Conflict of Nous (GxG)

CHAPTER 12 - Past Tense

Luna's Point of View

I already know long ago that Dad cheated on mom because my grandfather told me about it. But I never thought of the possibility of him having another child and to think that Rhiannon is only almost two years younger than me is disappointing.

No wonder why mom left him. I thought as I looked at my father who was still standing beside me after Iris, Rhiannon, and her mother left.

"Is she my sister?" Gulat siyang tumingin sakin ng magtanong ako sa kanya. Na para bang hindi niya alam na nandito ako kanina pa. Hindi rin niya sinagot ang katanungan ko, imbis ay yumuko na lamang siya.

Silence means yes, I guess.

I started walking towards my motorcycle, leaving him on his own since I don't think he has the guts to talk to me about what just happened.

Dad and I have this what they call a 'hot and cold' relationship. Minsan magkasundo kami pero madalas magkaaway. Hindi lang dahil sa maaga silang naghiwalay ni Mom dahil sa nangaliwa siya ay kundi dahil hindi niya tanggap ang pagiging baliko ko.

In short, he's a religious homophobic who cares too much about his reputation but is separated from his wife because he's a cheater.

I always see Dad as having two sides, just like how a coin has two different sides. He helps a lot of people, he treats me well except that he doesn't accept my gender preference, and he's kind towards the people around him but on the other side, he's a coward, dishonest, and homophobic man. He's the best of both sides.

'Love, can I ask for a favor?' I texted Iris before opening my motorcycle engine. Hindi naging kami ni Iris pero hindi lang din kami basta magkaibigan lang dati. Pareho kaming umamin na gusto namin ang isat isa pero dahil sa pagiging magkakumpitensya namin sa maraming bagay ay hindi na mas lumalim pa ang namamagitan sa amin. And I have to admit na merong mga pagkakataon na nasasayangan ako sa nangyari pero hindi naman na mababalik ang dati. Kung meron man akong pinagsisisihan yun ang wala akong naitulong kay Iris ng mawala si Tito Idris. She isolated herself so much kaya naman natutuwa ako na lumalabas na siya ulit and she's opening herself again to other people.

It took her a few minutes bago siya nakapagreply. 'Depends if I can do it' is what she texted.

'Can I talk to you? I just have some questions. Pupunta ako sa inyo' is what I replied. I need to ask her some questions about Rhiannon given that I just found out that she's probably my sister.

I might hate my father because he cheated on Mom but Rhiannon is outside of that hatred. I'm an only child sa parents ko kaya naman lumaki ako ng walang tinuturing na kapatid. And even though we are only half blood related I would still love to know Rhiannon, kahit hindi bilang isang kapatid, kahit kaibigan na lang. I have this sense of being an older sister now that I know who she is.

'Sure, ring the doorbell when your outside' is what Iris responded. Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya dahil tanda niya pa rin na hindi ko hilig gumamit ng doorbell pag pumupunta ako sa bahay nila. Ang madalas na ginagawa ko ay ang paghagis ng maliliit na bato sa bintana ng kwarto niya. I only responded with a smiling emoji before turning off my phone screen and heading my way to her place.

***

"I told you to use the doorbell" yan ang bungad niya sakin pag bukas niya ng pinto ng bahay nila. Hindi naman na ko nagsalita bagkus ay itinaas ko na lang ang dala kong strawberry bavarian donut at lychee fruit drink na binili ko bago pumunta dito.