labingtatlo
Layuan
Tinulak ko si Vortigern dahilan ng pagkahulog niya mula sa kama. Bigla kasing bumukas ang pinto. Nakadikit ang kilay ni mama nang makita si Vortigern dumadaing sa sakit, lumipat ang kanyang mata sa'kin ngunit nagmaang-maangan nalang ako.
"Kain na." Mama said.
Tumango ako, "Opo, susunod nalang kami, Ma."
Nang maka-alis na si mama, I crawled over the bed to help Vortigern. Profusedly saying my apologies, he said it was fine but it's not! Nasira ko ang moment namin! Sayang! Maiinlove na sana s'ya. Akala ko 'yon na!
"So, Vortigern... Anong relasyon mo sa bunsong anak ko?" Nasamid ako sa tanong ni mama. I didn't fail to notice the sly wink my mom sent my way. Pinandilatan ko siya ng mata, as a form of stopping her in whatever she was planning to do.
If this were every other day, we would have our dinner at the breakfast table. But, today was different. We dined in our luxurious dining room, saved for special occassions or just to impress some of mama's peers who stopped by. Kaya duda talaga ako kay mama ngayon, ba't dito kami kakain? May balak 'to, sigurado ako! The red bucket of chicken looked out of place amongst the sophisticated cutlery. She even took out her beloved finest china!
"Si Hekate nalang po siguro ang makakasagot n'yan."
My head whipped to Vortigern. Ako?! Anong ako, ba't nadamay ako sa kalokohan nilang dalawa! "A-ah, mama, kaibigan ko lang po si Vortigern."
"Kaibigan lang?" She raised a brow at me before turning to Vortigern. "Surely, this isn't your only intention towards my daughter? I mean, look at her. She's a goddess—"
"Ma!" my cheeks burned due to embarrassment.
"What? I'm only stating the truth. Alam mo ba, hijo. Madaming nagkakandarapa dito sa bunso ko," simula niya sa chika niya. "Her kuya, my eldest, Ford. Had to scare off half the school population!" tumawa si mama.
'Tong si mama, exaggerated magkuwento! Hindi naman ako pinagkaguluhan. Mga groupmates ko 'yon! May project kaming gagawin no'n at napagdesisyonan ng lahat na sa bahay ko nalang kami gagawa. Ta's eto namang si Kuya parang tanga, pinagbantaan n'ya 'yong mga kagrupo kong lalaki! In the end, umuwi nalang sila sa sobrang takot at masyadong kinakabahan dahil nakabantay si Kuya Ford sa'min sa gilid ng study room. Hindi na muling nagpunta dito ang mga kaklase ko, sina Helios at Maeve lang ang tanging naka-survive. Lintik na 'yan, kaya wala kong kaibigan masyado, eh.
"I'm sure there are many eligible boys willing to court your daughter, ma'am." Vortigern said before sipping on his water.
Natigilan si mama sa pagtawa at sumeryoso ang mukha, "Sigurado ka na bang ayaw mo dito sa anak ko? Naku, you'll be such a lost—"
"I'm a bit too old for your minor daughter, Mrs. Ali."
"Oh, I'm sure too old is not too old. How old are you na ba, hijo?" pagpupumilit ni mama.
Hay, ano bang gustong mangyari nitong si mama? Pakasalan ako ni Vortigern? Ni hindi ko nga 'to makuhang magkagusto sa'kin, pakasalan pa kaya! And, he's right. He's too old for me. He's—
"I just turned eighteen last June." sinabi na niya ang edad niya ngunit hindi pa rin ito sapat para patigilin si mama sa kanyang paglalakad sa'kin.
Jusko 'tong si mama, masyadong malakas ang fighting spirit. Buti natiis s'ya ni papa ng thirty years?
"Ay naku, age doesn't matter!" tumawa s'ya bago bawiin ang kanyang sinabi. "Joke! Ayokong makulong ka hijo, although I'm sure you won't do anything to my daughter."
"I have high respect for Hekate, ma'am." sumulyap si Vortigern sa'kin bago binalik ang kanyang tingin sa hapag.
"You know, hijo... you remind me of someone I once knew, kamukha mo s'ya." She swirled the wine in her glass as she started into oblivion. Wrapped in serene silence as she paused. Noticing our eyes on her, she smiled bitterly. "What's your surname again, Vortigern? I couldn't quite comprehend it earlier as I was busy with the help."
Vortigern chewed on his food and swallowed before answering, tahimik lang akong pinagmamasdan ang dalawang naguusap.
"Zacarìas po." tipid na sagot nito.
My mom straightened her back, her mouth agaped and eyes wide. A face she often did when recalling something. "Z-zacarìas?"
"Opo."
"M-may kilala ka bang Timofel Feodore Zacarìas?"
"Yes, ma'am." I flinched nang mabitawan ni mama ang kanyang kutsara't tinidor na hawak niya. "He's my father."
We looked up to my mom who suddenly stood up. Her hands slammed on the glass table, the clinking of cutlery echoed. "I-I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well. Please, do continue eating." she stammered.
My vision followed my mom who walked fast paced, the click of her heels trailed behind her as she ascends the extravagant stairs. Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Vortigern na tahimik na kumakain. My eyes dropped to my plate. Ano kayang nangyari kay mama?
Nang matapos kaming kumain ni Vortigern, napagdesisyonan niya na umuwi na dahil palubog na ang araw. Tumambay pa kasi s'ya sa kuwarto ko, nanood lang kami ng movies pati pinagbake-an ko s'ya ng paborito niyang lemon cupcakes. Nagulat ako nang ikulong niya 'ko sa isang mainit na yakap. My arms had a mind of their own as they languidly wrapped around his firm torso. He planted a kiss on my forehead, I relished the waves of warmth it sent throughout my body.
"Ingat!" I waved at him.
He honked his horn before speeding off the road in his luxurious car. Sinandal ko ang likod ko sa malamig na kahoy ng pinto nang maisara ko na ito. Pinatay ko na ang ilaw ng living room at umakyat na papunta sa kuwarto ko upang magpahinga. Maayos naman na ang pakiramdam ko, sana'y hindi na 'ko magka-cramps ulit bukas. Madami siguro akong na-miss sa klase. ABM ang strand na kinuha ko, sina Maeve at Helios din naman ngunit nahiwalay kami ng section.
"Gago!" napatili ako nang bumungad sa'kin ang mukha ni mama'ng kulay green at nakaipit ang buhok sa rollers. Napatakip ako ng bibig nang ma-realize ang mura na sinabi ko sa harap ni mama.
Akala ko'y papagalitan niya ako ngunit hindi niya iyon ginawa. Hinaplos niya ang aking buhok, anger evident in her voice as she said the following words to me.
"Hekate, layuan mo na si Vortigern."