Along the Avenue

KABANATA V

"Don't let them notice that we knew everything mom would be worried, and as for me don't mind me I'm fine ano ba kayo kayang kaya is ko 'to I just need some time alone please"

"P-pero Ate-"

"Vince shut it halika na bago pa tayo mapagalitan nila mommy dito"

My sister said as they both left me alone. Kailangan kong mapag-isa para makapag-isip isip kung paano ko matatanggap ang lahat. Pero mas dapat ko yatang isipin kung magagawa ko nga ba talagang tanggapin ang katotohanan na I will never be dad's favorite. At hindi ko kailanman makukuha ang tiwala at suporta niya kasi bung lang kami ng kakambal ko ng isang pagkakamali at pagkakasala niya sa babaeng minamahal niya.

But that shouldn't change the fact that na kami ang legal na pamilya niya kailangan niya irespeto ang mommy namin because he married her for the sake of his pride and power, but he didn't be able to be a real father father to us and a good husband to mom.

I sigh again as I look at the mirror in front, I can't help but to ask myself kaya mo pa ba?

"Ate Venice, let's eat na mom is as asking for you" I heard Vince outside of my room. Kaya naman I tried my very hardest to suppress thoughts, hindi ko pwedeng ipakita kay mommy na malungkot at matamlay ako. Kinuha ko na lang report card ko para ipakita kay mommy I'm sure she will happy to see my grades right now.

'What I've heard earlier should not bother me right now, pull yourself together Shanice okay'

Paalala ko sa aking sarili bago bumaba. At hindi na ako nagtataka nang hindi ko makita si papa. Napaka kapal naman ng pagmumukha niya kung nandito pa siya ano this is our mother's birthday he should not spoil it. And let our mother at peace kahit ngayon lang.

"Happy birthday mom here is my gift, high grades and I am the overall top 2 this sem"

I said as I gave her the report card. She smiled naman at niyakap ako "congrats my baby, pagbutihin mo pa ha" she said. I still felt that she's holding back.

"Here's mine mom, sorry I didn't get that high grades like Sissy's but top 6 yan sa overall rankings" as she gave her report card mom smiled bitterly. "You did a great job honey, just don't let your passion ruin your studies okay?"

"Of course mommy understood" I bitterly smiled because of that mabuti pa si Sissy alam niya yung passion niya eh ako? Ngayon dahil sa nalaman ko tungkol kay papa I think lost my direction, wala naman kasi talaga akong ginusto all my life kundi ang maging worth it sa paningin ni papa eh but now I know no matter what I do? That will never happen...

The next day I woke up late than usual at dahil Saturday at you know I cried last night and you know basta late na ako nakatulog, at dahil wala kaming pasok I've expected na si mommy or kahit si Sheena man lang ang naghihintay sa akin but I was shocked nang si Lolo Calix ang sumalubong sa akin at mukhang galit siya ah.

"Hija, may I know where your bastard father is?"

"I'm pretty sure na hindi po siya umuwi kagabi, why lolo is there something wrong?" I casually asked at nagmano kay lolo. I can feel that he is angry ah and that is not good. "Shanice my dear granddaughter wag mo nang pagtakpan ang tatay mong yun kung akala niya na hindi ko malalaman ang mga kabalbalan niya pwes ibahin mo ang lolo mo kaya apo don't worry pwede mong sabihin kay lolo ang lahat"

Sabi niya ng ikinagulat ko. How come na alam na niya? Di ba nga sinabi ni mommy na hindi naman nakita ni lolo yung alam nyo na tapos- wait is it Sheen or Vin? "Lolo how did you- did Sheena or Vincent told you?"

"No sweetie it has nothing to do with your siblings, it is your aunt Larissa pinuntahan daw siya nung babaeng yun and that btch is demanding money and support for her son kaya kailangan kong makausap ang papa mo kaya nasaan siya?" Ohh, is that what what papa meant on ayaw nila sa gulo? Kapal ah siya na nga itong kabit siya pa ang matapang grabe di ko tuloy maisip kung anong klaseng babae ang sinasabing greatest love kuno ng papa ko duh.