Pahimakas.

16

Kung bakit tayo pa ang nakapananakit sa mga taong nais nating protektahan.

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"Doc ano pong nangyari sa kapatid ko?" agarang tanong ko pagkalabas ng doktor sa kwarto ni Jamey.

"Are you her guardian? Where are your parents?" tanong nito sa akin.

"I don't know they are not answering my calls. But please tell me what is my sister's condition." nagmamakaawang tanong ko.

Bumuntong hininga ito bago sumagot. "To be honest, your sister is in a very bad condition right now. Since her body was so fragile and weak, the sudden impact from the car caused her internal injuries. Some of her organs were bleeding."

"What should we do? Kailangan po ba siya operahan? Kailangan ba niya ng donation ng organs? Ano pong kailangan gawin?" hindi ko alam kung ano ang pwede mangyari kay Jamey at natatakot ako. 

"We're still observing her. Once the laboratory tests are done, we will notify you." 

"But she will survive.... right? She will be okay, right Doc?" maluha-luhang tanong ko.

"We will do our best Mr. Dela Vega." sabay tapik niya sa balikat ko.

Ilang oras ang nakalipas bago dumating sina mama at papa sa hospital. Palapit pa lang sila, di ko na napigilan ang sarili kong sapakin si papa.

"Tiiim!" sigaw ni mama.

"Don't dare stop me right now, Ma. You know how much I fucking want to do this!"sabi ko saka muling pinadapo ang kamao sa mukha ni papa.

Sa totoo lang hindi ko alam kung bakit ko ginagawa ito. Dahil ba sa galit ko sa kanya, dahil ba hindi niya kayang unahin ang pamilya namin, o dahil gusto ko lamang may masisi sa nangyari kay Jamey.

"Are you done now? Are you happy already?" tanong ni papa habang pinupunasan ang dugo sa labi niya.

"How am I supposed to be happy when my sister is lying in a hospital bed when her fragile body was crushed by a car, while her father is doing some kind of a shit that he can't pick up his fucking phone!"hinihingal na sagot ko.

"Tim, it's my fault. Ako ang may hawak ng phones niya and hindi ko napansin ang mga calls mo at even ng school niya. I'm sorry anak." naluluhang sagot ni mama.

Magsasalita na sana ako ng napansin kong may pasa sa kaliwang braso si mama.

"Sinaktan ka na naman ng gagong 'to?" sigaw ko.

"Watch your words, Tim! Hindi na kita pagbibigyan this time." saway ni papa.

"And who are you to lecture me? When you cheated with mom's best friend. When you keep on beating her knowing that it is you who is in the wrong? When you can't be a good husband to her and can't be a father to us as well? Three years! Three fucking years! I have been silent for those years knowing what you are doing just to protect my sisters. Just so that they will not have to suffer from the pain that you have caused me and mom! But not anymore! You can't hurt the precious people in my life! Not anymore! I will protect mom while keeping it from ate Stacey and Jamey-"

"What is this about?" putol sakin ni ate Stacey.

"Ate." nangangapang sagot ko.

"Dad is cheating? Mom was beaten by him? W-why did I not know any of these Tim?" galit na tanong niya.

"Stacey." mahinahong sabi ni papa sakanya.

"You are not supposed to talk to me right now. I am not talking to you." sagot niya kay papa.

"Anak, this is not the right time to talk about this. We should focus on Jamey first." singit ni mama.

"No ma. I already talked to the Doctor. I know everything. Now, tell me Timothy James. Why would you hide this from me? How dare you guys make a fool out of me!" 

"Ate, it's not like that-"

"Then what is it, Timothy! You know of all people how much pain Jasper has caused me and now malalaman ko na ganon din  si papa? And worst sinasaktan niya si mama, you know it pero wala kang ginawa! Nanahimik ka! Because of what? You are protecting us? From what? From the truth? Anong pinagkaiba mo kay papa? Hindi mo ba kami niloko non? Akala ko masaya pamilya natin. I thought everything is okay! Naggagaguhan lang pala tayo." sambit ni ate.

"Stacey anak, calm down let's talk about this outside. People are looking at us already." utos ni papa.

"Bakit? Nahihiya ka? Ayaw mong malaman ng mga taong to kung gano ka kahayop? Hindi pa ba sapat na niloko mo si mama ha? Di pa ba enough na sinaktan mo siya emotionally? Kailangan mo rin saktan siya physically? And don't call me anak. From now on, you don't have a daughter anymore!"

"Stacey! Stop saying those things. We can still fix this!" sambit ni mama.

"Sorry ma ha. Pero tama na pagiging tanga please lang-" naputol ang pananalita ni ate sa sampal ni mama.

"Yes! I am stupid! I know it! Higit sa pagkakaalam niyo, mas alam ko kung gano ako  katanga! Kaya sige. Call me stupid. But if being stupid will keep my family from being broken, if being stupid will make my children happy no matter how much it hurts, I will endure it." lumuluhang sabi ni mama bago siya umalis.

Panandaliang nanahimik ang paligid.

Nagsialisan na rin ang iilang mga staffs at pasyente na nakiusisa sa nangyayari.

"I will not let you come any closer to my family again. Not even a footstep in our house. Pack up your things and get out of our house. I will make sure that mom will sign the annulment paper." sambit ni ate habang tumutulo ang luha sa kanyang mga mata.

"Can't we fix this, Stacey?" maamong tanong ni papa.

"No. And I will do everything that I can for you to rot in jail! For hurting my mom! For cheating on her! You and your woman will be jailed. I will make sure of that."

"Stacey.-"

"Get out!" sigaw ni ate. 

Dahan dahang tumalikod si papa at umalis dahil sa kahihiyaan. 

"Ate." sambit ko.

"I don't want to talk to you yet, Tim." saka bumuhos ang luha niya.

"Sorry for hurting you ate. I just don't know what to do anymore." mahinang sagot ko habang patuloy naring umaagos ang luha ko.

"I know. I'm trying to understand. But I just can't talk to you right now. I can't accept that even you and dad can lie to me. I don't even know what the difference between you and Jasper, Tim. If this is how you protect, you should have just let me get hurt." sambit niya bago tuluyang tumungo sa direksyon ng kwarto ni Jamey.

Isa sa mga pinakamasakit na bagay na narinig ko ang sinabi ni ate Stacey. Nasasaktan ako dahil alam kong tama siya. Dahil alam kong mali na pinagtakpan ko si papa. Dahil aminin ko man o hindi, wala akong pinagkaiba sa kanya. Nanloko ako. Naging parte ako ng kasinungalingan na masaya kaming pamilya. Na walang problema. Pero sa dulo triple pa sa sakit na dinulot ni papa ang natamo nila ng dahil sa akin.

Sana mas naging matapang ako.

Sana kinaya kong sabihin sakanila.

Sana naprotektahan ko sila.

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