Chapter Three

“GOOD morning!”

A smiling face and sexy voice of Ada greeted me when I opened my eyes. 

“Morning…” bati ko sa kanya. Naglakbay ang mga mata ko sa h***d niyang katawan.

I smirked when my eyes went down naked breast. My hand reached for them as her lips captured mine. 

"How about a morning sex for breakfast, hmm?" she murmured in between our kisses. 

Napaungol ako habang pinaglalakbay ang mga kamay sa katawan niya. I reached for her nipple and pinched it. I smirked when I heard her gasped for air. 

"Oh, damn it, Craig. Suck it, please."

My lips descended to her neck, I sucked the skin of her neck before my mouth makes it way to her breast. But I stopped myself from kissing her mound when I heard my phone rang.

“Don’t answer, Craige…” paungol na pigil sa akin ni Ada. 

I tried to ignore my damn phone pero hindi ito tumigil sa pag-ring. Dammit. 

"I'm sorry, Ada." Napilitan akong tumigil sa ginagawa. Kitang-kita sa mukha ng dalaga ang pagkabitin. She rolled her eyes at me. 

I know what she hates the most is being interrupted. 

“Maybe it’s important.” I give her a kiss on the lips before grabbing my phone on the stand. Tumayo ako mula sa kama nang makita ang number ng tumatawag. It was my mother. I walked to the veranda of my upper east side apartment in Manhattan. I didn't mind that I was only wearing my boxers. I could see the busy streets of New York from my view. 

“Ma?” bati ko sa kanya. She knows I hate calls in the morning so I guess this is something important. 

“Craige…hijo.” 

Natigilan ako nang marinig ang boses ni Mama. Garalgal iyon at tila natataranta. She seemed crying. 

“Ma, are you crying?” Napuno ng concern ang sagot ko sa kanya. 

“Your dad… Craig!” 

“What about, Dad?” Kumunot ang noo ko. I didn't want to jump into horrible scenarios. I know my mother. She can be overly dramatic at times. 

Noong unang taon ko ng pagtira dito sa America, lagi niya akong iniiyakan sa tuwing tumatawag ako sa kanya. I've been living here in the States for eight years already. Pagkatapos ng high school ay umalis ako ng Pilipinas para sa America ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral. I've spent my six years in Massachusetts where MIT was located, then I moved to New York after graduating from college. 

I have a career now as an engineer here in New York. Taon-taon ay umuuwi ako sa Pilipinas para bisitahin ang mga magulang. Kung minsan ay sila ang bumibisita dito sa akin sa New York. 

I am an only child of my parents. Both of them came from a well-off family. My father is both an engineer and a businessman. Right now, he was currently the president of the construction firm that was built by my late grandfather. 

My mother came from a prominent chinese family in the country. She was also a former theater actress. I think maybe that's where she got her being dramatic at times. 

"Hey, Mom? What's wrong?" nag-alalang tanong ko nang marinig ang hikbi niya sa kabilang linya.

I love my parents, especially mom. Pareho akong malapit sa mga magulang ko. That's why studying abroad was really a hard decision for me. I didn't want to leave them but I know I had to make a name on my own. I wanted to be successful on my own. Being their son brought a lot of pressure to me. 

Nahirapan akong kumbinsihin ang mga magulang ko na mag-aral ako abroad. Especially my mother. Ilang buwan ko yata siyang sinuyo bago ko siya napapayag sa plano ko. I understand her, though. I was their only child. I didn't want to be away with them, but I needed to be independent as early as I can be. 

“May ibang babae ang daddy mo, Craig!” lintanya ng ina mula sa kabilang linya.

I pressed the bridge of my nose. “What? What did you say, Ma?"

“Hey…”

Bumaling ako kay Ada. She was standing near me and already dressed with a robe. “I'll just prepare our breakfast.” sambit niya sa akin. 

I mouthed 'thank you' and watched her as she went out of the room. 

“Your Dad, Craig. May… ibang babae ang daddy mo!” 

Bumalik ang atensyon ko sa kausap sa kabilang linya.

What? Si Dad? May ibang babae? No way. That was close to impossible. My parents have a perfect relationship. I could attest to that. Simula pagkabata ay nasaksihan ko ang relasyon ng mga magulang. It sounded tucking corny, but yeah, they were fucking in love with each other. Even after Dad's accident, nothing has changed between the two of them. When I was five years old, Dad had a car accident that resulted to him losing his sexual organ. Iyon din ang dahilan kung bakit hindi na ako nasundan ng mga magulang. 

Sa kabila ng aksidente ng iyon, walang naging pagbabago sa relasyon ng mga magulang. Through the years, I witnessed how my parents love each other. They would still constantly go on dates and vacations. My father was a great husband and father. Sa tuwing umuuwi siya sa trabaho ay lagi siyang may uwing bulaklak para kay Mama. 

Kahit busy sa trabaho ay hindi nawawalan ng oras si Dad para sa amin ni Mama. He would always spend his weekends with us, his family. 

“Is this some kind of an April Fool's joke, Ma?" Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko. "Do you know what time is it here in New York? It's freaking six in the morning.” 

"I'm not kidding, hijo." 

Natigilan ako nang marinig ko ang hagulgol ni Mama. I could hear the pain in her voice. 

“I saw it with my two eyes. I was having dinner in Caviar with your Auntie Megan yesterday when your Dad showed up with his mistress."

I massaged the bridge of my nose. “Ma, look," mahinahong sambit ko sa kanya. "Baka naman kliyente lang iyon ni Dad. Don't jump into conclusions.”

“Nakita kong bumaba sa front seat ng sasakyan ng Daddy mo ang babae niya…" pagsusumbong niya sa akin. "Nakita ko kung paano hinawakan ng Daddy mo ang kamay ng babae…n-niya." Nabasag ang boses niya sa huling salita. "You know I'm not the jealous type, hijo. Madaming babaeng business associates ang Daddy mo pero wala akong pinagselosan sa kanila. But this girl…I know there was something going on with her and your father."

I knew my parents. My mother, she was really not the jealous type. And my father, I knew he couldn't do something like this to my mother. Kaya hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling at ano ang basehan ni Mama para sa mga bagay na sinasabi niya sa akin ngayon. 

“Did you confront them?” 

“No. I c-cant do that.” Humina ang boses ng ina, parang nanghihina. "I walked out and went home."

Dad with another girl… I can’t…imagine it. That's close to impossible. I shook my head. “Ma, are you a really sure you're not exaggerating things?" I paused for a while. "Last Christmas, you told me everything's good between you and Dad. You two even went to Japan, right?” 

Ikinuwento sa akin ng ina na magbakasyon sila ni Dad sa Japan kaya hindi sila nakabisita sa akin sa New York. I spent my Christmas here in New York with Ada and some of our friends here. 

There was silence on the other end of the line. 

"I lied to you," mahina ang boses niya nang magsalita. "Hindi kami nagpunta ng Daddy mo sa Japan last Christmas."

"What?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. "W-why did you lie to me?" naguguluhang tanong ko. "May problema ba kayo ni Dad?" 

“It’s my fault, Craig…” Nabasag ang boses niya. 

"What was you fault?" I asked impatiently. 

“It was my fault… I cheated on your Dad.”

What the fuck?

Hindi ko alam kung ilang segundo akong hindi nakapagsalita. “What did you just say, Ma?” I was in shocked. "Did I hear it right?" Mariin akong pumikit, pagkatapos ay mahigpit na napahawak sa railings ng veranda. "You. Cheated. On. Dad?" 

If this is some kind of a sick joke, I don't know what would I do with my own mother. 

"Please, listen first Craig," natatarantang sagot niya. "It was just… It was a one night thing, anak!" 

"When did this happen?!" 

"Last year," her voice came only a whisper. "Nasa Switzerland ang Daddy mo. Isang linggo lang ang business trip niya roon pero nag-extend ng two months dahil sa naging problema sa Swiss investors." There was a paused before she continued. "I was alone in the house. Hindi ko makausap ang Daddy mo dahil sa trabaho. Siya lahat ang sumalo sa lahat ng trabahong iniwan ni Arnulfo. Napadalas ang pagpunta ko sa casino. T-then one night, I lost a huge money in the casino. I don't know what has gotten into me that I got drunk that night." Her voice stumbled. 

"And then there's this man, he looked like your Dad and I for a moment I thought he was him…"

Every word that came out from my mother's lips right now felt like a nightmare. But I needed to know the whole truth. 

"What happened that night, Ma?" I asked in a low but hard tone. "I want the honest truth from you."

"That… man and I kissed that night. Hinatid niya ako sa bahay… doon kami inabutan ng Daddy mo… But nothing happened between me and that man, hijo. We just kissed and nothing more. Hinatid niya lang ako dahil lasing ako—"

"Stop now, Ma!" mariing putol ko sa kanya. Ito yata ang unang beses na nasigawan ko ng ganoon ang ina. I was more of a mother's boy. 

Mariin kong pinikit ang mga mata habang hinihilot ang sentido. I couldn't bear to imagine the scenario playing inside my head. 

“How could you do this, Ma? You, of all people?" magkahalong galit at panunumbat na sagot ko sa kanya. "How could you do this to Dad?" 

“I know. I’m sorry, anak…" Muli kong narinig ang pag-iyak niya sa kabilang linya. "I swear, pinagsisihan ko iyon…" 

This is too much. Too much than drama. All along, I thought my parents has a perfect marriage. 

"One year, Ma." matigas na sambit ko. "You've been lying to me the whole year." I accused her. 

Isang taon na palang hindi okay ang mga magulang ko pero wala ni isa sa kanila ang nagsabi sa akin. 

"I don't know how to tell you, anak. I was disappointed with myself. Hindi ko kaya na nasaktan ko ang daddy mo, ayokong pati ikaw, magalit sakin." I could hear pain. "Akala ko maayos ko ang lahat, humingi ako ng tawad sa Daddy mo. Sinubukan kong magpaliwanag, pero hindi niya ako pinakinggan. Isang taon na niya akong hindi kinikibo. Sa tuwing sinusubukan kong bumawi sa kanya, lalong lumalayo ang loob nya sa akin. Lahat ng effort ko, binabalewala niya."

“Well, you can’t blame Dad!” hindi ko napigilang muling magtaas ng boses sa kanya. "You cheated on him!" Fuck. I can't even bring out those words from my mouth. 

"Then yesterday, I saw your Dad with another woman," sambit ng ina. "Iyon marahil ang dahilan kung bakit patuloy na lumalayo ang loob niya sa akin. Because he's keeping another woman. Your father's having a mistress, Craig."

Umiling-iling ako. "No, Ma. Hindi iyon magagawa ni Dad. I knew him—" But I stopped myself. I also knew my mother, pero ano itong ginawa niya? It seemed like I didn't know my parents anymore. Kung nagawa ni Mama ang bagay na iyon, ay hindi rin impossible na magawa iyon ng ama. 

All this time, I thought my parents are perfect. Ni sa hinagap ay naisip na nauuwi sa ganito ang relasyon ng mga magulang. Kung totoo man ang hinala ni Mama, hindi ko inakalang magagawa nilang pagtaksilan ang isa't-isa. 

Isa sa mga bagay na natutunan ko sa mga magulang ay ang pagpapahalaga sa kasal at sa relasyon. Oo, madami akong naging girlfriend subalit wala akong ni isang niloko sa kanila. I'm a one woman man in all my relationships. I was never the type to make fake promises to my woman. 

"I know it was my fault," marinig ko ang paghagulgol ng ina. This time, her cries were louder. 

"But I can't lose your dad. I…I can't lose your dad, Craig."

I felt betrayed by my own parents. Hindi ko lubos akalain na magagawa nila ang bagay na ito. 

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga para kalmahin ang sarili. 

"Ma, can you calm down first?" sagot ko sa kanya. I had no idea how long she has been crying. I was worried this might affect her health. 

I knew that both my parents have an active and healthy lifestyle, but they're not getting any younger. 

“Anak, please help me," nakikiusap na wika niya sa kabilang linya. "I can't lose your Dad… Last night, nagtalo kami and he's asking me for annulment. Craige… I c-cant. I can't lose your father."

Natigilan ako. Annulment? Alam ko kung gaano kaimportante kay Dad ang kasal. Kung humantong na sa ganoon ay hindi imposible na mayroon nga talagang ibang babae si Dad.

I'm both disappointed with my parents. Kung kailan pa sila tumanda ay saka pa nagkaganito. I wanted to get mad at them. But they are my parents. I love them. Hindi ko kayang hayaan na tuluyang masira ang relasyon nila. 

I took a deep breath and tried my best to collect myself. "Keep your shit together, Ma. I'll talk to Dad." Muli akong bumuntong-hininga. “I'm going home…” 

Nasapo ko ang ulo matapos kong magpaalam sa ina. Fuck. How could this happening? Pakiramdam ko ay sumakit nang matindi ang ulo ko pagkatapos ng tawag na iyon. I still can't believe everything mom told me. 

“Hey, you dont look okay,” puna sa akin ni Ada pagpasok ko sa kusina. Nakahanda na ang almusal sa mesa. Our usual breakfast: toasted bread, fried eggs and bacon, coffee. 

We known each other since high school. She was my best friend. Nang magpunta ako sa America para doon ituloy ang pag-aaral ay sumunod siya sa akin. She studied interior design in Boston University. Tulad ko ay dito na rin siya sa New York nagsimula ng career. 

Out relationship was purely platonic until last year. It was the Christmas eve, we were both drunk and something happened between us. I thought it's gonna be awkward after that but everything was back to normal. We we're still friends, but sometimes we fuck. We both agreed to this set-up. I made it clear to her that I'm not ready for a serious relationship and she told me we're just on the same page. 

“Sinong tumawag?” tanong niya bago inabot sakin ang tasa ng kape. She has her own apartment here in New York, but sometimes she stays the night with me. "Narinig kitang sumigaw."

“Mom called.” Bumuntong-hininga ako. 

"Tita Arabella?" Kumunot ang noo nito. "Why did she call? Did you two… fight?" 

Umiling ako. “She told me she cheated on Dad. And she was suspecting that Dad is cheating on her in return." Humigop ako ng kape. Fuck. The coffee seemed more bitter in my mouth now that my parent's situation finally dawned on me. 

“What?” Napahinto si Ada sa akmang pag subo ng pancake. Hindi makapaniwalang tinitigan niya ako. "Are you sure this is true? Your parents… they won't do that to each other."

“I know. I can't believe it myself…” Sinapo ko ang noo ko. "But my mom. She's been crying the whole time we were talking."

Napasinghap si Ada. "H-how did that happen?" 

Pahapyaw kong ikwento kay Ada ang mga sinabi sa akin ng ina. Ada was a long time friend of mine. I knew I could trust her with everything. 

"What's your plan now?" tanong ni Ada nang matapos kong sabihin sa kanya ang lahat. 

"I guess I have to go home."