GET EVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

"Ma, I'm home." malakas na pagkakasabi ni Keith na siyang nagpagising sa pagkakahimbing ni Destiny. Papalapit ng papalapit ang mga yabag ng paa nito na tumatakbo. Sumulip ang anak niya sa pinto at ngumiti sa kanya.

"Yeah dito na po si Mama, Tita Jasmine. Thank you po sa paghatid." Keith said and then she heard the front door close.

"Hi Keith." antok na pagbati niya sa anak. Nang tignan ni Destiny ang orasan ay nagulat siya dahil mag aalas dose na pala ng tanghali. She felt a stirring next to her and became instantly alert. Akala niya ay nananaginip lang siya.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Keith ng nakitang may kasama ang kanyang Mama sa kwarto.

"Sino ka po?" Tanong ni Keith. Destiny must have looked completely horrified. Kahit kaylan ay hindi pa siya nakita ng anak na may kasamang lalaki sa kama. She had not been with another man since Gabriele. She looked at him and found his full attention was on her son. She may as well have not even existed.

Gusto niyang bumalikwas sa kama at itago sa paningin ni Keith si Gabriele pero alam niyang huli na ang lahat. Hindi niya alam kung paano malulusutan ang sitwasyong kinasangkutan niya ngayon. She couldn't believe she'd made love to him, not only once but twice and then actually fallen asleep in his arms, when her son would be returning. Katangahan ang ginawa niya. Destiny's mind was scrambling to figure out how to explain her nine year old son.

Nakatitig lang si Gabriele kay Keith, na para bang tinitignan niya ang mga pictures niya noong bata pa siya. Walang duda na anak niya ang batang nasa harap.

Halo halong emosyon ang nararamdaman niya sa mga oras na yun. Nangingibabaw ang kaligayahan dahil napatunayan nga niyang meron siyang anak pero meron ding galit dahil tinago ni Destiny ang anak nila sa kanya. Gabriele was confused, because he had just had the best love making of his life and yet he wanted to strangle the mother of his child. He didn't know which emotion to embrace first. Gabriele realized his son had asked him who he was and he also realized Destiny was sitting there like a deer caught in an oncoming car's headlights.

"I'm your Dad." sagot ni Gabriele sa tanong ni Keith. Rinig niya ang pagsinghap ni Destiny pero hindi na niya tinignan ito dahil baka hindi niya mapigilan ang sarili na sakalin ang ina ng kanyang anak. He knew he wouldn't really do that but he was pretty infuriated with her right then.

"Talaga po?" Keith asked him skeptically. His face contorted into such a mirror image of his own he wanted to shout for joy. He was meeting his son. Gusto niyang tumalon sa kama at yakapin ang anak pero hubad na hubad pa siya sa ilalim ng kumot. Alam niyang ito rin ang rason kung bakit hindi makaalis si Destiny sa kama.

"Yes. Ako nga. Walang iba." Gabriele said, having to fight the emotions trying to break free.

"Kung ikaw ang Papa ko, anong sinasabi mo kay Mama tuwing gabi bago ka umalis" the boy asked and Gabriele knew he was being tested. Matagal na panahon na mula nang huling niyang sinabi iyon ngunit nakatatak ang mga salitang yun sa kanyang isipan at hindi niya kaylanman malilimutan.

Gabriele took a deep breath and uttered the words he hadn't said since the night before he was to meet Destiny and run away, "Sweet dreams my princess, I will rescue you from the tower in the morning light." garalgal niyang sabi.

He heard Destiny gasp again and then felt her body shake slightly. Nilingon niya ito at nakita ang pagtulo ng luha sa kanyang mga mata. Gabriele then grunted as Keith jumped on the bed and threw his arms around him. He felt stunned as he held his son in his arms for the first time. He was awed and amazed by the little man. Niyakap niya ito ng mahigpit at ganon din ang bata sa kanya.

"Ikaw nga po ang Papa ko!" the boy said in awe. He lifted his hands up to touch Gabriele's face, as if he was trying to figure out for sure, if he was real. "Sabi ni Mama kaylangan mo umalis para magtrabaho perk babalik ka din daw Papa. Ngayon nakabalik ka na po!" masayang sabi ni Keith habang tumutulo ang luha sa mga mata niya. Pakiramdam ni Gabriele ay sasabog ang dibdib niya. Si Destiny naman ay humahagulgol sa tabi nilang mag ama.