CHAPTER EIGHT
*Scars left unhealed
are cuts that were filled,
with hatred and unshed tears. *
***
"I DON'T want you to come. It's just a soccer practice," Rainiel lazily said. "It's not even a competition or something big."
Tinapos ni Reeve ang pagsisintas ng rubber shoes bago tinignan ang anak. "Gusto lang kitang samahan. It's your Daddy time, remember?"
Tumalikod ito at isinukbit sa balikat ang bagpack. "You're just going to distract me, Daddy. I can go to practice all by myself. Ihatid at sunduin mo na lang ako."
"I heard from your grandma that your teammates' parents were always there to watch. Hindi pa kita napapanood mag-practice. Don't you want Daddy to support you?"
Umiling ito. Nagsalubong ang mga kilay. "Basta. You don't have to stay there," matigas pa ring sabi nito. "Hatid mo lang ako, then I'm going to be fine."
"But I want to watch you," pagpupumulit niya naman. Kung ang ibang mga anak niya ay naging sabik sa oras na nilalaan niya ng solo sa mga ito, si Rainiel ay kabaliktaran. Kagabi pa ito umaangal na ayaw nitong magpasama.
"You don't have to, Daddy! I'm already a big boy!" Nagkrus ang mga braso nito sa balikat. "Hindi ko na need nang magaasikaso sa'kin. I can do it by myself."
Napabuga ng hangin si Reeve. Niyuko niya ang anak. "Look, son, Daddy wanted to know you more. I wanted to spend time with you because I admit, I wasn't able to do this before. Dati, binubuhat lang kita. At hindi ko alam kung kailan ka lumaki ng ganito. I lost track. I wanted to make it up to you." He patted his hair.
Iniwas nito ang ulo. "You don't have to. I was not asking you to. Malaki na 'ko, Daddy. Hindi mo na 'ko kailangang samahan sa practice. Kasi sa mga soccer competitions nga mismo, wala ka. I'm used to it. Sanay akong wala ka, Daddy."
Napakurap si Reeve. Ramdam niya ang talim na pinong bumaon sa dibdib. This is the first time he heard his own son say those words.
Sanay na itong... wala siya.
Bumagsak ang kanyang mga balikat. Wala na siyang masagot dahil kahit siya ay aminado sa mga pagkukulang.
"Si Mommy ang lagi kong kasama sa practice. Siya rin ang laging nasa competitions. You don't have to sub for her while she's... on a vacation. Just take me to school and pick me up later."
Lumabas na ito ng bahay. Wala pa ring masabi si Reeve. It was so hard to utter words that can pacify his son. But he knew, Rainiel can't be satisfied. Naramdaman na naman ni Reeve na isa siyang malaking talunan. Hindi niya alam paano kakausapin ang panganay.
"Bye, Kuya! Bye, Daddy. Drive safely!" Riana sweetly said.
Nilingon niya ito. Reeve tried to smile for his daughter. "Thank you, darling." Yumuko siya at hinalikan ito sa pisngi. "Behave, alright? Help Grandma take care of Adam and Rade."
Masunurin itong tumango.
Nang nasa loob na ng kotse sina Reeve at Rainiel ay tahimik. While driving, hindi maalis ni Reeve sa isipan ang mga sinabi ng anak kanina. He was too guilty. Napakalaki ng kasalanan niya sa panganay. He was ashamed to talk, to make things right between them. Dahil sa tingin niya, mas maiinis lang sa kanya ang anak kapag nagpumilit pa siya.
Malapit na sila sa school nito nang ito ang unang umimik.
"When is Mommy coming home?" Rainiel asked.
"Ahm..." Tumikhim siya. "M-Maybe, soon..."
"You've been telling that for eight months already. Is she really on vacation?"
Reeve was caught off-guard. Matagal bago siya nakasagot. "O-Of course. Of course. She just really needs a longer break."
"Bakit hindi ka kasama?"
"Sa'kin niya kayo iniwan. Ako ang gusto niyang mag-alaga sa inyo."
"You just started staying in the house just last week. Hindi ka naman agad nag-stay sa house when Mommy left."
"I-I'm sorry..." that's all he can manage to say. "I'm sorry, Rainiel..."
Tumingin ito sa labas ng bintana. "I wish Mommy's back. I already miss her."
"Nandito naman ako, anak."
Rainiel puffed. "Hindi ka naman si Mommy. Si Mommy lang dapat kasama namin kasi sa office ka lang, eh."
And just that, Rainiel, again, managed to leave a painful mark in his chest. Hindi akalain ni Reeve na ganito na nga katanda ang panganay. He just turned eight last June, and he can freely say whatever he wants to say. He's way too honest on how he feels. At hindi niya masisisi ang anak sa nararamdaman nito.
Pagkatapat ng sasakyan sa school gate ay agad na bumaba si Rainiel.
"Anak—" Tawag sana ni Reeve dito. Ngunit mabilis na itong nakababa, sinara ang pinto ng kotse, at tumakbo papasok sa loob ng gate.
Pinanood na lang niya si Rainiel habang naglalakad ito kasama ang mga kaibigan. They were all in their training uniforms.
Ano na bang susunod niyang gagawin? Uuwi na lang ba siya? Ibigay na lang ang oras na tinanggihan nito sa tatlo niya pang anak? At least, Riana, Adam, and Rade won't slap him with his shortcomings...
Reeve stepped on the gas. Ngunit imbes na umuwi ay iniliko niya ang sasakyan papasok sa parking lot ng school. Kabisado niya ang eskuwelahan dahil doon din siya nag-aral ng grade school at high school. Ang nagbago lang siguro sa lugar ay ang kulay ng mga building. Mukhang bagong pintura.
Reeve felt nostalgic. He parked his car and walked his way to the soccer field. Bahagya siyang napangiti nang matanaw ang high school gym sa kabilang bakod. Doon siya madalas kaladkarin ni Prince kapag ayaw siya nitong samahan sa library.
Napatingala siya at natanaw ang pinto ng dating classroom. Then the corridors where Prince would quickly ran because of the girls following him. Natanaw niya rin ang nakabukas na pinto ng dating classroom na pasimple niyang dinadaan noon para lang masilip si Lana.
At hindi naman niya akalain na sa mismong eskuwelahan na 'to niya makikilala si Agatha. When he was in fourth-year high school, Reeve mistakenly kicked the soccer ball crossing to the other side of the fence. Bawal tumawid ang mga high school students sa grade school at vice versa, except if someone has a sibling on the other side. Siya ang kumuha ng bola habang nagbabantay si Prince na walang makakita sa pagtawid niya sa grade school.
Coincidently, si Agatha pala ang natamaan niya ng bola. She was just a 5th grader that time. Agatha admitted that since then, she liked him. Na nadala nito hanggang sa pagdadalaga. She only liked one guy, dreamt of one man... and it was him. How lucky can he get? Hindi niya nga ito kilala.
And when their marriage was arranged by their parents, Reeve was able to trust in love once again. Nang akala niya ay wala nang makakapantay kay Lana, humigit pa si Agatha. Nang akala niya ay magiging galit na lang siya sa mundo, pinakita sa kanya ng asawa kung gaano talaga kaganda iyon.
She's all the vibrant colors in his once dull life. She's the sweetest during the bitterest days of Reeve's life.
Huminga nang malalim si Reeve, pinigil ang pagbuhos ng emosyon. Naghihintay pa rin siya hanggang ngayon para sa positibong report mula sa kinuha niyang imbestigador. One day, magkasama silang babalik dito ng asawa. They'll reminisce together.
Nawala ang pag-iisip niya sa asawa nang makarinig siya nang pagpito. Pagtingin niya sa soccer fiels ng grade schoolers ay nagsimula nang mag-ensayo ang mga ito.
Mas lumapit si Reeve ngunit hindi na niya intensyong magpakita pa kay Rainiel. Baka mainis pa itong hindi niya sinunod ito. Pasimple siyang nagtago sa likod ng isang puno habang pinapanood ang anak.
Tumatakbo lang ang mga bata paikot sa field. They're doing some foot dribbles and kicks. Napapangiti si Reeve habang pinapanood ang anak.
He's already good at dribbling for his age! Pagkuwa'y sisipain nito ang bola, at sa lahat ng bata ay ito ang may pinakamataas at pinakamalayong sipa.
Hindi niya alam kung gaano siya katagal na nagtatago sa likod ng puno habang tahimik na pinapanood ang anak. Nang nag-water break ang mga ito ay sinunsundan niya pa rin ng tingin ang anak.
His other teammates went to their mothers, and even fathers. May kung anong kumuyom sa dibdib ni Reeve nang makitang si Rainiel lang ang nag-aasikaso sa sarili nito.
Habang inaasikaso ng ibang mga magulang ang anak ng mga ito, mag-isang pinupunasan ni Rainiel ang pawis. Kinuha rin nito ang malaking water jug at uminom mula doon. His sitting alone in the corner.
Hati ang nararamdaman ni Reeve habang nakamasid dito. He was proud of him. Rainiel's too independent for his age. Ngunit mas isang bahagi niya ang nalulungkot dahil hindi naman kailangang mag-isa ng anak niya. Nandito naman siya, kahit wala pa si Agatha.
Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Reeve. Lalapit na sana siya, pero muling pumito ang coack, tanda nang pagbalik ng mga bata sa practice.
Tumayo si Rainiel at tumakbo pabalik sa field kasama ng mga kasama nito.
Ball dodging at blocking naman ang ginagawa ng mga ito. He saw Rainiel smiling. He's enjoying. Pinanood at tinitigan niyang mabuti ang anak. Alam ni Reeve na kamukha siya ni Rainiel. Rainiel's a spitting image of Reeve, his parents would say. At ngayon niya lang mas napapatunayan. Every day, he grows exactly like him.
Sa lahat ng anak niya, si Rainiel ang pinakauna niyang minahal. Rainiel was conceived while Reeve's gladly falling in love with Agatha. For him, Rainiel symbolizes more than the love that Agatha gave him. He was the clear explanation of why everything happens for a reason, and Rainiel is the most beautiful reason.
"Snack break!" sigaw ng coach pagkatapos pumito. "Good job, boys! We'll continue after thirty minutes!"
Umalis na ang mga kasama ni Rainiel sa field. Nagkanya-kanyang punta sa mga magulang ng mga ito. He was left there, kicking the ball towards the goal.
Gustong-gusto nang lapitan ni Reeve ang anak. Halatang may kinikimkim itong sama ng loob sa kanya. Nais niyang makausap ulit ito. Gusto niyang ipaalam dito na sa kabila ng mga pagkukulang niya rito, handa siyang bumawi. Kahit ano ay gagawin niya.
Bumili muna ng pagkain si Reeve para sa anak. Alam niyang may baon ito pero baka mas gusto nito ng novelty snack. He bought a footlong and a large cup of iced tea.
"Rainiel," tawag niya rito nang makalapit siya sa gilid ng field.
Agad itong napatingin sa kanya at nanlaki ang mga mata. "Daddy!"
He gently smiled at him. "Come. Let's eat." Itinaas niya ang biniling pagkain para dito.
Lumabi ito at pawis na pawis na lumapit sa kanya.
"I told you not to watch me."
Niyuko niya ito. "Oh, I didn't watch. I just brought you some snacks. And it looks like I'm just on time."
Rainiel suspiciously looked at him. Reeve can lie without being obvious. He's a businessman, after all. Nginitian niya ang anak. "Aalis na 'ko pagkatapos mong kumain."
Tumango ito at nauna nang tumakbo papunta sa gamit nito. Sinundan niya ito. Umupo si Reeve sa damuhan. Ganoon rin ang ginawa ng anak.
Ibinigay niya rito ang footlong at iced tea. Rainiel hastily sipped the drink using a straw. Mukhang uhaw na uhaw na ito. Inabot ni Reeve ang bag nito at kinuha ang face towel.
Napatingin ito sa kanya ng punasan niya ang noo nitong tagatak ng pawis. Sumunod ay nilagay niya ang bimpo sa likod nito.
"What are you doing?" he asked, the straw in his lips.
"Baka matuyuan ka ng pawis."
Iniwas nito ang tingin sa kanya. Kinagatan nito ang footlong. He cutely munched the food and sipped his drink right after.
"How's practice?" kumusta niya kunwari para may mapag-usapan sila ng anak.
"Good." Pagkuwa'y hindi na ito nagsalita ulit.
"I used to play soccer when I was in high school. Your Ninong Prince wanted me to be athletic. Ayaw niyang nasa library lang ako." Napangisi siya nang maalalang kung nasaan si Prince ay dapat nandoon din siya. His friend used to drag him everywhere. Kulang na lang ay salihan nila lahat ng club sa school. Glee club, dance club, theater club, soccer club, book club, math club...
Prince is everybody's friend. Habang siya ay... si Prince lang ang kaibigan niya noon.
"I'm not a good player," kuwento niya pa sa anak. "I can't run fast and most of the times, I just got tackled. But I know how to strategize. I would talk to my team and tell them my observations and my calculations."
Nang tumingin siya sa anak, ay tila walang pakialam na inuubos lang nito ang pagkain.
Reeve sighed. Hinaplos niya ang buhok nito. "I bet you're a good player. A goaler or a keeper, perhaps?"
Hindi ito umimik.
"Hey... won't you talk to Daddy?"
Nakalahati na nito ang footlong. "I'm full." Naubos na rin nito ang iced tea. "I'm going back to practice. You can go, Daddy."
"Sandali, anak..." Pinigilan niya ito sa braso. "Take a rest for a while. Wala pa namang signal ang coach."
"But I want to play."
"You'll have a stomach ache."
Lumabi ito at napaupo sa damuhan. "Fine. I'll just play with my phone." Kinuha nito ang bag.
Bago pa nito makuha ang phone sa loob ay inilayo na iyon ni Reeve.
"Daddy!" saway nito, magkasalubong ang mga kilay. "Give my bag back!"
"Come on, I'm with you. At mas gusto mong maglaro sa phone mo? And when did you get a phone anyway?" When Reeve was eight, he didn't even have a phone or a gameboy.
"Grandpa and Grandma gave it to me so I can call them when I need them."
"I see. But you don't need them now. Kasama mo 'ko."
Nalukot ang mukha nito. "You should be working, Daddy. That's your job. You don't have to be here. I don't need you here! I can take care of myself!"
"Rainiel..." saway niya rito sa mababang tono. "You don't talk to Daddy like that."
Lumabi ito at tumalikod sa kanya. "Alis ka na, Daddy. Pick me up later. Ayokong nandito ka."
"But why?" Pinaharap niya ito sa kanya. "I know I've been very busy. I've ignored you, unintentionally. And I'm very sorry, Rainiel," emosyonal niyang wika. "Let Daddy make it up to you. Wag ka nang magtampo. Let's catch up. It's my Rainiel time."
"I'm okay. I know why you work because Mommy said, you work hard to buy me toys and also so I can be with my friends in school. And we can live in a big house. Mag-work ka na lang, Daddy, kasi good ka doon. Hindi ka dapat dito. Dapat si Mommy lang."
"I can be with you here, too. I can take care of you..."
Matigas itong umiling. "No. Ayaw kita kasama, Daddy! Mag-work ka na lang kasi mas love mo 'yon!"
Tumakbo na ito palayo sa kanya. Humalo ito sa mga kaibigan nito. Nahirapan si Reeve na habulin pa ang anak. Besides, he was frozen by his last remark.
Nanghihinang napatayo na lang si Reeve. Niligpit niya ang pinagkainan nito at ang bag nito. He stayed, though. Para rin kasing nawalan na siya nang lakas para maglakad.
By lunchtime, the practice ended. Nilapitan niya si Rainiel. "Change your clothes and then we'll go home." He still smiled lovingly at his son although Rainiel's words were still piercing right through his heart.
Kinuha nito ang bag mula sa kanya at kumuha ito ng shirt sa loob. Walang kahirap-hirap na nakapagpalit ito ng damit.
Sinuro niya munang hindi na ito basa ng pawis bago niya binuksan ang aircon ng sasakyan.
Rainiel fastened his seatbelt.
"Do you want us to eat out? For lunch..." aya niya sa anak.
Humikab ito. "I just want to go home, Daddy. I want to sleep, again."
"You sure? We have the rest of the day. You want to play in the arcade perhaps?"
Umiling ito.
Napabuntong-hininga si Reeve. "Are you mad at me?" he softly asked him.
"I said I'm okay."
"But you also said, ayaw mo 'kong kasama. Why don't you want Daddy to tag along?" malungkot niyang wika.
"Wala ka naman all the time. It won't make any difference. I'm used to not having you around, Daddy."
"I'm sorry..." nagsisising wika niya. "I promise I'll spend more time with you, Riana, and the babies. I... Daddy learned his lesson. Mas importante kayo kaysa sa trabaho."
"I think work is more important because it makes you rich," Rainiel innocently commented. "We can buy a lot of things when you work, Daddy. You should stick with work. Sanay naman kami nila Mommy na wala ka sa house. At least, we have lots of money."
"R-Rainiel..." Napailing siya. "Look, it's not about us getting richer than we already are. I just thought that someday, the hotels, it will be yours... I thought I'm making a legacy for our family."
But the true mark of a great family is the love, attention, and affection that the parents share with their children, and vice versa.
Rainiel looked at him, puzzled. Then a little smirk crossed Rainiel's lips. "I wish Mommy's here already. I like talking to Mommy than you."
"Rainiel, hindi ko na gusto kung paano ka sumagot sa'kin. Mommy taught you how to respect parents and elders, am I right?"
Hindi ito sumagot.
"Rainiel, can you please talk to Daddy properly?"
Hindi pa rin ito umimik.
"Come on, let's have some boy's talk."
Umingos ito. "I just don't like talking to you."
"W-Why? Do I annoy you?"
Hindi na naman ito umimik.
"Rainiel, talk to Daddy. You can say anything and everything to me. Just say it nicely," he encouraged him.
"I don't like to talk to you. Ang kulit-kulit mo naman, Daddy, eh!" Rainiel was pissed.
"You don't use that tone, Rainiel. Not on me."
Lumabi ito. "I don't like to talk with you because you're a liar."
Gulat na napasulyap siya rito. "W-What?"
"You said you'll give me a birthday party this year, but you didn't. Then Mommy's not around. Hindi mo siya pinauwi. You didn't attend my recognition day last year even when you promised you'll help me wear my medals. You didn't come to my first soccer game two years ago..." Rainiel sobbed. "Puro ka promise, Daddy. Hindi mo naman tinutupad. Liar ka naman."
Reeve was again, rendered speechless. Guilty of all the accusations from his very own child. Nang umiyak ito sa loob ng kotse ay napahigpit ang hawak niya sa manibela.
He knew how hurt Rainiel felt. He craved for his attention and time. At masakit na masakit kapag hindi iyon nabigay. Reeve knows. Ganoon siya dati sa sarili niyang ina. He craved for attention. Kahit walang pinapangako sa kanya ang ina, nasasaktan siya kapag hindi siya nito napansin. Paano pa si Rainiel na ilang beses nabigo ng mga pangako niya rito?
Nanginginig ang buong katawan ni Reeve sa sakit at galit sa sarili. He was not even aware that he scarred Rainiel for a very long time now. Tahimik lang kasi ito at parang laging seryoso. Reeve thought that he's just a kid and he's just cool with things. Yet... here they are.
Hininto ang sasakyan sa tabi at niyakap ito. Tinanggal niya ang seatbelt nito at kinandong niya sa mga hita niya.
Nangilid na ang luhang kanina niya pa pinipigilan sa mga mata. Rainiel continued crying.
Nayakap niya lang ito nang mahigpit dahil sa totoo lang, wala na ring salitang gustong lumabas sa mga labi. Natatakot siyang kapag nagsalita pa siya ay lalo lang tumindi ang sakit na nararamdaman ng panganay na anak.
"I hate you, Daddy," umiiyak na bulong nito. "I hate you..."
Niyakap niya pa ito nang mahigpit kahit nagsimula na itong pumiglas. Reeve held back his tears harder. "N-No... Don't say that..."
Rainiel cried harder. "Bad kang Daddy! Hindi mo kami pinapansin. We always wait but we can't see you. You make Mommy cry!!!"
Reeve gasped for air. "I-I made Mommy... c-cry?"
"I saw her crying last year! You forgot your anniversary!"
Nagimbal si Reeve. Damn it! Anniversary! He can't remember if he greeted Agatha last year... Anniversary... anniversary... did he... really... forget...?
Tuluyan nang nakawala si Rainiel sa yakap niya. Umiiyak na pumunta ito sa likuran ng kotse kaysa sa tabi niya.
"I wanna go home!" Rainiel demanded.
Hindi alam ni Reeve kung saan pa siya kumuha ng lakas para makapagmaneho ng tama hanggang sa makauwi sila.
Hindi na umiiyak si Rainiel nang bumaba ito at patakbong pumasok ng bahay. Pagbaba niya naman ay tila tulala siya.
The lesson he learned from his first born is that children... holds tightly to a promise. They remember. They look forward to it. And when you fail them, it leaves a little scar that a parent won't even notice.
Sa kaso ni Reeve, nagkapatong-patong ang nga pangakong hindi natupad. Rainiel's scars were all over and Reeve wouldn't know if he didn't burst out earlier.
"Anak, may problema ba kay Rainiel? He's grumpy," tanong ng Mama niya pagkapasok niya ng bahay. Hinawakan siya nito sa magkabilang pisngi. "Namumula ang mga mata mo, Reeve! A-Anong nangyari?"
Huminga siya nang malalim at umiling lang. "Where are the other kids?"
"Rade's sleeping. Hinayaan ko rin munang manood ng cartoons sina Riana at Adam sa kuwarto mo. Hijo, are you really fine."
Tumango lang si Reeve. "I can take it from here, Mama. You can have a rest. Ako nang bahala sa mga bata..." matamlay niyang wika.
May gusto pa sigurong sabihin ang Mama niya ngunit nanahimik na lang ito. Tinapos lang nito ang niluting tanghalian. They ate lunch with Riana and Adam. Hindi sumabay si Rainiel dahil nakatulog ito.
Nang maghapunan na ay siya at ang mga anak na lang niya ang nagsalo. Rainiel does not want to eat—or rather, he doesn't want to face him.
"Daddy, why is Kuya Rain grumpy?" nagtatakang tanong ni Riana.
Nginitian niya ito. "Just finish your food, I'll give you ice cream for dessert."
Her eyes twinkled. "Did Ninang CJ made me some strawberry ice cream?"
"She did. Finish your dinner, alright?"
Tapos na ring kumain si Rade at ngayon ay umiinom na ng gatas nito sa crib. Si Adam naman ay patapos na sa mga prutas nito.
After a while, they heard tiny footsteps from the stairs. Walang ekspresyon ang mukha ni Rainiel. Umupo ito sa puwesto nito sa lamesa.
Inabot niya sa anak ang kanin at ulam. Pinagsalin niya rin ito ng juice sa baso.
"Good evening, Kuya!" magiliw na bati ni Riana dito. "How are you, Kuya? Did you sleep well?"
Tumango lang ito at tahimik na kumain.
"Kuya, we'll have ice cream later, Daddy said."
Tumango lang ito ulit.
Nang matapos na kumain si Riana ay kinuha niya ito ng isang bowl ng ice cream. Nanatiling nakabantay si Reeve sa mga anak.
Marahan niyang hinaplos ang pisngi ni Rainiel. The dry tears left a mark on his face. Matalim siyang tinignan nito. Nilayo nito ang mukha at tinuloy ang pagkain.
Napabuga na lang siya ng hangin.
"Riana, would you like to share your ice cream to Adam?" tanong niya sa anak na babae.
"Yes!"
Binuhat niya si Adam paalis ng high chair. "Go to the playmat. Feed Adam some ice cream. Don't make a mess, alright?"
"Yes, Daddy!" Riana excitedly pick up her ice cream bowl and followed him to the sala.
Ibinaba niya si Adam sa playmat. Umupo rin doon si Riana at sinimula na nitong subuan si Adam.
Bumalik si Reeve sa hapag. Malapit nang matapos kumain si Rainiel. Kumuha na siya ng ice cream para dito.
Tahimik na umupo na lang si Reeve sa harap nito. Rainiel is talented on ignoring him. Hinayaan niya na lang muna ang anak. Siya naman ang may mali.
Pagkatapos nitong maubos ang ice cream, nang hindi siya iniimik ay umakyat na ulit ito sa taas.
"Daddy, Daddy," Riana called. "Adam and Rade should sleep in Kuya Rain's room tonight. I remember Mommy said, they should have some boys' bonding!"
"I see. I'll move the cribs later. You want to watch a movie?"
"Yes!" nakangiting tugon nito.
Reeve managed to spend a peaceful and fun movie time with three of his kids. Nang oras na nang pagtulog ay inilipat niya na ang cribs nina Adam at Rade sa kuwarto ni Rainiel.
Natagpuan niya itong tahimik na naglalaro gamit ang smartphone nito.
"Riana said, Adam and Rade should sleep with their Kuya tonight."
Tumango lang ito.
Reeve finished setting up the cribs. Sumunod ay inilagay niya na si Adam at Rade sa cribs ng mga ito.
Binigyan niya ng tig-isang bote ng gatas ang mga ito. That'll do the magic so they can easily fall asleep.
"Did you brush your teeth?" tanong niya kay Rainiel habang hinihintay niyang makatulog si Rade.
"Yes..." Raniel answered coldly.
Napabuntong-hininga siya. Lumabas muna siya ng kuwarto para i-check si Riana. His darling is sleeping soundly already.
Pagbalik niya sa kuwarto ni Rainiel ay nakatapat pa rin ito sa phone.
"Son, it's time for bed."
Hindi siya nito pinansin.
"Rainiel."
He's really hard-headed. Reeve thought, did he spoil him too much before? Naalala niyang sinaway pa siya ni Agatha noong baby pa si Rainiel dahil lagi niyang binibigay agad ang gusto. And when he grew up... Reeve does not know anymore. Akala niya ay dito siya pinakamadadalian dahil naranasan niyang alagaan ito ng baby pa ito....
But then again, he's the eldest, the smartest, and Reeve have hurt him.
"Rainiel, please, stop playing. It's time for bed."
Tumigil na ang sounds mula sa nilalaro nito. Pero nanatili itong nakatitig sa phone.
"Rainiel." Kinuha niya rito ang phone. "I know you're mad but it's not an excuse to be rude."
His lips turned downwards. "I hate you, Daddy..."
Narinig niya na iyon kanina, pero masakit pa ring marinig ulit iyon.
"Raniel, Daddy won't give you false promises from now on. Believe me, I'll try my best. H-Hindi naman liar si Daddy..." his voice broken.
"Nasaan si Mommy?"
"She's on a vacation, right? She'll be back soo—"
"Liar! I know Mommy's missing! She's been in an accident! You're a liar! Liar!" Tumayo ito sa kama at hinampas hampas siya.
Walang naitugon si Reeve. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. How did Rainiel...?
"See, you're lying to me again! Liar!" sigaw nito.
Nanghihinang napaluhod siya sa harap ng anak.
"I hate you! I don't love you anymore, Daddy! Bring back Mommy first!" iyak ni Rainiel.
Adam cried next, then Rome.
Hearing and seeing all his boys cry, Reeve gave in, too. He just don't know what to do anymore. Hugging Rainiel who continued to push him away, hearing Adam and Rade cried in unison, Reeve's shoulders started shaking.
Napahinto sa pagpupumiglas ang anak nang hindi na napigilang mapahagulgol din ni Reeve.
He cried for his children's little scars. He cried for he was the one who put those marks in their innocent hearts.
***
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