How to Avoid Heartbreaks

28

"Unnie... wake up..." nagising ako nang maramdamang may yumoyugyog sa akin.

Minulat ko ang mga mata at ipinalibot ang tingin. Nandito pa rin ako sa study ng mga magulang at dito pala nakatulog.

Unti-unting bumalik sa memorya ko ang mga nangyari pero mas pinili kong huwag na lang muna isipin ang mga iyon.

"Unnie," tawag ulit ng kapatid. "Nandito na sina dad at ang kambal... plus one," aniya sabay ngiti.

Her eyes were puffy and both of her nose and cheeks were red. Her lips trembled when she smiled and I'm sure that I look like her too.

"Stop smiling like you're okay," I said, then fixing the mess I made in our parents' study.

Tinulungan niya ako sa pagligpit ng mga gamit at sabay kaming pumunta sa may sala.

Dad, together with my siblings and what seems to be like the triplets' personal nurses, was waiting for us at the living room.

Umalis iyong mga nurse kaya naiwan kami ng mga kapatid kasama ang ama.

Kinuha ko ang isa sa triplets habang ang dalawa naman ay kinarga ng kambal. Hinalik-halikan ko ang pisngi ng kapatid dahil gigil na gigil na talaga ako.

"Names?" Tanong ko sa ama na kinukuhanan pala kami ng litrato.

He scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. "Can you put them back in their cribs? I'm still having a hard time in telling them apart."

We did as we were told and waited for our confused father to introduce us to our newborn siblings.

Technically, they're not really my siblings but I'll deal with that matter later.

"Girls," dad called. "This is the only girl, Melbourne Thalassa." He then gestured to the other and scratched his head again. "I'm not sure which is which but these are your brothers, Mykonos Vero and Vero Santorini."

My jaw literally dropped open when I heard the boys' names.

"Vero?" Crescent asked, then glancing at me. "Like kuya Vero? Ate's lover?"

Lover? More like heartbreaker!

"Yup!" Dad answered proudly. He then turned to me with a smile. "Your mama was very fond of him."

I gave them a small smile before excusing myself. I had to leave because I might end up bursting their happy bubble.

We're all facing a really difficult situation and the least that I can do is not ruining their day even more.

Hearing his name triggered the unwanted thoughts to enter my mind. The problems I've been trying to drown came rushing back like uncontrollable waves.

I sat on the sofa swing on our porch but immediately stood up when I remembered that I also sat here with him.

"London," dad called. "Can we talk? I have something to tell you."

Kahit alam ko naman ang kaniyang sasabihin, kinabahan pa rin ako. Reading the truth is one thing. But actually hearing it from my dad is another.

"I already know, dad." I faced him with a sad smile, trying so hard not to burst into tears. "I already know that I'm not your daughter."

His eyes widened and took a step back, clearly shocked and confused on how I found out.

"I checked our health journals and saw our blood types." I bit my lips and averted my eyes to the side. "Two B's can't produce an A, can they?"

I gathered all my strength to look at him. Puno ng pagsisisi at kahihiyan ang kaniyang mukha. It pained me to see him this way; to see him looking so guilty and ashamed.