Chapter 29
I wanted a father's advice so bad, kaya dumiretso agad ako sa hospital. With all the obvious expectations inside my head, I guess I am right.
Dahil pagkapasok ko pa lang sa entrance ay nagtinginan agad sa akin ang mga tao, even the nurses, basically, lahat ay nakatingin sa akin. Some were even exchanging whispers, and many are pointing at me like hey she was just seen in the media!
I know what's behind the stares, and I already expected it bago pa man ako umalis sa building ni Mommy.
I cannot blame them, but I didn't mind them, I only have an agenda that I am sticking with, at hindi kasama ang pag-iisip ng nga negatibong bagay doon. Ang gusto ko lang gawin ngayon ay kausapin si Papa...si tito Alexandro.
Pumasok ako sa elevator, at mabilis ding nakarating sa floor kung saan nakaconfine si tito. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso habang mabagal na naglalakad sa hallway, marami akong nakakaslubong na aligagang mga nurse dahil sa trabaho. Napakapit ako sa sling ng aking bag at tumigil sa tapat ng pintuan ng kwarto ni Papa.
Huminga ako ng malalaim at nagbuga ng hangin bago ito binuksan.
Nang makasok ako sa room niya ay walang tao doon. Siya lang mag-isa.
Dahan-dahan akong lumapit at tumagilid ang ulo niya nang mapansin ako, ngumiti ako nang matipid sa kanya ngunit hindi niya ako nginitian pabalik. Nag-iwas ito ng tingin at tumingin sa ibang direksyon.
As usual, ganyan naman siya lagi. But that is what makes him as Alexandro Maraese.
"Papa..." Halos mapaluha ako nang sinabi ko iyon, the thought of calling him that...after all, is very.. wholesome.
Tito Alexandro was a father to me, and that will never disappear. Until now, he can still become my father, kahit alam ko na kung sino ang tunay kong ama.
Despite all of what happened, he housed me, gave me clothes to wear, fed me, didn't abused me, and most importantly, he protected me. That is enough for me to accept. Or at least to consider.
"Papa, I'm sorry.." Nanghina ang boses ko at humikbi.
Nagkagat ako ng labi, I should limit my words...but my guilt is eating me. Ayaw kong makasakit lalo na kung siya ang masasaktan, but what can I say?
"Papa, I know all these years you're a great great man. You've treated me nice and yet I didn't took care of myself. I abandoned myseld in the middle of doubts, and I lived in a nightmare.." Humikbi ako, "I am such a fool to haem myself, now that you kept on protecting me. I'm sorry Papa. I am so weak, I was reckless." Pagpapatuloy ko.
"Neterini." Halos hangin na lang ang lumabas sa kanyang bibig.
Umangat ang ulo ko upang matignan siya nang mabuti. Tinanggal niya ang nebulizer sa kanyang bibig at umayos ng higa.
"I am a lonely man, Neterini.." Bulong niya, "I am a man who keeps on waking up in the middle of the night, wondering..am I doing the right thing now? I am wealthy, I have a wonderful wife..and a wonderfully honest daughter," napahinto siya. "But why do I feel shallow?"
"Papa.."
"I know, I know. Your old man never said these things before." Huminga siya ng malalim at 'saka huminga gamit ang nebulizer, 'saka ulit ibinaba iyon. "Neterini, my death is already days away, or worse, hours away. Eighteen years, you're my daughter, and you haven't disappointed me even once, and I thought how lucky is this old man to have such an angel like you.."
Kumislap ang mga mata ko, para akong lumilipad dahil sa mga sinabi niya. These words, are not his...but I may at least enjoy the moment, because these words are from the real him.
"Eighteen years nasa puder kita, minanipula, ngunit ni isang reklamo, ni isang sumbat ay wala akong natanggap galing sa'yo. I pushed you down on that dirty carpet just outside my office, because of my frustration and I didn't admit my fault. I was the worst father to treat you that way, but then again, I never said sorry...I realized that, maybe you deserve more than just jewelries, money, fancy cars and more...because you deserve the truth.." Umubo siya at humawak sa dibdib.
Mabilis kong ipinasuot ang nebukizer sa kanyang bibig, at hinayaan siyang huminga roon.
"Papa, don't die yet. It is not your time, we can fix things the nicest way—"
Ngumisi ito sa akin na para bang inaasahan niyang ganoon ang sasabihin ko.
I hope he listens to me, though. A hint of hope represents my eye as it sparked waiting for him to tell me more.
"Anak. The devil itself shouldn't take a pure favor given by an angel, a devil like me can't just abandon a devil's principle, my own principle. I insist..now Neterini, all these weeks, I had you followed by my men.."
Kinabahan ako sa sinabi niya. He already knows?
How? Bakit hindi niya ako kimonpronta? O 'di kaya'y pinahuli? The logic is eating me again.
"And I think you already know the truth..." Ngumisi siya sa akin. "You are now free, anak. But...even though you're already with Matthew, I want you to know...I love you, okay? And you are still my daughter, my good ol' daughter Neterini." He whispered his last sentence.
"Papa, naman.." My eyes watered, "Of course I am still your daughter." Humikbi ako at niyakap siya. "So please, don't die...you're both my old man, you're both my father..so please, don't let this go." Umiyak ako sa bisig niya hinaplos niya naman ang buhok ko.
He heaved a sigh, malalim na hininga, like he is frustrates or something.
"This will be the first time that I looked at you this close, and this kills me to see that I fooled you for like the rest of your life." Wika niya habang umiiyak ako sa kanyang bisig.
"Now, I want to tell you another secret but make sure to keep it for Papa, okay?" Lumayo ako sa kanya at tinitigan siya.
"What is it, Papa?"
He sighed, "You're the only one left of me, now Neterini. You're the only one who cares, now." Malungkot ang boses niya, and it pains me so much to see him looking at me like he is bwgging for me to keep this thing.
He remained grim but pityful because he looked helpless.
Nalukot ang noo ko, "Papa don't say that, you have tita Sope."
"Anak, can you go now? Papa wants to rest." Wika niya, at tumalikod na sa akin, I was about to reach for him, I only sighed.
Yumuko ako at hinalikan siya sa noo, "Keeo safe, papa. You'll be better soon." Bulong ko.
Clueless, I left him there. Napalunok ako habang mabagal na naglalakad sa gitna ng hallway, natatakot na baka makabangga ng tao. Muli ay napahawak ako sa aling ng aking bag, because I can feel the tension with people's stare at me.
My phone rang, and I exactly know who it is. Nang sinagot ko ay agad itong nagsalita.
"You're late."
"I am on my way." Mabilis kong sinabi at pinatay na agad ang tawag.
I rode a taxi to rush at the meeting place, the nearest coffee shop. Tumikhim ako nang makarating at mabilis na pumasok doon, mabagal ako habang naglalakad at nang nahanap ko siya ay dumiretso ako sa kinaroroonan niya.
His pressence is powerful, lalo na sa mga babae na narito na halos mabali na ang mga leeg para lang matanaw nila si Detective Muller na ngayon ay prenteng nakaupo mag-isa sa upuan na mukhang maliit pa iyong upuan para sa kanya dahil sa kanyang atipunong katawan, plus he's tall.
There I saw him sipping on his coffee again, as he raise an eyebrow at me, eyeing me from head to foot, nag-iwas ako ng tingin at mabilis na naupo sa harap niya.
Tumingin siya sa kanyang wrist watch nang nakaupo na ako at bumaling sa akin.
"You're late." Ulit niya.
"Yes, Detective. I'm late." I said and sighed, I waved at the waiter at mabilis naman siyang lumapit sa akin.
"Black coffee." Sinulat niya iyon.
"Anything else, Ma'am?"
Umiling ako at tipid na ngumiti.
"Okay, Ma'am."
Tumikhim ako at humarap sa kanyang muli.
"Open up." He demanded.
Aparently, I have no time dealing with his attitude so I go straight to the point.
"What is inside that building is my real father, laying in the bed under coma." Diretso kong sinabi.
Napa'O' ang kanyang labi at 'saka sinenyas na ituloy ko ang kwento. So I did.
Every details of it. Walang labis, walang kulang. Ikinwento ko lahat sa kanya.
"Wait, are you saying that the present Matthew Maraese of Maraese Corp is an impostor?" Gulat niyang tanong habang nakasalubong ang kanyang dalawang kilay.
Mr. Muller isn't suited for that kind of reaction. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at namataang papunta na rito ang order ko, kaya nama'y mabilis ko iyong tinanggap pagtapos i-offer ng waiter.
I sipped and I am immediately refreshed.
"Yes."
Tumango siya, "I see. But I don't believe you."
Of course you won't..kaya nagbuntong hininga ako, I know he will not believe it kaya nama'y nagpasya na ako kanina.
"Please Mr. Muller, this is strictly confidential. If you could only keep it to yourself?" I asked him.
"Sure."
Madali ko lang siyang nakumbinsi at ginamit namin ang kotse nito papunta sa building nila Mommy. And Mommy was surprised to see me come home with an acquaintance, lumapit naman si Mr. Muller sa kanya at nagalok ng hand shake.
"Hello, Ma'am. I am Detective Muller."
Tinignan ako ni Mommy nang may halong pagtataka but I only gave her an assuring smile. She sighed and introduced herself to Detective Miller too.
Mr. Muller is a professional and he is not that nosy, I guess he keeps some businesa to hisself since he is a detective.
Sinundan niya si Mommy papunta sa kwarto ni Daddy at doon, ay nakumpirma niyang nagsasabi ako ng totoo.
"So you're not lying..I thought this is just a prank, that Mr. Alexandro Maraese died more than a decade ago." Wika niya.
"I told you, Detective. I must be crazy if to do a prank when things like this is a serious matter." Paliwanag ko.
Pumasok naman si Mommy na may hawak na kape at ibinigay iyon kay Mr. Muller, tinanggap niya naman iyon at nagpasalamat.
"Well, you know the story now." Wika ni Mommy at naupo sa katapat na sofa ni Detective Muller.
"Mrs. Maraese, I believe that Mr. Alexandro commited a crime in this, and by that, patong-patong ang nag-aabang na parusa sa kanya. Worse, he may spend the rest of his life in prison." Paliwanag niya.
Kinagat ko ang labi ko, damn! I can't react to the reality!
"What are your plans, Mrs. Maraese?"
Sumimsim si Detective Muller sa kanyang kape at tumingin kay Mommy.
"I am planning to take action when my husband woke up, he have all the rights to be involved in this and he is the main victim...when in fact, lahat kami ay naging biktima, siya ang pinakanapinsala..and we are under his responsibility, he is my husband and Neterini is his daughter. I want this to end, standing altogether." Paliwanag ni Mama.
Tumango si Detective Muller, "I understand, Ma'am. I could help you when that happens. Just notify me. This is a big case, Madam."
"Thank you for your concern Detective, I will notify you as soon as we need your help."
Matagal bago natapos ang pag-uusap ni Mommy at ni Detective Muller, at nang matapos sila ay ako na mismo ang naghatid sa kanya palabas ng aming building.
"I appreciate your honesty, Ms. Maraese." Seryoso niyang sinabi, "You take care." At tuluyan na siyang pumasok sa kanyang sasakyan at umalis.