Parent Trap

A change of heart.

AGA's POV

At eight o'clock in the evening, which is ten o'clock in the evening in Sydney, is our scheduled video chat with Cassie. And since we forgot about that because of Kendra's arrival today and the time is already 10pm, Cassie is already offline.

Lea then received a call from one of her friends in London so I leave her and went to check on Athrun and Mireya.

Dahan dahan akong pumasok sa loob ng kwarto ng kambal para hindi sila magising. Sapat na sa akin na makita silang payapang natutulog para maging panatag din ang loob ko.

It's funny how Lea and I planned to have just two babies. At first, gusto ko marami. Pero naintindihan ko siya noong pinaliwanag niya ang sitwasyon. Of course, sa trabaho namin, mahirap ang magkaroon ng malaking pamilya.

Naturally, mahihirapan kaming pagsabayin ang career at mag-alaga nang bata. But unexpectedly, these two angels came along. Biyayang hindi namin hiniling pero ibinigay ng langit.

Para maging tatay ng apat na malulusog at magagandang bata ay sobra sobra na. Pero ang malamang mayroon pa pala akong anak na nauna ay isang napakalakas na suntok sa pagkatao ko bilang isang ama.

That child never got to experience our love.

Pero may pagkakataon pa naman para bumawi. Cassie is alive and is willing to give you a chance to be her father.

I stayed a little bit more before I decided it was time to go.

On my way to check on Roan and Rohan, napatingin ako sa nakapinid na pinto ng guest room kung saan maglalagi si Kendra for the next thirteen days.

Napailing ako kung bakit nga ba narito sa pamamahay namin ang isang estranghero. But I trusted Lea's instincts. Siguro may gustong patunayan o gawin ang asawa ko at kahit ano man iyon, I trust her.

Rohan is busy editing some old photos when I checked on him. And Roan is already asleep when I went to her room.

Pabalik na ako sa Master's Bedroom ng makita kong may nakatayo sa may veranda.

Napakunot-noo ako nang makilala kong si Kendra iyon. Kahit nakatalikod ay halatang halata na si Kendra dahil sa tangkad at sa buhok nito.

Tutal hindi pa naman ako inaantok at sa tingin ko ay magandang oppurtunity rin ito na makausap siya ay nagpasya na akong lapitan.

"Couldn't sleep?" I asked and copied her leaning on the railings.

It didn't startle her which I find bizarre. If I were in her shoes, I'm sure magugulat ako kung bigla na lang may tatabi sa akin habang nagmumuni muni ako. But this girl didn't even budge.

"Thank you for having me hear, sir." she said softly without looking at me. She's fixed on to something on a point in the dark road. "You don't even know me, yet, you welcomed me into your home."

My sentiments exactly.

"You should thank Lea." I said. "To be honest, I don't know why she invited you here and I don't know why you agreed...but... Whatever those reasons are, don't matter now. You're here."

"You don't sound so please with the fact that I am here." she said.

She's right. But only for the reason na anytime ay dumating si Cassie at ayaw kong may makaalam na ibang tao.

We want Cassie to ourselves first bago namin ipaalam sa mundo na siya ang panganay naming anak.

"It's not what you think, Kendra."

This time, tumingin na siya sa akin. Sobrang lungkot ang mga mata niya na para bang gusto niyang umiyak.

Wag naman sana. Hindi ko alam magpatahan ng isang babae na hindi ko naman masyadong kilala.

"Call me, Tito Aga." I said and smiled a little.

Hindi siya sumagot. Nanatili lang siyang nakatitig sa akin. And then muli niyang ibinaling ang paningin sa labas.

Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin. I wanted to leave her dahil mukhang ganoon naman ang gusto niya pero hindi ko mapilit ang sarili ko na umalis.

"I didn't know what it was like..." she murmured.

It was almost inaudible.

"...I don't know what it felt like to be around families..."

I frowned. Kasi she is already an adult when her parents and grandmother died.

"My parents and grandmother has a hige busines empire to manage. I was always left at home...alone. They missed special occasions, like birthdays, school affairs and almost everything. I felt like I am an orphan already at a young age. That's why I engaged in music. Many people have asked me why I should work when I can live as a princess until I die, it's because in my music, I met a lot of people and I loved it. For the first time, I do not feel alone."

I was speechless.

Hell, what should I say?

"Do you know that Tita Lea is one of my inspirations?"

Huh? Lea said that Kendra definitely do not like her.

"I went to her shows in London. I still keep those playbills like a treasure in my chest." she said with a hint of pleasure in her voice. Like reminiscing a very pleasant memory. "She's extraordinary and I wanted to be like her. So I did everything I could to surpass her. And I am very proud of my accomplishments."

Well, she said be. Youngest Grammy and Emmy Awardee.

Kung susuungin niya ang motion picture at broadway, malaki ang chance niya na makakuha ng Tony and an Oscar.

Siguro napansin niyang hindi na ako kumikibo kaya muli siyang napatingin sa akin. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya habang nagsasalita siya.

"I'm sorry, Tito Aga. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." she said while wiping casually the corner of her eyes.

"Kendra, I know we do not know you that much but... You have us now, it may not be much but we are here for you."

Saan galing iyon? Bakit ko nasabi iyon? Out of pity?

"Thank you, Tito." she said and without a word she hugged me. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko kasi nagulat ako sa gesture na ito.

I slowly patted her back and then ginulo ko ang maigsi niyang buhok. "You're making me emotional, kid."

Napatawa si Kendra tapos kumalas na sa pagkakayakap sa akin. "Goodnight, Tito."

I watched her as she went to her room with a smiled plastered on my lips.

When she's out of my sight, napaisip ako. Bakit parang gumaan ang loob ko sa batang iyon? When he hugged me, may naramdaman akong kakaiba.

Hindi malisyosong pakiramdam iyon, it was like Roan hugging me when she wanted to be comforted.

Yeah, like a daughter.

I shrugged off the feeling and went to bed.

End of chapter
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