A Lifetime Connection

21

Vida was just sitting on their lanai, with red wine on her hand. Hindi niya maiwasang isipin ang pagkikita nila ng ina at ng anak nito. She's now wondering who's that kids' father too.

She got startled when someone suddenly kissed her head, she turned to see who it was and it was her Dad with Anne.

"Oh. Dumating na pala kayo, how's your errands?" tanong ni Vida nang tumabi si Greggy sa kanya.

"Okay lang naman," sagot ni Anne.

Pinasandal ni Greggy si Vida sa kanyang dibdib at hinaplos ang ulo nito. "How was your day, baby?"

Napalunok siya bago nakasagot. "It was fine, Daddy. I brought the cake I baked to Mama and brought Uncle Bong and Tita Aimee their lunch..." suminghap siya.

"'Yun lang?"

"I... I went to the park, trying to get inspirations for my sketch." tinapos niya agad.

Nanliit ang mata ni Greggy. "Why do I feel like na may hindi ka sinasabi sa'kin?"

"Like what?" pagmamaang-maangan ni Vida sa ama.

Greggy scoffed. "You can't hide something from me, Vida Georgina. What happened?"

Sinulyapan ni Vida si Anne na mukhang naguguluhan sa sinasabi ni Greggy. Vida sat down properly and leaned on the other edge of the swinging bench.

"What is it?" tanong muli ni Greggy.

Vida sighed and took a sip from her wine glass before answering. "I saw... I saw her, Dad."

Nangunot ang noo ni Greggy, "Sinong her?"

Vida rolled her eyes. May gusto lang itong marinig na paraan ng pagtawag.

"Come on, Dad. I know you know her,"

Greggy shrugged. "I don't know. Malay ko bang sinong her 'yan,"

She irritatingly stared at her father, "Stop beating around the bush, Dad! Kilala mo naman 'e!"

"You stop beating around the bush. Say her name," seryosong saad ni Greggy sa anak.

Vida sighed harshly. "Okay! I saw Irene,"

Umangat ang kilay ni Greggy, halatang hindi nagustuhan ang paraan ng pagtawag ni Vida sa ina. He stole the wine glass from her grip at itinabi ito.

Seryosong inilingan ni Greggy ang anak. "No. That's not her name for you."

"You told me to say her name! 'Yun naman ang pangalan niya," iritadong ani Vida.

"I'm not liking that attitude. Her name is Mommy for you, Vida. She's your Mommy,"

Napakagat ng pang-ibabang labi si Vida nang mapagsabihan ng ama. Nakatingin lang si Anne sa sagutan ng mag-ama. Vida sighed before speaking again.

"Fine... I saw Mommy."

"Then?" Greggy was full of anticipation.

"Well, she has a... child with her. Anak niya, the kid called her Mommy. I think the kid is about 4 or 5 years old."

Natahimik si Greggy nang marinig iyon. A lot of things ran through his mind. Who could be the father? Is he the father? Nagbunga ba ang nangyari sa kanila? O... baka iba ang ama?

The last thought brought confusion all over him. Hindi naman siguro 'di ba? Hindi naman siguro siya umalis dahil nabuntis siya. He knows to himself that there was a little hope... that maybe he's the father.

He can't imagine her doing things that they used to do with another man.

Anne watched Greggy's reaction. Hindi niya maintidihan kung ano ng eksaktong nararamdaman ng lalaking pakakasalan niya. Halong-halong reaksyon ang dumaan sa mukha ni Greggy; lungkot, confusion, pagka-disappointed, pagkagulat.