Star & Twinkle (Completed)

Chapter 42

Allan stood up and gave his daughter another hug. "'Wag mo masyado pahirapan ang mommy at tita V mo, anak. They did what they thought was best for you. Marami pa rin silang nasakripisyo para sayo noon, and I believe not once nila pinamukha at sinumbat yun sayo. Mahal na mahal ka nila pareho ng sobra sobra. You have no idea kung ano yung pain and anguish nila nung lumalaban ka pa lang sa hospital. Takot na takot silang mawala ka," Allan said as he held his daughter's hand. Twinkle nodded as she looked away. She stared outside the window. "Alam ko naman po yun. Kelangan ko lang po ng oras," Twinkle said as she continued to stare at the window. Allan gave his daughter's hand a gentle squeeze and a kiss before he finally let her go. He took the tray with him and brought it to the kitchen where Star and Vicky waited anxiously for him. The moment Allan locked eyes with Star, he immediately started crying. "Mahal," Star said as she went over to him. "What happened?" She asked nervously as she took him for an embrace. He sobbed, so it took him a while to speak. He finally let go of the hug and wiped his eyes. "She called me dad," he said before he started crying again. Star swallowed and started crying with him. Vicky couldn't help but cry, too. She smiled at Star and Allan. Star and Vicky were both genuinely happy for him. Star hugged him even tighter before she let him go. "Ano sabi nya?" Star asked as she rubbed his back. "Ayun, she told me parehas lang daw kami nalagay sa alanganin. Na she couldn't blame me for what happened sakin because I have no control of the situation. She told me nanghihinayang sya sa lahat ng oras na sana nalaman na namin kaagad na mag-ama kami, but she was still thankful na may chance pa kami bumawi sa isa't isa. Sabi ko naman sayo mahal diba? Sobrang maintindihin at mapagmahal ang anak natin. Sooner or later, she'll forgive all of us at magiging masaya na rin tayong lahat. We'll be free from whatever was binding us. We'll be free to be more like a family. Magiging maayos din ang lahat," Allan said as he hugged Star. He gave Star a kiss on the forehead. "Someday, maiintindihan din nya ang lahat, mahal, at mapapatawad din nya kami ni Vicks," Star tried to convince herself. Allan nodded. "We'll give her all the time she needs. Hindi natin sya mamadaliin," Allan replied and Star nodded.

That afternoon, Star went in Twinkle's bedroom to check on her daughter. Twinkle was staring outside the window when her mother came in. "Hi," Star said quietly. Twinkle looked at her but din't say anything, she continued to stare outside. "Love," Star said as she swallowed. She carefully sat by her daughter's side and held her shoulders. "How have you been feeling?" Star asked. She rubbed Twinkle's shoulder as if giving her a massage. Twinkle looked at her mother then outside again. She still didn't say anything. "Love, alam ko galit ka. Disappointed. Frustrated. Maybe you even feel betrayed by us, pero katulad ng sabi ko, don't let it compromise your health. Pagbali-baliktarin man ang mundo, ate mo man ako o nanay, mahal na mahal pa rin kita. I care about you a lot, Twinks. More than you'll ever know. Ikaw ang buhay ko—" Star said when Twinkle cut her off. "Pano nyo po natiis na hindi makasama ang anak nyo ng ganun katagal?" Twinkle asked. Her eyes were filled with tears. "Anak, maniwala ka man o hindi, I longed to be with you—" Star said when Twinkle cut her off again. "Pero pinasa pasa mo lang ako ng ilang beses sa iba—" Twinkle said when Star cut her off this time. "Because I didn't know how to be a mother. I didn't know how to take care of myself what more ibang tao—" She said, but Twinkle cut her off again. "Sana nag-try ka man lang. Wala namang perpektong tao eh. Lahat naman nagkakamali pero dun sa pagkakamaling yun tayo natututo. Practice makes perfect nga daw diba? Pano mo matututonan kung tatakbohan mo?" Twinkle said, her face was wet with tears. "Love, aminado naman ako. Aminado ako na marami akong pagkakamali. Marami akong nasayang na oras. Marami akong kulang. Pero once na I got myself together, tinry ko naman eh. Tinry ko because I know you're worth it. Sinubukan ko naman bumawi sa oras at atensyon sa paraan na kaya ko eh—" Star said when Twinkle cut her off again. "Pero pinadala nyo ako kung saan saan. Hinayaan mokong malayo sayo. Naiintindihan ko nung bata pa ako kasi alagain pako nun eh. Kelangan may nag-babantay pa sakin. Kaya naiintindihan ko yung mga naging decision mo. Pero nung gumraduate kami ni Millie ng high school? Kaya ko naman na alagaan sarili ko diba? Pwede sana ako dito sa bahay nyo ni tita V. Sinabi ko pa sayo nun na gusto ko kung nasan kayo ni tita V, andun din ako. Sabi ko okay nako dito sa Pilipinas. Okay nako mag-aral na lang dito. Sabi ko okay nako sa kung anong kayang i-offer sakin dito na trabaho. Sabi ko masaya nako dito. Sabi ko dun ako sa pamilya ko. Kung nasan kayo dun din ako. Pero nasobrahan naman yata yung confidence at tiwala mo sakin na kaya ko na sarili ko kasi pinadala moko sa America kasama si Millie. Pinili mong mapalayo lalo sakin. Ginusto kong makasama ka na. Pero ano ginawa mo? Pinadala moko sa America, sa America na sobrang layo kesa sa probinsya. Ni halos hindi mo na nga ako mapuntahan nung nasa probinsya pako nun eh. Halos wala ka na nga sa lahat ng events. Ultimo birthday ko pahirapan ka pa mahagilap. Pano mo natiis na mawalay sa anak mo ng ganun? Pano mo kinaya yun? Oo maraming opportunities para sakin doon sa America. Pero pano mo natiis na hayaan akong umalis at malayo sa piling mo lalo na't alam mo na gustong gusto ka makasama ng anak mo?" Twinkle said as tears poured out of her eyes. Then she grimaced in pain. She clutched her chest as she she gasped for air. "Twinkle," Star said as she immediately stood up. "Okay lang ako," Twinkle said as her chest rose in the air. Her eyebrows met as she clutched her chest even tighter. "Love, mamaya nyan heart attack na yan eh," Star said in a panic as she held on to her daughter. "Al!" Star called out more than three times before Allan and Vicky came barging at the door. "I think we need to take her back to the hospital,  now!!!" Star said immediately. "What's going on?!" Allan said as she rushed over Twinkle's side. "Okay lang po ako," Twinkle said as her body relaxed. "Twinks, we can't risk it. Your chest is not supposed to be hurting like that," Star said worriedly. "Kelangan ko lang mag-pahinga. Ayoko ng bumalik sa hospital," Twinkle said as she closed her eyes. Her body felt tired and weak. Star looked at Allan and quickly understood what Star had wanted for him to do. He stood up and gave his daughter a kiss, "Mag-pahinga ka lang. 'Wag ka mag-pupwersa," Allan said as he held his daughter's hand before he went out of the bedroom. Star looked worriedly at Twinkle. She went over to her and also gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Love, how is it now?" She asked as she held her hand. "Okay na po, kumirot lang kanina pero okay na. Kelangan ko lang ng pahinga," Twinkle said with her eyes closed. "You need to keep that oxygen on. Don't take it off," Star said. Twinkle didn't answer. Star took a deep breath and looked at Twinkle. She tried so hard not to cry as she sat by her side, stroking her daughter's forehead and hair as she held on to her. Within a couple of minutes, Star could tell Twinkle's body was more relaxed. Star figured she had already fallen asleep. She took a deep breath as she took another look at her daughter.