Cupid Stupidity (Love Material Series #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

"Tara, kumain ka na rito," sabi ni Papa nang kakauwi ko lang. "Bihira ka na lang pumunta dito, sama ka na sa akin."

Tiningnan ko si Papa mula ulo hanggang paa. Tumatanda na siya. Nagma-maintain na rin siya dahil sa katandaan. Si Kuya Carlos, may asawa't anak na. Si Kuya Miguel, may live-in partner na. Minsan, bumibisita si Tita Jiselle para makipagkita sa amin.

I'm incredibly content with them. I couldn't ask for anything more.

"Anak, umupo ka na rito," sabi ni Papa. "Kamusta ang araw ng anak ko? Kasama mo pa ba ang mga kaibigan mo?"

"Mag-enjoy ka lang, bunso. Maglibang ka, sama mo ang mga kaibigan mo. Huwag mong masyadong problemahin, anak," sabi ni Papa ng may pagmamahal.

Ilang buwan na rin akong hindi nakakadalaw kay Papa kaya narito ako ngayon para samahan siya ng ilang araw. Umuwi na si Tita sa kanilang bahay sa kabilang barangay.

"Anak, huwag mong pabayaan ang sarili mo. Alam mo ba anak, habang tumatanda ka mas nagiging kahawig mo ang nanay mo," natatawa niyang sinabi. "May boyfriend ka na ba? Ilan taon ka na, oh! Dapat mag-asawa ka na para bago man ako mamatay masisilayan ko ang apo ko,"

I paused from fiddling with my phone when I heard his words. Suddenly, a weight settled upon me. Everything he said felt like a sharp stab.

"Bunso, malapit na ang birthday ko. Kahit huwag na kayo magluto o maghanda sa birthday ko dahil isa lang naman ang hinihiling ko," he looked at me for a while and he smiled meaningfully. "May your life be in order. I miss your Mom so much. If I hadn't cheated then, she wouldn't be here. . . and we could still be with her,"

Papa's words hit me like a ton of bricks.

I was stunned by the weight of his words, but I kept listening to Papa. I could feel the sorrow in his voice.

"Bunso, he died because of me," he said. "I don't know why, but even now, I still blame myself."

My eyes suddenly welled up with tears. I tried to hold them back because I'm not used to crying in front of them. It hurt a lot to hear him express his pain like that. When it happened, I thought he had forgotten all about it. I thought he didn't care anymore.

"Every day, morning, afternoon, at night I blamed myself. It was all a mistake, a painful accident. P-Pero hanggang ngayon, nandito pa rin. . . Nakaukit pa rin dito ang sugat," tinuro niya ang bandang gilid ng dibdib nito. "K-Kung paano tayo nag-away, nagsumbatan, at lalo na 'yong kung paano kita sinaktan."

His sobs echoed in my ears. "Believe it or not, I never intended to hurt you because. . .you're my only girl, my precious baby!"

The tears I'd been holding back began to flow.

"Kaya nga lagi kong pinagdarasal na sana makatagpo ka ng lalaking hindi katulad ko na manloloko, walang pakialam sa pamilya, at lalong walang kwentang Papa," peke niyang tawa na may halong sakit at pagkadurog sa kaniyang puso.

The pain cuts deep as I watch the person I love deteriorate under the weight of regret, guilt, and anguish. Papa slumps into the chair, his shoulders shaking with sobs.

"So, Bunso, find someone who's nothing like me, okay? I don't want your life to be tainted like mine, it should be filled with joy, and security, devoid of betrayal and heartache," he murmurs between tears, wiping them away.