S T O R M
"This is a school," Tyler commented as he looked at the school grounds with furrowing brows.
I parked my car in front of the school. I already informed Peachy to wait for us at the gate and they were indeed standing afar, waiting at the gate.
I got out of my car and Tyler followed.
"Storm, tell me what―"
"Daddy!"
Tyler stopped and turned to Mark who was running towards us, his arms already going for a hug. I knelt on my knee on the ground and opened my arms for him.
"How's my baby?" I asked as I hugged him tightly.
He grinned and said, "I'm so excited to introduce you to my classmates!"
I gave him a little smile.
"Storm..."
I lifted my gaze at Peachy. She was already standing in front of us, worry etched on her face, especially when she looked at Tyler.
I held Mark's shoulders so he could focus on me. "Daddy wants to tell you something," I started. I paused as I looked at his face intently, then I spoke, "You know that I'm not your real Daddy, right? I am your uncle."
He slowly nodded as he stared at me intently.
"Do you want to see your real Daddy?" I asked again.
He nodded once again. I heaved a sigh before I turned my gaze behind me to where Tyler was. His eyes went wide in shock and disbelief.
"Do you see that man?" I pointed a finger at Tyler.
"Yeah!" bibong tugon ni Mark.
"He has the same eyes as yours, right?"
"Yeah!"
"Mark," I gently said, " he is your real daddy."
We all fell silent. I saw the confusion on Mark's face as he stared at Tyler.
"S-Storm, what the hell is this?" Tyler said, still surprised.
Tumayo ako para lapitan siya. I patted his shoulder and said, "Mark is your son, Tyler. Peachy will explain everything to you later. Right now, you have to be with him on their family day."
His eyes widened in shock. He still couldn't believe it.
"Mommy, is he really my Daddy?"
Muli akong napalingon ako muli kay Mark nang magtanong ito kay Peachy na tahimik lamang na lumuluha. Tumango lamang si Peachy sa bata.
"Really?" Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Mark nang ibaling nito ang tingin kay Tyler.
Lumapit si Tyler sa bata at lumuhod para magkapantay sila ng mukha. He caressed Mark's face as if he was analysing it. "Do you still remember me?" he asked the kid.
Mark shook his head. I knew he was still confused by what was happening.
"I am Mr. Snowman at the airport."
Mark looked at the sky like he was remembering the event. Nanlaki ang mata nito at tumingin muli kay Tyler. "The guy with the bonnet," he said smiling from ear to ear.
Tyler nodded his head and hugged the child. "I can't believe that this smart kid is my son."
I just smiled. I was so happy for Mark. This was what he deserved. He would never long for a father anymore whenever I was not around.
Napatigil kami nang magsimulang pumatak ang ulan. Humiwalay si Tyler kay Mark at hinarap ako. "Storm, just leave me here and I'll take care of them," he told me. I noticed that he was teary-eyed. "Thank you," he sincerely said.
I just let out a sigh and nodded my head. "I have to go," I told them. I looked at Peachy. "Peachy," I called her.
She nodded her head. "Take care, Dylan."
I left them and drove to the airport.
***
F A R A
I woke up to the sound of the rain against the window. I immediately turned my gaze to my side. I saw no trace of Storm beside me anymore, but I saw a sticky note on his pillow.
I have a business trip for three days.
Wait for me to come back.
I love you.
—Storm
I felt a tickly sensation in my stomach and I couldn't help but bring the blanket up to my nose. I couldn't believe that Storm said these words. Until now, I am still thinking about whether or not to believe him. But what happened and what he said last night convinced me to believe him.
He was still my husband.
Still having that tickling sensation, I got up from the bed and looked for new clothes in the cabinet. While I was in the shower, I suddenly thought of Storm.
Three days. Storm would be gone for three days. That would be too long for me. I would miss him.
After a moment, I heard Manang Linda's voice from the outside, "Fara?" I heard knocks on the door of the bathroom. "Nandiyan ka ba, hija? Bumaba ka na pagkatapos mo riyan."
"Opo!" sagot ko at mabilis na umahon.
***
"Pagkatapos mo ipantay, ibuhol mo."
Manang Linda was teaching me how to sew while I followed her example. We were sewing a Christmas sock, and it wasn't easy. She told me this was her sideline especially when in the months of October and November because Christmas is around the corner.
"Ang mama mo magaling din sa pananahi," she said.
"She loved making dresses and gowns," I said in a low voice. I was not comfortable being around people anymore but I didn't want to ignore Manang Linda, either.
"Natuwa nga ako dahil napakinabangan niya ang mga tinuro ko sa kaniya."
Mom did own a boutique in Las Vegas but they closed it when she died.
"Ano po ba ang buhay ni Mommy dati? Why did she become a seamstress?" I asked. Mom never told me about her childhood and teenage life because she was distant from me.
"Naghirap kasi ang Lola at Mommy mo noong mamatay si Rogelio, ang lolo mo. Kaya, nagpakasipag ang Mommy mo noon. Lahat ng trabahong puwede niyang pasukan pinapasok niya kahit na hindi siya masyadong sanay sa trabaho, kaya madalas siyang magkasakit. Nagbago ang lahat nang makilala niya ang Daddy mo. Kakilala kasi ng kasintahan ni Thalia na si Travis ang Daddy mo. Pinakilala sa Daddy mo si Sara. Saksi ako sa pagmamahalan nila. Mahal na mahal ni Francis si Sara." Tumingin siya sa akin nang makahulugan.
"Paano niyo po nasabi?" may pagdududang tanong ko. If Dad really loved my Mom, why did he put us in danger?
"Sigurado ka bang gusto mong malaman? Baka kasi..." she hesitated and looked away.
"I know everything na po."
She heaved a sigh and stared back at me. "Hindi naman siguro lingid sa kaalaman mo ang nangyari sa Mommy mo. Naroon ako noong iluwal ka niya... Mahal ng Daddy mo ang Mommy mo at mahal ka rin ng Daddy mo." Ngumiti siya sa akin nang bahagya.
I looked away and bowed my head. I didn't want to believe her. Daddy didn't love me.
"Nakita ko ang mga ngiti sa labi ng Daddy mo nang masilayan ka niya, kahit na... alam niyang hindi ka kaniya. Tinuring ka niyang sariling anak."
Nag-init ang mga mata ko, kaya binitawan ko ang tela at karayom na hawak ko at mabilis na tumayo. "B-balik na po ako sa taas," I said before heading to the stairs hastily.
Tinutubuan ako ng pakialam kay Dad na matagal ko nang tinanggal sa sistema ko. I didn't want to hear things about him anymore... but I couldn't deny that Manang Linda's words touched my heart.
Does he really love me? I thought as I opened the door of the room.
The ambiance of the room had changed because Manang Linda changed the color of the curtains and bed sheets. I lay down and stared at the ceiling.
"Don't lessen your anger, remove it." I heard Storm's voice chastising me. "If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you."
"But how?" I asked myself. "I still hate him."
"Just think about the good things that this person has done to you. Let the good memories be greater than the bad memories."
Good memories? Do we have good memories? I thought. I closed my eyes and looked in the back of my mind for a good memory that we shared.
I was playing alone in our backyard, catching some dragonflies when I saw Dad on the side, watching me.
"Dad!" I called him. I was about to run towards him when my foot hit something that caused me to stumble. Sumubsob ako sa lupa.
I cried loudly, feeling the pain in my knees and hands. Dad quickly came to me and helped me up.
"Shh..." Pinagpag niya ang mga alikabok sa damit ko. He took a handkerchief from his pocket then he wiped my sweat all over my face. "I told you to not run," he said. "Stop crying. Come on, let's go inside." He held my hand, and then we walked together to come inside the house.
"Napa'no 'yan? I told her to stop catching dragonflies. She's stubborn!" Mommy said with annoyance.
I clasped Daddy's forearm and hid behind him. I didn't want to see Mommy angry at me even when I was a kid.
Daddy didn't talk back. Instead, he led me to sit on a chair before looking for the first aid kit in the cabinet. I just watched him while crying silently.
"Daddy, are you going to lock me inside my room?" I asked him.
He didn't answer me. "Give me your hand," he said as he kneeled down in front of me.
I gave him my hand.
He put cream on the wound and blew it to lessen the pain. He did the same to my knees. "Stop crying now," he softly said.
"Mommy is mad at me," I said.
"Don't mind her," he said and then carried me in his arm. "I brought something for you," he told me.
He took me to the living room where I saw many toys. They almost occupied the living room. My teary eyes widened in surprise.
He put me down on the sofa and took the nearest toy - a barbie doll. "You'll play this and never catch dragonflies so that Mommy will not get mad again, okay?"
I nod my head slowly while my eyes were staring at the toys with my lips parted in amazement. My heart was filled with joy and excitement seeing a lot of toys for me here.
"Do you like it?"
"I love it, Dad!" I answered with a wide smile on my lips. I was so happy I could not contain my loud voice.
His face softened and then smiled at me...
I couldn't deny the fact that Dad became a good father to me. It was just that his ways were different from the other Dads I knew.
I just smiled bitterly, and I felt hot liquids well on my cheeks.
I was starting my Christian walk now, my new start, and I was serious about it. If God wanted me to forgive my Dad and if this was the way for me to achieve the peace and joy I always wanted to have, I would do it. This was the time for me to show God that I was sincere in my faith.