A Love To Remember

Chapter 12: Indefinite

Chiara

"Of course, you're my daughter! Paano mo naman naitanong 'yan?" Dad asked me in disbelief after telling him the question I've been carrying for like, years now.

Kaagad naman akong umiling bilang pagsagot. I highly doubt that. Rinig na rinig ng dalawang tenga ko kung paano sabihin ni Mommy na hindi niya ako tunay na anak.

"Si Mommy?" masayang tanong ko sa katulong na sumalubong sa 'kin the moment I went out of the car.

"Nasa salas po, Ma'am. Kasama niya pi si Ma'am Analaine." sagot nito na ikinangiti ko, so nandito si Tita Analaine? Yes! I missed my Aunt, it's been weeks since I last saw her.

Tita Analaine is my Mom's younger sister, Tita and I are pretty close so this will be the perfect time to spill to the both of them the good news.

Ako kasi ang napiling gumanap ng role ni 'Juliet' para sa upcoming play namin sa school next month. I just can't wait to share it to them.

I made my way to the front door and I was about to open it but then, I stopped midway when I heared Mommy and Tita talking inside and it seemed like.. they're quarreling.

Dinikit ko ang tenga ko sa pinto, I'm eavesdropping at sabi sa 'kin ni Daddy, bad daw iyon but I'm getting curious sa kung ano ang pinagtatalunan nila doon sa loob.

"Ate Clara, hindi mo man lang ba inisip ang mag-ama mo at parang masyado kang padalos-dalos sa mga desisyon mo?" I heard Tita Analaine said, making my forehead crease.

"Analaine, we grew up together! Bata pa lang tayo, pangarap ko na 'to. Alam mo naman 'yon, 'di ba? This is the perfect opportunity for me to reach my lifelong dream and I won't waste it." Mommy answered. "And besides, Aga and I are not in a good place of our relationship right now."

I literally don't understand anything. Everything's pretty much a blur.

"Oo, sabihin na nga nating pangarap mo 'yan pero Ate, paano si Chiara? Ang bata-bata pa niya para iwan mo! Kailangan ka niya, Ate.." wika ni Tita— more like, she pleaded.

Iiwan kami ni Mommy? Teka, ano?

Silence eloped for a minute or so not until my Mom spoke, shattering my little heart into pieces.

"Nakalimutan mo na ba, Analaine? Alam nating dalawa na hindi ko anak si Chiara." aniya na ikinagulat ko.

Ano? I tried to convince myself na mali lang 'yong narinig ko, na babawiin din ni Mommy 'yong sinabi niya pero..

"Ate Clara.."

"Alam mo Analaine, alam mo na hindi ko anak si Chiara."

Hi... hindi niya talaga ako a.. anak? Paano nangyari 'yon?

I covered my mouth to prevent myself from making any distracting noise as I ran outside our house.

Dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa park and
the moment I arrived there, parang gripo kung bumuhos ang mga luha ko. Halos wala na akong makita because of my tears.

Ilang beses kong tinanong ang sarili ko, ano ang mas masakit? 'Yong nalaman kong ampon ako o 'yong nalaman kong iiwan kami ng Nanay ko?

After crying everything out, mugto ang mga mata ko nang umuwi ako sa amin.

And that's the first time I cut myself wishing from that day on, namatay na lang sana ako..

"Matagal ko nang gustong itanong 'yan sa 'yo pero natatakot ako sa mga maaring marinig ko." mahinang wika ko pagkatapos kong maikwento kay Daddy ang lahat-lahat.

He was speechless at para bang 'di siya makapaniwala sa lahat ng sinabi ko.

Hindi ba siya makapaniwala na alam ko na hindi niya ako tunay na anak?

"Pa... ano nangyari 'yon?" he asked himself na tila ba siya mismo'y nagtataka rin.

Bumaling siya sa 'kin, "Baka mali lang ang narinig mo Chia, anak kita at iyon ang totoo."

Bakit parang may mali rito? Is Dad putting up an act where he got to explain na anak niya ako for preventing me not to know the truth or sadyang wala talaga siyang alam? He's an actor anyway, he's an ace when it comes to acting so we never know.

"Dad, tama ang narinig ko, believe me!" sagot ko, defending myself. If he wanted to, he can go ask Tita Anala— tama!

Si Tita Analaine, she knows something. May alam siya, siya lang ang makakasagot sa mga tanong namin.

"Dad, you can go ask Tita Analaine! May alam po siya, she can answer our questions!" I suggested pero imbes na sumagot, Dad patted my shoulders as he stood up.

"No need Chiara, forget it. Forget everything. Anak kita, 'yan ang tatandaan mo." he said as he made his way upstairs, leaving me speechless.

Oh well, kung ayaw niyang kausapin si Tita Analaine, then, I will.

My whole life is a lie and she's the only one who can give me specific answers.

Ang tanong, saan ko siya mahahanap? I lost contact with her simula nang umalis si Mommy dito, paano ko hahanapin si Tita?

Bahala na, basta, I'll do everything malaman lang ang totoong pagkatao ko.

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