His Story To Tell (R-18)

HSTT - 77

I spent my whole time with Ivan in his room. Mabuti na lamang at walang asungot o kung sino mang posyo pilato ang kumatok para istorbohin kami. Siguro alam din ni Rej na nandirito ako at hinayaan niya nalang ako. My smile suddenly faded away when I remembered our talk.

"Ivan." Tawag ko sa anak ko habang iniipitan ang buhok ko ngayon.

Nakaupo ako sa sahig at nakatungtong siya sa isang upuan para maabot ang buhok ko. Kapwa kaming nakaharap sa isang human size mirror para mapanood ang ginagawa niya. Sa lahat ng ayaw ko e 'yung pinaglalaruan ang buhok ko, pero dahil anak ko naman siya sige exempted na siya. Mabait akong ama.

"Hmm?"

"Do you want us to be complete?"

"You, Mommy and me?" Tanong niya at tinignan niya ang repleksyon ko sa salamin.

"Yes. Our family."

"Syempre naman po. I want the three of us to be together." Masaya na sagot niya at binalik niya ang sarili niya sa pagsusuklay ng buhok ko.

"Why?"

"I have never experienced having a complete family. I envy other people."

I felt pain in my chest with his answer. This is all my fault.

"I'm sorry." I said but he just kissed my cheeks.

"It's not your fault, Daddy. It's Mommy."

"Ano?" Gulat na tanong ko sakaniya. "Bakit mo naman sinisisi ang Mommy mo?"

"She was the one who was hiding from you. She hid me from you too. If she didn't do that, I wouldn't experience that thing. I wouldn't grow up without a father. I wouldn't get stucked with the orphanage with Auntie Ritsumi."

"Ivan."

"Good thing she decided to leave me in an orphanage where children don't have a family. But when I started studying in a school, that was the time when I got bullied by other kids. They were telling me that I don't have a mom and dad. They are all stupid. How could I be in this Earth if I don't have parents? What am I? A mushroom who just popped out,  out of nowhere?" Mahabang sabi niya at halos mapanganga ako.

Pucha! Anak ko ba 'to?!

"Ah, hehe. Dapat sinapak mo ang mga nambully sa'yo." Sagot ko.

Tama ba ang advice ko? Punyemas hindi pa yata ako handang maging ama! Napakawalang kwenta ng sinabi ko.

"I did once. But Daddy Kennedy got mad at me. He said that was bad so I didn't do it again."

Napangiti na lamang ako nang marinig ang pangalan ng kaibigan namin. The world is really small. Imagine, he met my kid. They even took care of him. Kaya ganon na lamang kung tulungan ko rin ang isang 'yon sa mga problema niya. I am nice to those people who are nice to me and my family.

"If someone bullies you again, tell me right away. Ako ang bahala."

"Okay po!"

"So you really want us together?"

"Yes. But you and Mommy aren't in good terms right? I heard you two fighting in your house. She's mad at you."

"Huwag kang mag alala, susuyuin ko ang Mommy mo."

"Tutulungan po kita."

"What about Red? Do you like him to be your dad?" Tanong ko ulit at bigla siyang napangiwi. What was with his reaction?

"He is my uncle. Uncle only. He must know his boundaries."

For the second time, ay bumagsak nanaman ang panga ko sa narinig ko. Bata ba 'to?! Naiiyak ako dahil namana niya talaga ang katalinuhan ko. Hindi matalino si Rej dahil panay ang absent non sa school.