Attain The Sky (Engineer Series #2)

▪ forty-eight

It was hard to accept the truth but I have to, to set myself free, to have a peace of mind, and to live my life happily. I found myself staring at my biological parents' gravestone. Ramdam ko kung gaano kasakit ang aking dibdib sa bawat haplos ko ng kanilang mga lapida. Akala ko naiyak ko na lahat, ngunit nang mabasa ko ang kanilang pangalan, sunod-sunod ang naging pagpatak ng aking mga luha.

At first, I don't really believe that I'm adopted. Who would believe that stupid reasons? Until my parents, Cleve's parents rather, came home. I was crying that time, shouting my frustrations, throwing things na mahahawakan ko... because they lied for how many years. My whole life was a lie.

"Mom, is it true that I'm not your daughter? That I'm tita Leandra's daughter?" Nanginginig ang aking boses nang itanong ko 'yon sa kanila. "That's the reason why you forced us to live far away, right? Ayon ba 'yong oras na na-ambush ang totoong magulang ko?!" I looked at my Mom and she couldn't look straightly into my eyes.

"Answer me!" I shouted.

"Yes, anak," garalgal ang boses na sagot ni Mommy. "You have to live somewhere para hindi ka na madamay pa."

"But they are my parents! We are talking about my parents lives here!" I gritted my teeth. "Why do you have to lie? Maiintindihan ko pa sana ang lahat, Mommy, e! It's too late now. They're gone forever!" I cried.

"I'm sorry, anak. I'm sorry. We're just so afraid that time. Ayaw lang namin mapahamak at madamay ka rito," mahinahong saad ni Mommy.

"It hurts... all of you betrayed me," nanghihina kong saad. "All of you lied! Alam niyo gaano kasakit na malaman na hindi ka totoong anak? Na 'yong totoong magulang mo, patay na pala?!" Malakas kong sigaw. Buong puwersa kong itinapon ang babasaging baso na ininuman ko kanina.

"Everyone risks their lives just for you, Sydney! Calm the fuck down!" Buo ang sigaw ni Aziel.

"Shut up!" I shouted back.

Mabilis akong napahawak kay Sky na nasa aking tabi nang maramdam kong matutumba ako anumang oras. Agad na naalarma si Cleve at biglang dumalo sa amin si Keith at kinuha ako sa bisig ni Sky. Binaon ko ang aking ulo sa dibdib ni Keith at doon umiiyak. I could feel his warm breath on my neck. My lips pursed as I tried to stand up.

"Calm down, Sydney. It's bad for your mental health, please," Keith whispered.

I swallowed hard and tried my best to stop myself from crying. I used Keith's cloth to wipe my tears. Sinilip niya ang aking mukha nang maramdaman niyang tumahan ako. Pinilit niya akong umupo sa couch at inabutan ako ni Kuya ng tubig. Matalim ko siyang tinitigan at umiwas lamang siya ng tingin.

"Even if you're not a Vergara by blood, you are still our daughter," Dad spoke calmly. "H'wag ka nang umiyak. Ask whatever you want to ask. I'm sorry for everything, anak. Pasensya ka na kung pinagkait namin ang mga taon na sana kasama mo ang mga totoo mong magulang..."

"Yes, Sydney, we are not your biological parents but we treat you as our real daughter, so don't you ever doubt yourself, because you did a great job and we're really proud of you... and we love you... so much," Mom said while sobbing.

My heart clenched in pain. Aziel is right. They did this to save me, hindi lang ako, kung hindi ang ibang taong natatapakan ng mga masasamang tao. Tumahan ako sa pag-iyak at kumalma. Their reasons were valid. May mga lihim talagang kailangan munang itago at sabihin na lang 'yon sa tamang panahon upang hindi na gano'n kasakit.

"You are a princess to me, Sydney," Cleve gently spoke. "Hindi kami mag-aaway ni Keith kung hindi kita mahal," he chuckled. "Inaagaw niya kapatid ko, e. Ang pangit naman niya."