Del Rico Triplets #1: Bound By Duties

Kabanata 26

Anak

“Kamusta ka, anak? Na-miss mo ba si Nanay?” malamyos ang tinig niya pero…

Ganito siya noon kapag nakainom. Uutuin ako na kunwari mabait siya at nasa katinuan pero kapag nakalapit na ako… walang humpay na bugbog ang aabutin ko. Abot-abot ang tahip ng dibdib ko. Matinding takot ang lumulukob sa akin.

Bumukas-sara ang labi ko, hindi pa rin alam kung paano makahuhuma. Ano ba ang tamang sabihin? Kahit ano? Kailangan may maisagot dahil ayaw ni Nanay na... parang wala siyang kausap.

“Hindi mo ba sasagutin si Nanay? Gusto mo ban–“

Hindi ko na siya hinayaang makatapos. Nagbigay na ako ng sagot. Sagot na gusto niyang marinig. Bawal ang magkamali, kundi ay masasaktan ako.

“A-ayos lang po… ako. Na-miss naman po…” utal-utal na sambit ko sa nanginginig na boses.

Gumuhit ang panunuya sa mukha niya. Ang dulo ng labi ay umangat at natutuwang pumalakpak. Ang babae sa front seat ay 'di pa rin natinag.  Nakatanaw pa rin. Binuksan ni Nanay ang pinto ng kotse kalaunan. Kamuntikan akong mawalan ng balanse dahil sa gulat at pagkataranta. Mabuti na lamang at naalalayan ako ni Nurse Rita.

“Ma’am, na-text ko na po si Sir,” bulong niya sa akin.

Pilit kong ikinakalma ang sarili.  Kumapit ako sa kamay niya nang mahigpit, sinusuportahan ang sarili. I watched Nanay Helena get out of the car. She came towards me. Sinulyapan ko ang kasamahan niya. Ang babaeng palaging nasa café at nagtatanong daw tungkol sa akin. Sinasabi ko na nga ba na… kamukha niya nga si Nanay. Hindi ako nagkamali.

“That is your sister, Hollis. Halika at ipakilala kita,” anito bago dumampi ang kamay sa balikat ko nang tuluyang makalapit sa akin.

I almost jump because of that. Nanay’s touch will never be a soft one for me.  Instead it's quite... perilous. I tried to look inside my heart if there is longing for this woman. The mother who I lived with for about eight years. The mother who cause me trauma’s and phobias. The one who... took me away from my family. Reason why I didn't have the life that any child does deserve.

Dalawang haplos pa ng kamay niya sa balikat ko.

"Your sister Hannah is here," she pointed at the girl.

“Take your hand out of my wife…” a cold domineering voice got our attention, specially mine.

I instantly turn around to look for my husband. There, he is sporting a dangerous aura. Wearing his business attire. Looking like a lion ready to hunt for a prey. Now that he is looking at Nanay Helena, I can see the desire on his eyes. Desire to hurt the woman he’s looking at.

I managed to heave a sigh. Somehow, I calmed myself. My husband is here. He won't let Nanay hurt me.

"Tross," a soft voice left my lips.

No one can hear it because of it's volume. Only Nanay and Rita does. But maybe my husband really knows me. Because even with that tiny voice, he looks at me.

“Come here, wife,” he motioned me to enter the gate.

I was about to obey him when Nanay’s grip on my shoulder tightened. Just like… what she’d done before if I did something that pisses her off. Every memories in my head started bothering me. That made me tremble in fear. The thought crossed my mind.

'Can I free myself from Nanay's hand?'

My body jumped when Nanay's voice filled my ears.

“Ngayon lang kami nagkita ng anak ko. Ipagdadamot mo pa?” matigas ang boses nito.