Seventeen

Chapter 24

Chapter 24 : "Eavesdropping."

Silence engulfed the whole dining area. It's like we're all waiting for someone to speak. Ang tanging maririnig lang sa buong dining area ay pagkalansing ng mga kubyertos na ginagamit namin ngayon sa pagkain. I had no appetite that's why I'm having difficulties on swallowing the food inside my mouth right now. Ayaw 'kong masyadong tignan si Camila at dada ngayon na nakaupo sa tapat namin kaya kahit wala akong gana ay pinipilit 'ko ang sarili 'kong kumain.

What broke the silence is the utensil that falls to the floor. Napatingin ako kung saan nanggaling ang tunog at nalaman 'kong nahulog pala ni Camila ang kutsara niya.

"S-Sorry it slipped through my hand, I d—"

Lola interrupts. "It's okay hija. There's nothing to be sorry about."

Nagawi ang tingin 'ko sa paghawak ni dada sa kamay ni Camila na nakapatong sa mesa. Habang tinitignan 'ko ang magkahawak nilang kamay ay wala akong maramdaman. While staring at it, I'm waiting for the piercing needles kind of feeling to my heart but it didn't came. Nothing came. I'm just looking at their intertwined hands blankly. I don't know what should I feel. Should I be mad? Should I be hurt? I don't really know anymore.

"You're okay?" Dada asked Camila, worriedly.

"Yeah, don't worry." She replied in a soft voice and assuring way.

She's like an angel in disguise. Hindi 'ko alam kung pagpapanggap lang ba itong pinapakita niya sa amin o ganito talaga siyang klase ng tao. I can't be mad at her because I know that she didn't make the baby herself. Ang hindi 'ko lang maintindihan ay kung bakit kailangan niyang lokohin ang asawa niya. Ako ang nahihirapan para kay dada. Camila is a married woman and he got her pregnant. Ayaw 'kong mapahamak si dada pero paano 'ko naman siya mapipigilan lalo pa ngayong nagdadalang-tao na si Camila.

"Ano bang sasabihin mo Paul? At kailangan pang kasama kami pwede namang si Meadow na lang ang kausapin mo." Lola said before she took a sip on her glass of lemonade.

Ibinalik 'ko na lang muli ang tingin 'ko sa plato. Inikot-ikot 'ko lang ang tinidor 'ko sa may pasta. Paano 'ko ba mauubos 'to?

"Don't play with your food." Kuya Ivan said in an undertone voice before he lightly slapped my hand where I was holding the fork.

"Kuya!" Mahina 'kong saway kay Kuya Ivan.

"What?" He mutters.

"Stop being annoying."

"I'm not, you are." He pointed out in a low voice.

"Ivan, Meadow." Saway sa amin ni lolo kaya agad kaming tumigil ni Kuya Ivan sa pagtatalo. Habang nag-uusap kasi sila lola at dada ay nagtatalo kami ni kuya. Hindi 'ko na tuloy alam kung ano ang pinag-usapan nila.

"Ilang buwan ka nang buntis hija?" Tanong ni lola kay Camila.

"Mag-lilimang buwan na po."

Tumingin ako kay Camila pero ang nahuli 'kong nakatingin sa akin ay si dada. He looks guilty and apologetic. To be honest, I don't know what to feel after knowing that Camila are nearly five months pregnant.

I clenched my fist.

Five months... So ibig sabihin ang tagal na pala niyang pinapalabas sa'kin na pumupunta siya sa puntod ni mommy kahit hindi naman. I want to laugh right now because I can't believe that my own father made me believed that all along it's mom's graveyard he's visiting everyday. Hindi 'ko akalain na si Camila pala ang binibisita niya araw-araw at hindi si mommy.

I trusted dad so much. I never doubt him. Kaya hindi 'ko alam kung paano 'ko ipapasok lahat sa utak 'ko itong mga nalalaman 'ko ngayon.

When I felt Kuya Ivan's hand touches my fist I slowly loosened it up.