.
"Cae, what are you doing?" tanong ko ulit, she starred at me for awhile before answering my question.
"Mommy and I met at the comfort room! We need to get out of this restaurant as soon as possible!" pasigaw na bulong niya, napatayo si Ara dahil mukhang narinig niya rin ang sinabi ni Cae.
"You two what?" 'di makapaniwalang tanong ni Ara, ibinaling ni Cae ang attensyon niya sa kapatid at hinawakan ito sa magkabilang balikat.
"We met Ate. Nagkabangaan po kami an—"
"So nandito si Lea? Isn't that a good thing? 'Di ba gusto niyo siyang makita?" I asked curiously, akala ko ba gusto niyang makita ang Mommy niya? Bakit aligaga siya ngayon?
"Dad, you don't understand! I want to meet her but, not now!" Cae exclaimed in frustration at halos mangiyak-ngiyak na ito sa harap ko.
Tumingin ako kay Ara na ngayo'y tila naguguluhan din sa mga nangyayari, "Ara, wanna meet your Mom?" tanong ko rito, she looked at her sister first at tila ba humihingi pa ng permisyo.
"I'm still not ready to see her, Dad. Uwi na lang po muna tayo, pagod na rin ako." she answered while looking at Cae, I sighed and nodded my head in defeat.
They're not ready to see Lea, maybe next time will do. I'll give them some more time to decide.
"Alright, let's go since tapos na rin naman tayo."
"Since when did you bought this unit, Dad?" Ara asked curiously nang tuluyan na kaming makapasok sa condo unit ko somewhere in Alabang.
For now, we'll be staying here at my condo. Just for awhile at pinapaayos pa ang dati naming bahay.
"Last September lang." I replied shortly.
"Kaya naman pala bago." she added while roaming her eyes around the perimeter.
"You girls are probably tired, occupy the room there at the right, bukas niyo na lang ayusin ang mga gamit niyo since it's already getting late." I told them, they both nodded in agreement at sabay silang naglakad patungo sa kwarto na sinabi ko.
I sat at the couch, resting my body. Nakakapagod din ang araw na ito but no doubt, masaya dahil nag-bonding kami nina Ada at Lea at dumating na rin dito sa Pinas sina Ara at Cae.
Kailan kaya ang araw na magkikita ang mga anak ko at ang Mommy nila? I mean, I know that they're not ready for this but you can't blame me, mahirap na makita mo ang mga anak mo na malulungkot.
Yes, they're happy but when you look through their eyes, you can see the sadness that lies within. I'm giving them everything they need and want, the love and attention; sobra pa nga ata but I know that it will never be enough. Balik-baliktarin ko man ang mundo, kakailanganin pa rin nila ang pagmamahal ng isang Ina at iyon ang kokompleto sa kanila.
Bumalik ako sa realidad nang may umupo sa tabi ko and there I found Caeleah.
"Dad?" she called, I motioned her to speak at makikinig lang ako.
"Sorry po kanina, I was the one who is eager to meet Mommy tapos ako rin pala itong tatakbo. I was just.. scared. Pano po kung hindi niya ako tanggapin? Pano po kung galit siya sa'kin? Ano na lang po ang gagawin ko?" kumunot ang noo ko habang nakikinig sa mga sinasabi ni Cae.
Why is she thinking that way?
"Bakit naman magagalit sa'yo ang Mommy mo? You're her daughter, Caeleah. Kahit ano ka pa at dahil anak ka niya, tanggap ka niya. You know how much she loves you, right?" paliwanag at tanong ko sa nakayukong si Cae. Natatabunan ng buhok niya ang mukha niya kung kaya't hindi ko makita ang reaksyon niya ngayon.
"Daddy, do you think she still love me? Six years kaming hindi nag-kita Dad, do you think nand'yan pa rin ang pagmamahal niya sa'kin?" she asked again, napahawak na lang ako sa noo ko at kalaunang minasahe ito.
"Cae, listen. Kahit ilang taon pa o dekada kayong hindi nagkita, mananatili pa rin ang pagmamahal niya para sa'yo. Like what I said, you're her daughter, Cae. Huwag mong maliitin ang sarili mo. Stop being so negative. Your Mom loves you so much and don't ever question that." pangangaral ko sa kanya.
Cae is just being insecure again that's why she's acting like this. Nangyari na ito noon.
"Sorry Daddy, sorry po dahil I questioned Mommy's love. I promise, 'di na po ito mauulit. I know she loves me, I just can't help it." wika niya and hugged me, sinasabi ko nga ba eh..
"Sssshh, I understand Cae. Just don't think about it again, okay?" sambit ko at tumango naman siya ng ilang ulit.
"Sorry po talaga, para po akong bata sa inasta ko." she said and chuckled, bumitaw siya mula sa pagkayakap sa'kin as she wiped her tears away.
"Ano ba kasi ang pumasok sa isip mo at naisip mo ang mga bagay na 'yon?" naiintriga kong tanong. I know Cae, alam kong matalino siya at alam kong hindi siya mag-coconclude nang walang dahilan.
"Kanina po kasi nang magkabangaan kami, she asked for my name. Masakit po 'yon sa parte ko kasi 'di man lang niya ako nakilala, she didn't even recognize me." she explained, kaya naman pala.
"You were ten nang huli kayong magkita, syempre, nag-mature ka na ngayon, normal lang na hindi ka makilala ng Mommy mo." I said, trying to light up her mood, totoo naman kasi.
Ara is 12 while Cae is 10 nang huli silang nagkita ng Mommy nila. Bata pa sila masyado 'nun at saka isa pa, they don't have any social media accounts dahil na rin binawalan ko sila to have one.
"Now I understand. Dad, know what? Dahil sa mga sinabi mo, biglang nag-bago ang isip ko." wika nito.
"Kung kanina, ayaw ko pa pong ma-meet si Mommy pero ngayon, I'm really eager to meet her again. Pwede po ba?" and by that, a grin was formed on my face.
"Good to hear that."
* * * * * *