33
Matapos pulbusan ang bata, agad na sinuotan ito ni Treyton ng isang malambot at kulay asul na t-shirt pati ng short. Terno iyon. Katunayan ay nahirapan pa itong suotan ito dahil sa kanyang kakulitan. Paano kasi, Thyron Jae keeps on shaking his head while making different sounds from his mouth tapos ayon ay tumatawa na naman.
Two days after his stay inside the hospital, he's now back to his usual self. Kahapon pa sana ito lalabas pero pinagpaliban ni Treyton to make sure that he's fever won't come back. And looking at him now, he's already well, really well.
"Tell your Daddy not to bring you here anymore, okay?" His doctor told him.
Ang kanina'y umiiling-iling na si TJ, ngayon naman ay tumatango na ito na para bang sumasang-ayon sa sinabi ng doctor niya at hindi na naman mawala sa kanya ang pagtawa.
"Dad...dy! Daddy!" Saad nitong nakataas ang kanyang dalawang kamay. And based on his actions, gusto na naman nitong magpabuhat sa ama.
"Come to Daddy now." And right after that, buhat-buhat na nga ito ni Treyton.
"Thank you, Doc." Treyton stated. Ngumiti naman sa kanya ang kausap.
Since ang mga magulang lang nito ang kanyang kasama dahil nga wala sina Mandy at Cosette ngayon, his father took their things at lumabas na ang mga ito after nilang magpaalam sa doctor.
While walking on the hallway, the baby moved aggressively. Dahil nga alam na ni Treyton ang bawat galaw nito, agad niyang ibinaba ang bata. Hinawakan na lang niya ito sa kanang kamay para alalayan at sabay na silang naglakad.
"Mommy, mommy. Is Tita Andrea really okay?" Saad ng batang babae na siyang nadaanan ng mga ito. Kasama nito ang isang babaeng marahil ay mommy niya dahil na rin sa iyon ang itinawag nito sa kanya. That little girl is holding a barbie doll at nakatali ang natural na kulot nitong buhok.
Nang malampasan nila ang mga ito, papaliko na sana sila pero napahinto sila nang marinig nilang magsalita ang bata.
"Mom...my." Agad na nilingon ni Treyton ang anak matapos niyang banggitin iyon. Sa isip nito'y dahil siguro narinig nito ang itinawag ng bata sa mommy niya kanina.
"What did you say son?" He asked though he heard it right.
"Mom...my." Ulit ng bata kahit nabubulol pa.
Tapos ay binawi nito ang kamay sa ama at pumalakpak. Now Treyton's sure enough that his son will grew up as an attentive person.
"Do you miss your Mom? Do you want to see Mommy?"
"Mom...my. My..my..." Doble-dobleng saad nito na halos hindi pa maintindihan.
Tumango naman si Treyton dito saka ngumiti. Then after awhile, nilingon nito ang kanyang mga magulang.
"Ma, Pa, you should go first." Saad niya sa kanyang magulang. Sa huli ay gumanti din ng ngiti ang mga ito dahil alam nila kung ano ang ipinapahiwatig nito sa kanila.
Nagpatuloy ang mga ito sa paglalakad. Pero nang makarating sila sa harap ay nagpaalam na ang mag-asawa kay Treyton at lumabas na ang mga ito. Still holding his son's right hand, dumiretso naman ang mag-ama sa information table at doon ay itinanong nila kung nasaan ang kwarto ni Atarah.
On the other hand, after eating, Atarah laid down on the bed again. She hasn't regain back her strength yet so she's still taking some multivitamins but she's more okay now than the other day. Also, kumakain na rin ito kahit papaano. And every night, they're letting her take some sleeping pills.
Pero sa susunod, posibleng hindi na nila ito paiinumin ng gano'n dahil nakatutulog naman na ito ng maayos. She needed a day or two to finally recover. If her condition will improve, then it's possible na pauuwiin na nila ito.
After her doctor left, napabuntong-hininga ang ina ni Atarah saka ito tumabi sa kanya.
"Honey, stop doing this to yourself. Please help yourself naman anak." Pakiusap nito sa kanya.
Naiiyak man ang ginang ay pinigilan nito ang sarili niya. Pinagsasabihan man niya ito'y nag-aalala pa rin siya sa kalagayan ni Atarah.
That whole week last week, they have seen her crying all night because of not having her son beside her. Kahit sa saglit lamang na panahon, Dara have known Treyton and she believed that he wouldn't take Thyron Jae away from them.
Naiintindihan niya kung bakit gano'n ang ginawa ni Treyton. Ama siya e. At kahit sinong magulang, when someone lied about your child, paniguradong gano'n din ang mararamdaman nila. That's why she can't blame him for what he did.
Isang araw noong nakaraang linggo nang umuwi si Atarah na hindi pa rin nito kasama ang bata, her husband Dicson, wanted to sue Treyton because of what he did pero pinigilan niya ito. She doesn't want to complicate things more.
This issue is between Atarah and Treyton and she wanted the two of them to talk about it. 'Yun nga lang ay hindi niya alam kung paano.
So she came up with one idea. That is to send someone to look after Treyton and no one knows about it aside from her. Doon niya rin napatunayan na hindi naman inilalayo ni Treyton ang bata sa kanila dahil kung gustuhin man nitong ilayo ang bata, they should have flew from abroad or what but he didn't.
Sigurado rin siyang ginawa lang iyon ng lalaki dahil gusto nitong makasama ang bata. Ang mali lang ay hindi nito ipinaalam kay Atarah that caused them to think that he's taking Thyron Jae away from them.
Also, the other day when Treyton suddenly showed up inside her daughter's room, she's sure that what she had read from Treyton's eyes is nothing but pure worry.
Umaasa na lang ito na sana katulad ng dati ay magkaayos na ang mga ito lalo na para sa bata, sa kanyang apo.
"I'm sorry, Mom." Atarah responded.
And before her tears could roll down on her cheeks, the door opened and someone, whom they didn't expect to appear here, spoke.
"Mommy." That cute voice. For the first time, Thyron Jae clearly uttered that word using his soft and cute voice.
Agad-agad na napalingon ang mga ito sa pintuan. Mula sa bungad no'n, Treyton was standing there and beside him was his son.
Nang makita ng bata si Atarah, dahan-dahang binitawan ni Treyton ang anak mula sa kanyang pagkakahawak at hinayaan niya itong lumapit kay Atarah habang nakasunod pa rin ito sa kanya.
Still on the process of balancing himself from walking, Thyron Jae managed to do so hanggang sa makalapit ito ng tuluyan kay Atarah.
"Gosh! My baby!" Mabilis na bumangon si Atarah at agad na binuhat ang bata. "I miss you. I miss you so much." Paulit-ulit nitong sambit at pinugpog ng halik ang ulo ng bata.
She wanted to cry now but she's stopping herself. Right now, she's happy that her son was on her arms already.
Mula sa pagkakatayo sa kandungan ni Atarah, tumatalon-talon lamang ang bata. Kung hindi ang ikawag ang mga kamay nito ay pumapalakpak naman siya. Then he keeps on bubbling different sounds na kulang na lang ay lumobo ang laway nito sa kanyang labi.
"Did you miss me? Did you miss Mommy?" Atarah asked the child.
Muli niyang binuhat ito palapit sa kanya at inayos ang damit nito. Dahil nga magkaharap silang mag-ina, hindi sinasadyang malipat ang tingin nito kay Treyton na noo'y nakatayo isang metro lamang ang layo sa kanila.
She can't help but smile at him. "Thank you."
Hinayaan na lang muna ni Treyton ang bata kay Atarah habang nakaupo lamang ito sa may gilid, pinapanood sila. Atarah's parents were also playing with his son. They were so fond of him.
They stayed there for almost an hour bago naisipan ni Treyton na umuwi na muna sila.
"Treyton." Pagtawag ni Atarah sa kanya. Buhat-buhat na ng lalaki ang bata. "You're... you're not going to take—"
"Atarah, I already told you, no one's taking your son away from you. If you're worried, we will go back here tomorrow." Saad nito sa babae.
Pinilit naman nitong ngumiti. "I'm sorry."
"We have to go now and... get well soon." Tugon nito sa kanya.
Before storming out of that room, nagpaalam din ito sa magulang ni Atarah kahit papaano. The father gave him serious look while the mother smiled at him, telling him to come back. Tumango na lamang ito saka umalis kasama ang anak.
The next day, bumalik nga ang mga ito para dalawin si Atarah sa hospital. And again, Treyton just stayed on the side, watching them like what he did yesterday. At puro ang tawa lamang ng bata ang maririnig sa loob ng kwartong iyon.
Not until Dara told them that they're going to buy their lunch. Since it was her husband who will be driving the car, sumama ito sa ginang.
Not just that, they also brought Thyron Jae with them. Kaya ngayon ay silang dalawa na lamang ni Atarah ang naiwan at tila may isang dumaan na anghel sa pagitan ng mga ito dahil sa sobrang katahimikan.
Then Atarah tried to get up because she feels thirsty. Dahil nga nahihirapan pa ito, hindi niya inaasahang lalapit si Treyton sa kanya upang tulungan siya. Treyton even fixed her bed para maging maayos ang pagkakasandal nito sa kinahihigaan niya.
"You can ask for my help Atarah. You know your condition." Malamig nitong saad sa babae.
When he asked her what she wants and answered him she's thirsty, agad niya itong inabutan ng tubig.
Matapos no'n, muli na namang tumahimik ang paligid. But this time, it feels awkward for Atarah dahil nakaupo na si Treyton sa gilid nito.
"What?" Treyton asked her nang mahuli nitong nakatingin ito sa kanya.
"Are you really that mad that you don't even want to talk to me?"
"I told you I am not."
"Then... are you really that hurt to—"
"I am." Wala sa sariling pinaglapat ni Atarah ang kanyang mga labi hanggang sa makagat niya iyon.
"Can't you forgive me?" Alam nitong wala siyang karapatan para itanong iyon sa lalaki pero gusto lang nitong malaman kung may posibilidad ba because if not, she's going to make things up to him... para lang magkaayos ang mga ito.
"Should I forgive you?" Treyton asked back that caused a pinch in Atarah's heart. What makes her heart get hurt is because Treyton is not looking at her at all.
"I'm sorry." Sa mga salitang binanggit nito, iyon ang naging dahilan para lingunin siya ng lalaki.
"Why do you keep on saying sorry? Fucking sorry. That's not what I need Atarah!" Treyton's voice raised. "Don't I deserve an explanation? Just at least explain everything to me!" Because the anger is starting to fill him in, kitang-kita ang paggalaw ng Adam's apple nito dahil sa malalalim niyang paglunok.
Atarah's eyes being locked into his, hinayaan nitong dumaloy pababa ang mga luha sa kanyang pisngi.
"Why did you do that? Is this because of Neon, huh?" Ngayon naman ay napupuno ng sarkasmo ang boses nito pero hindi nito maitatago ang pait sa kanyang tono.
"Or was it because of your Dad? Yeah, I remembered. He didn't raise you just to fall in love with someone like me... who's a gay." Then he sneered.
Atarah can clearly see the pain in his eyes. Nasasaktan ito para sa lalaki. She didn't know that everything her father told him was already carved in his mind which slowly turns into hating her father.
"Nagkakamali ka ng iniisip." Pagtatama nito saka siya suminghot dala ng kanyang pag-iyak.
"Stop covering him up! He told me that right in front of me—"
"That's not true!"
"It is! And he's so mad at me Atarah to the point that he warned me not to see you again—"
"Because I asked him that!" Atarah shouted that made him stop from talking.
Nakatingin lang din si Treyton sa kanya pero napupuno na ng katanungan ang utak nito.
Pinunasan man ni Atarah ang kanyang mga luha gamit ang kamay niya ngunit nanatili pa rin ang mga tingin nito sa lalaki.
"Yes, my Dad was angry that time. But you think he's really that monster to tell you that? It was my choice Treyton. I asked him that!" Muli nitong saad sa lalaki.
Yes, her father told him not to see her anymore. But he didn't tell him that because he hated him for whoever he is. Her father told him that because she asked him to and that was because of him too.
"Atarah, I don't understand at all. But why? Tell me, why?" Treyton shot back. Muli, isang patak ng luha ang kumawala sa mata ni Atarah.
"Because I don't want your efforts to put into waste."
"What? What are you talking about?" Katulad ng madalas nitong ginagawa sa tuwing naiinis siya, napahilamos ng mukha si Treyton. Mas lalo itong naguguluhan sa kung ano ba talaga ang dahilan ni Atarah.
"It's about your company."
"Just because of my company, nagawa mong magsinungaling sa akin?" Tanong na naman ni Treyton sa kanya. Hindi niya makuha kung ano ba talaga ang ipinupunto ni Atarah.
"Someone filmed us no'ng nalaman ni Daddy na... na bakla ka." Her voice started to crack nang maalala niya ang tagpong iyon noon. "And it was Neon who told me about that, that they were going to use that video against you." Dahil sa narinig, napamura na lamang si Treyton.
And right at that moment, he remembered the day when Neon suddenly appeared in their company while he's having a presentation which turns out that the presentation he prepared was the video of them together with Atarah's parents, proving that he's a gay. Now everything makes sense.
"Why didn't you tell me? Do you really have to lie from me just because of that? Atarah, you could have just told me! I don't give a fuck about that. Wala akong pakialam kung malaman nilang bakla ako—"
"You are not." She butted in making Treyton stop from talking. Matagal na nagkatitigan ang mga ito. "You're not gay and I know the reason why you're acting that way." Dagdag ni Atarah at nagpakawala ito ng malalim na buntong hininga.
"You knew... but you still used Neon just to..." Mahinang napamura si Treyton dahil sa nalaman.
Ayaw rin nitong ituloy kung anong nasa kanyang isipan. If she knew, why did she still used Neon to hurt me?
Atarah bit her lip as she took Treyton's left hand. "That's why I'm sorry."
From his pursed lips, she once met Treyton's eyes then unti-unti nitong idinetalye sa kanya ang lahat.
Aaminin niyang nagalit nga ang ama nito sa nalaman sa kabila ng pagiging bakla nito but just like what she told him, her father is not a monster to tell him that, to tell him to stay away from her. Siya ang kusang humingi ng pakiusap na 'yon sa kanyang ama na gawin iyon para kay Treyton.
About the video clip, Neon told her that. Weeks before Treyton's final presentation, one time when Neon was inside his friend's house, Benjamin Florides, nagkataong naroon si Mr. Siaga who happened to be his friend's colleague bilang isa sa mga board members ni Treyton. Of course, they had drinks that time and being tipsy, Mr. Siaga showed his friend a video clip.
Dahil sa kalasingan, the two talked about the clip without knowing that Neon was just near them, hearing about their plan.
At ang plano nila, iyon ay ang pabagsakin si Treyton dahil sa katauhan niya. Because they believe that his identity could create chaos in Alfiore Corporation once na malaman ng lahat ang totoo dahil sa una pa lang, ayaw ng mga itong si Treyton ang papalit na CEO ng sarili nilang kompanya.
When Atarah learned about that, nag-isip ang mga ito ng paraan to stop Mr. Siaga and Benjamin Florides from their plan but they can't do anything dahil planado na ang lahat.
The day when Atarah showed up telling Treyton that he is not the father of her child, hindi niya rin alam kung bakit iyon ang naisip niyang gawing paraan.
Maybe, to flip the pages pretending that she's Neon's wife so the board members would believe that Treyton is not really a gay. And that made her asked her Dad to tell him na layuan ito so Mr. Siaga and Benjamin Florides would believe that she really is Neon's wife.
At first, Neon disagreed from Atarah's plan pero wala na rin itong nagawa kundi ang sakyan ang ginawa nito... that's the day when he showed up inside Treyton's company building.
Neon even let his friend took some sleeping pills that time for more than two hours then he appeared in the board room on his friend's behalf, making up some explanations as the video clip flashed in front. Na akala niya'y hindi pa niya maabutan but his timing was on time.
And yes, they were able to prevent Mr. Siaga and Benjamin Florides' plan from destroying Treyton but Atarah didn't know it could brought so much pain to him. And she even used Neon not knowing beforehand that those two had their personal issues before.
"Sabihin mo ng ang babaw ng dahilan ko na nagawa ko pang magsinungaling para lang doon pero Treyton, ginawa ko 'yon dahil ayokong mapunta sa wala ang lahat ng mga pinaghirapan mo and I don't want someone to just ruin you. Naiintindihan mo ba ako?" Holding Treyton's hand using her left hand, Atarah used her free hand to wipe her tears away.
"I was there when you're struggling from everything. From always staying up late at night, from skipping meals just to finish what you're doing, from putting all of your efforts into it, for all your sacrifices and determination, everything. I saw everything Treyton." Bahagya itong natigilan sa pagsasalita at huminga ito ng malalim.
Napatungo na lamang din ito sa kamay niyang nakahawak kay Treyton dahil ayaw niyang makita ang sakit sa mga mata nito.
"I'm sorry if I have to go that far but I just did that because I don't want you to lose what you have started—"
"But I lose you." Nag-angat ng tingin si Atarah at tinignan niya ito.
"No, you didn't." Umiling ito. "I'm still here Treyton. Thyron Jae and I are still here for you. We will always be here for you." Hearing everything from her now, kusang tumaas ang isang kamay ni Treyton at napunta iyon sa pisngi ni Atarah. Saka nito unti-unting pinunasan ang luha nito.
"Then please stay Atarah. I want you to stay with me starting today."