Kabanata 04: Leaving

“WHAT ARE you going to do now?” mahinang tanong ni Mylene sa kanina.  

“Hindi ko alam,” agad niyang sagot at humugot ng malalim na hininga. “I’m worried that daddy and mommy will get mad at me. Mas lalo lang silang magagalit kapag nalaman nila kung sino ang ama.”

Delancy ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. Napatingin siya kay Mylene nang suminghap ito. 

“Bakit? Sino ba ang ama niyang dinadala mo? Baka pwede kang magpatulong sa kanya–”  

“No!” agad niyang sagot dito at humugot ng malalim na hininga. “You don’t wanna know who it is. You don’t wanna know.”

“Well, I wanna know, Delancy.” Inismiran siya nito. “Unless it was the hot guy that your father was talking to.”

Mariin niyang nakagat ang ibabang labi. Wala namang ibang ‘hot guy’ na kausap ang kanyang daddy kanina kundi ang lalaking ‘yon, Cydine Andreev–her ninong. At ‘yon ang hinding-hindi niya matatanggap. 

Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng kanyang daddy kapag nalaman nitong buntis siya? And worse, ninong niya pa ang ama! Paniguradong magagalit ito sa kanya, lalo na ang mommy niya! 

“Huy!” Mylene flicked her fingers in front of her, making her blink several times. “Sino nga? Nagpapa-thrill ka pa. Sabihin mo na kasi kung sino at nang makilala ko–”

“It was the man downstairs,” sagot niya at hilaw na ngumiti sa kaibigan. “That hot man you were referring to.”

Umawang ang labi nito sa narinig. Sa mga mata pa lang nito ay alam niyang hindi na ito naniniwala. Delancy looked away and heaved a deep breath. Mariin niyang kinagat ang ibabang labi at napayuko.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga. Hinahanda niya ang kanyang sarili sa kung ano man ang magiging reaksyon nito. Knowing Mylene, baka tumili ito nang sobrang lakas. Sana lamang ay hindi.

“You, bitch!” anito. “Are you freaking serious?!” 

Delancy nodded her head. “Do you think I still have the time to kid around with this problem?”

Humugot ang kaibigan ng malalim na hininga. “Then what are you going to do now?”

“I don't know,” she replied.

“How about aborting the baby?” suhistyon ng kanyang kaibigan dahilan para mapa tingin siya rito nang wala sa sarili. “I mean, while it’s still early, Delany. That’s the only choice you have right now.”

Parang naging blanko ang kanyang utak sa sinabi nito.

Aborting the baby? She’s well aware that what’s inside her tummy is still not a fetus. Ngunit pakiramdam niya ay isang pagkakamali ang gawin ang bagay na ‘yon. Hindi kakayanin ng kanyang konsensya.

“Please leave me for a moment,” mahinang sambit niya rito at humugot ng malalim na hininga. “Give me time to think.”

Mukhang na-gets naman ni Mylene ang kanyang frustration kaya naman humugot na lamang ito ng malalim na hininga at tumango. “Okay. Aalis muna ako at nang makapagdesisyon ka nang tama. But no matter what happens, just remember that I’m always behind your back.”

Tinapik ni Mylene ang kanyang balikat saka ito lumabas ng silid. To be honest, she feels a little better knowing she has someone by her side to support her in this kind of time. 

While staring into the horizon, she felt something drop on her cheeks. Kinapa niya ito at napansing namamasa ang kanyang pisngi. And that is when she realized it was tears. She was crying. 

She hopes she will figure this out soon. Otherwise, she’s going to agree with Mylene’s decision–to abort the baby. 

–

“YOU’RE silent, anak. Is there anything wrong?” tanong ng kanyang ina sa gitna ng kanilang hapunan.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin dito at tipid na ngumiti. “Nothing, mommy.”

She bit her lower lip. Hindi niya alam kung ito ba ang tamang oras na kausapin ang kanyang mommy tungkol sa bagay na ito. But there’s no other choice. It’s now or never.

“Mommy, can I ask you something?” mahinang tanong niya.

“What is it?” malumanay na baling sa kanya ng kanyang ina. “Is there something bothering you?”

“I want to work across borders.” There, she dropped the bomb. 

“Across borders?” Binaba ng ina ang hawak nitong kutsara at tumingin dito. “What makes you want to go abroad?” 

“To change environment? Try out new things?” Hilaw siyang ngumiti rito. “I want to explore, mommy. I promise that I will be a good girl.”

This is the only plan she can think of; to leave the country for good. Advantage na lang siguro na kaka-graduate niya lang ngayon. Maybe her mother would consider this. 

Kita niyang nagkatinginan ang kanyang mga magulang. And weirdly, pansin niya ang simpleng paghugot ng malalim na hininga ng kanyang ama.

“Are you sure about that, pumpkin? You just graduated. Hindi ka ba muna mag-e-enjoy for a moment?” tanong ng kanyang ama na tumigil din sa pagsubo ng kinakain.

“I already had my prime during college days, dad. And I realized, maybe it’s time for me to have a job. You know, without anyone knowing that I am your daughter.” Matamis siyang ngumiti rito. “Please?” 

Alam niyang imposible itong kanyang hinihingi sa kanyang ama. Ngunit gagawin niya ang lahat para lang mapapayag ito. She has to leave before everything gets out of hand. 

Before they find out she’s having a child with her damn Godfather. Of all the people…

Wala sa sarili siyang napatingin sa kanyang ama nang marinig niya ang paghugot nito ng malalim na hininga.

“I thought spoiling you would only fill your head with air. But I guess I was wrong and I am so proud of you.” Ngumiti ang kanyang ama. “Okay. I’m letting you leave this town. If that’s what you wish.”