A Love To Remember

Chapter 33: Substitute

Lea

"Aga, tell me, why did I say yes?" I asked while looking blankly at the TV screen, napatigil naman siya sa pagbabasa ng isang magazine as he took a glance at me.

"Kasi that's the right thing to do?" patanong na sagot niya, I shrugged my head as I slouched at the couch and closed my eyes in frustration.

Umuwi kasi si Alysse sa bahay ng Tita niya that's why I'm acting cranky today, I miss my daughter.

"Is it really? Eh sa hindi ko lang talaga natiis ang mukha ng anak mo while asking for permission na umuwi sa kanila eh! I could've say no, na huwag siyang umalis, na dito lang siya but what can I do? She's wearing her paawa look and I can't resist her charms!" reklamo ko as I massaged my temple, followed by Aga's irksome laughter.

"Anak natin, babes." he corrected me, "Tsaka isa pa, kanino pa ba magmamana iyon? Nagagalit ka d'yan kasi 'di mo natiis ang paawa look ni Alysse eh ikaw nga palagi mo ring sinusout iyan para makuha ang mga gusto mo eh." he added.

I sighed. We're the biological parents but why do I feel like kami pa ang nakikihati sa pagmamahal ni Alysse? Honestly, 'pag naguusap kami, whenever she drag her Tita Nari's name in our conversation or random members of her adopted family, I can't help not to feel envious towards them.

Nakasama nila ang anak ko sa loob ng ilang taon and even tho she's somehow close to us.. there's still a gap, a hidden barrier kumbaga. I still don't know a lot of things about her and a week with her isn't enough to catch up.

"Kainis!" I blurted out as I opened my eyes, umayos ako ng upo as I threw Aga a glare when I saw him looking at me with a grin on his face.

"Hot ka na nga babes, mainit pa ang ulo mo. Daig mo pa si haring araw sa sobrang kainitan!" he said, pakiramdam ko, mistulang pumula naman ang buong mukha ko dahil dun.

"Ewan ko sa'yo!" sambit ko at binalik na lang ulit ang tingin ko sa TV, Papertowns currently showing on screen. One of John Green's stories that turned into a blockbuster movie.

Sa palabas, they're looking for the lead cast played by Cara Delevingne, Margo, since she's misising again. Napatigil ako when a detective came in, making me realize about the case we had years back then.

"Babes, kamusta na pala ang kaso?" tanong ko bigla.

"Naka-usap ko kanina si Detective Ivan, they're digging in further. He was uneasy to said this at first pero ayon sa kanya; nahihirapan daw sila sa kaso kasi walang ebidensyang natira sa ospital kung saan ka nanganak." he answered seriously.

Napa-isip naman ako dahil dun. Walang ebidensya? How come? I suppose na meron pa silang copy ng CCTV footages or whatever that can verify Alysse's adopted Mother's story.

Paano kung hindi naman pala totoo ang kwento niya about Alysse, paano kung kinuha niya talaga ito at pinalabas lang nila na patay na? Pero.. I don't know her and I'm way sure na she's not connected to me, if that's the case, bakit niya naman kukunin ang anak ko?

But of course, the version she told Alysse was also vivid. Paano rin kung binayaran talaga sila? Alysse said na the woman even threatened to kill them. We never know.

"What about video footages? Even medical records or any remaining witnesses? I'm pretty sure na meron talagang natira." I hissed as Aga looked at me hesitantly...

"Eh kasi babes.. the hopsital-- nasunog pala ito seven years ago and the place kung saan ito tinayo, isa na ngayong factory." he confessed making me freeze in astonishment.

Nasunog? What the fuck.

"But don't worry, ginagawa ni Detective Ivan ang lahat ng makakaya niya. Even tho evidences are now burnt down into ashes, I'm pretty sure that no one can commit a perfect crime." pahabol niya, probably when he noticed that I became silent.