F A R A
I couldn't stop thinking about Dad. I was trying to convince myself that I was now ready to forgive him, although he lied to me about Storm.
I stared at the ring that had been kept for a year in a jewelry box that I brought with me everywhere I went. I nearly forgot about it, but now that I held it once again, I can't help but stare at it from a new perspective.
Its diamonds were sparkling. And when I wore it, the ring looked so beautiful I couldn't stop myself from smiling. I kept reminding myself that I was still married to Storm. I thought I could no longer wear our wedding ring and treat Storm as my husband. Now, I was wondering if could now kiss him anytime I wanted-- crazy!
I couldn't wait for him to come back.
I was interrupted from daydreaming when I heard my phone ring. I stood from the chair of the study table and went to pick up the phone from the bed. It was from an unknown caller.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Good morning."
I gasped when I heard the voice of the caller. Kahit hindi siya magpakilala, kilalang-kilala ko ang boses niya.
"Good morning, Storm," I greeted back in.
"Did I disturb you?" he asked.
"Uhm... no." Really. He did not because I love hearing his voice. He could disturb me all he wanted. "H-how are you?"
Oh, come on, Fara. Have a little bit of sweetness! I chastised in my mind.
I heard him let out a chuckle and said, "I miss you."
I bit my lip. Humiga ako sa kama at nailubog ko ang mukha ko sa unan dahil sa . . . kilig? D*m―oh no! I swore that I would never curse again. But seriously, did I need to say that I missed him, too?
"Fara?" tawag nito sa akin.
"I'm sorry, mahina ang signal. H-hindi kita masyadong maintindihan," I reasoned.
"I said I miss you," he repeated.
My breathing paused for a moment before I took a deep breath. My face felt hot at the moment. I'm sure my face looked like a tomato now. Goodness! Am I so in love with Storm that he could make me feel like this by just simply saying that he missed me?
"Uhm..." I cleared my throat. "Yeah, I miss you too," halos pabulong na sabi ko.
"Really?" he told me suspiciously as if he wasn't convinced.
"Yeah."
"Sounds not."
Napaismid ako. "I-I don't wanna say it again."
I heard him laugh. "Oh, that's so sweet, Fara," he said with sarcasm and jest at the same time.
If he just knew how much I missed him. But I was too shy to express it.
"By the way, are you taking your medicines in time?" he suddenly asked.
"Yes. I just took one this morning."
"Good. Does it feel okay? What about the pulsing in your head?"
I shook my head though he couldn't see me. "It's gone."
"I can't contact the house number. Just tell Manang Linda that I want to talk to her."
"Okay. When will you come home?"
"Tomorrow? I'm not sure but I have to stay here for three days."
"Okay. Just take care―"
"Fara?" Manang Linda's call and knocks on the door cut me off.
"Uhm, wait," sabi ko kay Storm.
Bumaba ako ng kama para pagbuksan ng pinto si Manang Linda. "May bisita ka sa baba," bungad nito sa akin.
"I have a visitor. I'll just talk to you later," sabi ko kay Storm sa cellphone.
"Okay, bye."
I ended the call and followed Manang Linda downstairs. Nakita ko si Kuya Tyler na nakaupo sa sofa ng living room ng bahay, ngunit naagaw ng pansin ko ang batang nasa tabi nito. It was... Mark?
"Kuya," I greeted him.
He stood up when he saw me and approached me with a hug. "How are you? Do you like it here?" he asked.
I nodded my head.
"I came here to visit you and talk to you."
"Why is Mark with you?" I asked him, still wondering how this child knew him and why he was with my brother.
"Say hi to Tita Fara," he said to Mark.
"Hi, Tita Fara!" Mark greeted me with a wide smile on his lips. I just smiled at him.
I turned my eyes back to Kuya Tyler and asked, "How did you get him?"
"That is what I want to tell you," he said with happiness in his eyes, which was very unusual to him. "Mark is my son," he said and patted the child's head.
My eyes widened in shock. "What?"
"This kid is my son," he repeated.
I exchanged my stare at both of them. Their hair color, eyes, nose, and lips... I realized they looked so much alike! This was unbelievable!
"How?" I asked with confusion.
"A long story." He sat down again on the sofa with Mark.
"Daddy, I'm hungry! Can't we eat now?" Mark said, looking at Tyler with a sad face.
"Manang Linda is cooking," Kuya Tyler told Mark.
I sat on the couch. I couldn't help but stare at them with amusement. I felt grateful to have a nephew from my own brother!
"Ikaw ba ang kapatid ni Fara?" tanong ni Manang Linda kay Kuya Tyler nang mapadaan ito sa amin.
"Yeah," Kuya Tyler replied.
"Naku! Napakaganda talaga ng lahi nina Sara at Francis - maganda't gwapo ang mga anak," nakangiting saad nito at nilipat ang tingin kay Mark pagkatapos. "Bakit kasama mo ang bibong anak ni Peachy?" Nilapitan nito ang bata upang hagkan sa pisngi. Mark giggled at her.
"He wants to be with me all day."
"Ikaw ba ang ama ng batang ito?" kunot-noong tanong ni Manang Linda.
Kuya Tyler slightly smiled and nodded.
Halata man ang pagkagulat sa mata ni Manang Linda, tumango-tango pa rin ito bilang tugon. "Aba't mapaglaro talaga ang tadhana."
How did it happen? I was still wondering because I didn't know that Peachy and Tyler had a connection with each other. But they were classmates nga pala before.
"Halina kayo at mananghalian na tayo," Manang Linda told us while heading to the dining area. We followed her and sat around the table that was already arranged.
"Hindi ka ba nalilito dahil dalawa ang Daddy mo?" nakangiting tanong ni Manang Linda kay Mark habang nasa hapag-kainan kami.
Mark shook his head. "Their faces are different," Mark innocently answered.
We all laughed.
"Pero parehas ka ng tawag sa kanilang dalawa." Napangiti ako nang makita ko ang pagkalito ni Mark dahil sa sinabi ni Manang Linda.
Lumingon ito kay Kuya Tyler. "Daddy, what should we do?"
"You can call Storm 'Uncle Daddy'," Tyler suggested.
Napaisip ito. "Okay! I'll call him Uncle Daddy when he got home."
I just smiled at his cuteness.
***
"You're so lucky, brother," I told him. Kami na lang ngayon ang nag-uusap sa labas ng bahay. Medyo maulan-ulan pa rin.
He looked at me and replied, "Yeah."
"I wish when he grows up, he's not a womanizer like you," I said as I smirked at him.
He frowned. "I'm not a womanizer."
"Really? Then how about Sophia? She's your fiancee, right?" I was referring to his model fiancee. I never liked that girl for him; she was too flirty. Ate Peachy was better for him, but I wasn't sure if Ate Peachy even wanted him.
"Yeah."
"Will you marry that girl?" I frowned. He nodded his head, which made me roll my eyes. "How about Mark? He needs a complete family."
"I can manage to be a father to him. I'll support him financially."
"How about Ate Peachy?"
"What about her?"
"Did you two already talk?"
"Yes."
"Hindi mo ba gusto si Ate Peachy? She's a perfect wife material than Sophia. She's so adorable and I like her for you," I said, trying to convince him. Nagbabaka-sakali lang naman.
"All that matters to me is Mark," he seriously said.
Natahimik lang ako at bumuntonghininga.
Well, it was still his decision. Maybe he was really in love with his fiancee because I never heard that he was dating other girls when Sophia and he became official.
"I'm glad I can talk to you like this now, Fara. You're getting better," Tyler said, changing the topic.
I heaved a sigh. "Thanks to Storm."
"How's your status with him?"
"We're still married."
"I know," sabi niya, at hindi ko iyon inasahan. "Dad confessed to me. That's why we're not okay now. He shouldn't have lied to you."
"I'm ready to forgive him now. I wanna talk to him."
Tyler's brows raised as he looked at me. "How come?"
"Everyone deserves a second chance. He may not be my real father but still, I grew up under his care."
"Glad to know that. Accepting the fact is the solution to making your life better. And Dad really cares for you. He was just really protective because he knew that time might come, Tito Franco would take you away from him."
"But he shouldn't have killed Tito Franco. He should have just put him in jail."
"We couldn't blame him because he loves Mom so much. If I had been given a chance to kill Tito Franco, I would kill him as what Dad did to him."
I just took a deep breath. It was still painful for me to think that my real Dad was a rapist.
"Is he in Las Vegas now?" I was referring to Dad.
I saw worry and hesitation on his face. "Yes, but..."
"But?"
"He's in jail."
"W-what?"
"He surrendered himself. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner because I was worried about your condition."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and felt my eyes become warm until they moistened.
Dad's in jail... I thought.
Why? Why did he surrender? I hated him but I never wished to see him in jail. Bakit ngayon pang gusto ko nang ayusin ang gusot sa pagitan namin?
My tears rolled down my cheeks. "K-kailan pa?" I managed to ask.
"Last week." Pagkasabi niya no'n, napahikbi na ako sa sobrang inis na nararamdaman ko.
"W-why did he make a stupid action?"
Pagkaalis nina Kuya Tyler at Mark, naramdaman ko ang pagbabago sa sarili ko. Tila lutang ang isip ko habang nag-iisa ako sa k'warto. Kung ano-ano na namang mga negatibong bagay ang pumapasok sa isip ko.
Am I the reason? That was the question playing on my mind. I was so worried about Dad knowing that he was in jail; I felt like I'm getting paranoid once again.
What if one of his enemies shoots him there? I thought. If that's possible, I am the next target.
I hugged my pillow and closed my eyes tightly. It was raining again with the loud sound of thunder, and that scared the hell out of me.
God, help me, I prayed.
It was attacking again. My hands were getting cold and sweating. The fear I had in my heart was now waking up.
"I don't like this, please!" I cried.