"Mommy?" I level my face on Cayne.
"Hmmm? Why baby? You're sleepy na?" Tinanggal ko ang kumot na nakabalot sa kalahating katawan namin para maihatid ko na sila sa kwarto nila. They barges into my room dahil gusto daw nilang manood ng cartoons kasama ako. Inaantok na sana ako, but I can't say no.
"Yes, Mommy," umalis ako sa kama at kinuha ang kinuha remote na nasa bedside table para patayin TV. Inalalayan ko din silang bumaba sa kama, nagpabuhat sa akin si Cayne habang si Claus ay nakahawak si kamay ko habang naglalakad kami papunta sa kwarto nila.
"Goodnight babies, " I kissed their cheeks before leaving them. I was about to close the door when Claus words made me stop.
"Mommy, when are we gonna go home? Why Daddy isn't here?" Nilingon ko siya. Umupo siya sa kama nila, at parang pinapahiwatig na lumapit ako sa kaniya, kaya lumapit ako at lumuhod sa gilid niya.
Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga at hinawakan ang kamay niya. Between him and Cayne, he was the serious one at parang hindi akma sa edad niya ang mga kilos at pananalita niya. He was... He was just matured for his aged.
"Don't you want to stay here with Lola and Lolo, baby?" I softly ask him and hold his bare face. He shook his head repeatedly.
"No, Mommy. I like here po but, " nagtatanong na tingin ko siyang tiningnan.
"But?" Tanong ko
"I miss, Daddy, Mommy, " sandali akong natigilan, pero nakabawi lang din kalaunan.
"I'm sure, Daddy misses you and Cayne, anak, but maybe, Daddy was busy that's why he can't be here with us, " paliwanag ko. Kinamot niya ang ilong niya na nagpatawa sa akin.
"I know, Mom. But, don't lie to me. You can lie to Lola or Lolo, even to Cayne, but you can't to me, " literal na umawang ang bibig ko sa sinabi ng anak ko. How... How can Claus say all of this? I know he's matured but... Shocks!
"Baby, Mommy and Daddy had a small misunderstanding, that's why we're here, " pag-amin ko. Ngumiti sa akin ang anak ko at niyakap ako. Nag-init ang bawat sulok nang mata ko dahil sa ginawa niya, hanggang sa naramdaman ko nalang na umiiyak na ako.
"You can make it, Mommy. I know Daddy... He may not our real, Dad, but I know he love us. I feel it, " pinunasan niya ang luha sa pisnge ko. Imbes na matigil ako sa pag-iyak ay mas lalo lang na lumala. How I can make a lie to him?
" Anak, I'll tell you something, but promise me, we'll keep this as a secret? Can you that for me?" Panghihingi ko nang pabor sa anak ko at pinunasan ang pisnge ko. He made a repeatedly nod.
"He is your real, Dad-" hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko ng sumagot siya.
"I know, Mommy,"
"But... But how?" I asked him. How did he know? Wala akong alam na may pinagsabihan ako, maliban kila, Chantalle.
"I just knew it, Mom. No one told me. I just feel it in my heart, then it turns out that my perception is true. " Agad na nagtuluan ang luha ko sa pisnge.
"Oh my God..."
"I know, Mom. Why he's not with us in the past years, Mommy? " Hindi nga ako nagkamali nang tanungin niya sa akin 'to. Anong sasabihin ko? Sasabihin ko ba na iniwan ako ng Daddy nila sa Hotel matapos may mangyari sa amin? O hindi?
" Please, don't lie to me, Mommy, "
"He left us."
" Why? Did he hate us? " Agad akong umiling. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kami iniwan ni Clyden, pero sa tingin ko mas mabuting 'yan ang alam niya, dahil nararamdaman ko... Clyden didn't leave us for that...
"Of course not, baby... Something just happen that time, and I can't tell you, " malungkot na sabi ko sa kanya.
"It's fine, Mom. Whatever it is, I won't hate Daddy or you, because I know you both love me and Cayne so much, right Mommy? " I nodded while crying. I pull him into a tight hug, before pushing him to bed, and for the second time I kiss his cheeks.
"I love you and Cayne, baby. Always remember that, "
"I love you and Dad, too Mom. I hope you and Dad, settle everything, goodnight Mommy. " Tumayo ako 'tsaka umalis sa kwarto nila.
Kaya ko na ba? Is this the perfect time to talk to him? And settle the things between us? Kung hindi para sa akin ay para nalang siguro sa kambal. Pang birthday gift ko nalang sa kambal. I can't stand seeing the twins celebrating their birthday without their father. Sapat na ang paghihirap nila noon.
Para sa mga anak ko, aayusin ko ang pamilya namin. I can swallow my pride for my children... And for myself perhaps.
I grab my phone at the bedside table, and dial his number. Ilang ring lang ay may sumagot na.
"Hello?" Imbes na boses ni Clyden ang marinig ko ay boses ng babae ang narinig ko. But, I shouldn't think wrong right?
"Hi? Nandiyan ba si Clyden?"
"Who's this, po?" She ask sweetly.
"Ahm, this is Heavly, Clyden's wife," siguro ang kapal nang mukha ko, dahil ang lakas nang loob kong sabihin sa kanya 'yan eh 'ni hindi pa nga kami nagkausap. But, who cares? I call him for that, anyway.
"Ay, hala! Sorry po ate. Akala ko po kasi kung sino, hindi ko naman po kasi tiningnan ang caller. Sorry po talaga, "
" No, it's fine. Can you give the phone to him?"
" Ah, yes po, wait, "narinig ko ang ginawa niyang paglalakad. Nasaan ba kasing lupalop si Clyden?
"Kuya? Someone's on your phone..." Rinig kong sabi ng kapatid niya siguro? Or pinsan? Or ewan? Ay basta!
"Tell whoever it was, I'm not available, I'm busy," at kanino siya busy? Ha! Ako na nga itong gumawa ng paraan. Hello? It's already 9 in the evening and here I am holding my phone because I call him! And who he was getting himself busy?! Sa ganitong oras!?
"Ate Heavly, hindi daw po available si-"
"Wait, Nisha! Who's that? Am I hallucinating? Did you call my wife's name?" May kung anong parang paro-paro sa tiyan ko dahil sa sinabi niya. So hindi lang ako ang makapal ang mukha? He call me his wife when in fact I wasn't, o may ibang Heavly siya? At asawa na niya? Fvck him! I'll kill him if that happens!
"Si ate Heavly kuya, pero sabi hindi ka available, "
"Give me that! Who told you I am!?-"
"Wow, kuya ha!? Are you telling that I am hallucinating!? Eh, kung isumbong kita na araw-araw kang nag-iinom, ngayon ka lang tumino dahil tinakot ka ni Mommy na, isumbong ka kay ate Heavly! Ha!?" So magkapatid sila? And Nisha was her name. Ang cute, parang gusto ko siyang ma-meet.
" Nisha! Give me my phone!-"
"Oh! Ayan! Huwag ka sanang balikan ni, Ate!" Huling narinig ko kay Nisha at ang kalabog ng pintuan. Natawa ako sa conversation nila. Nang feeling ko nakay Clyden na ang cellphone ay tumigil sa paghahagikhik.
"Where are you?" I made my voice cold.
"H-hi, baby. I miss you so much and the twins, " rinig ko ang pagsinghot niya. Pinigilan ko ang maging emosyonal.
"Where are you? Magkita tayo bukas, I'll text you the address. Be here at exactly 8 in the morning, not so early and not late, at exact 8 if you don't want to lose your chance, " hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya at basta ko nalang pinatay ang tawag.
Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili ko. Parang nakahinga ako ng maluwag at nabawasan ang nararamdaman ko. I feel at ease. Dahil sa ginawa ko ay nakatulog ako ng payapa.
To be continued...
YOU ARE READING
That One Night Stand
RomanceHeavly Stanford, the heiress of the Stanford clan. She's known for being clueless about one thing called BAR HOPING. At her age, never in her life, she experiences being inside a bar. At a pointless time, her parents were out of the country for a tr...
