BACK OFF! LUKRECIA IS MINE!

C H A P T E R 35

She Who Fell In Love With A Sunflower

L U K R E C I A

She was weeping on her bed the night Mr. Lee returned her on her house. The kiss that Mr. Lee planted on her forehead before they bid their "good nights" was a great contributor on how she felt right now. And while she's crying, Mr. Lee's genuine smile is flashing back on her memory, like waves, like strong winds, they are all flashing back momentarily.

Her deep cries and her clear sobs was so loud that it could be heard outside her house. And as far as she remembered, the last time she cried like this was the time that he caught her ex-boyfriend making love with another woman. At ngayon, umiiyak na naman siya. Gusto niyang pigilan ang sarili niyang hindi maiyak pero sadyang taksil lang talaga ang mga luha niya.

Her new hair, her new dresses, she felt that they were all useless. Kung hindi rin lang naman sila magkakatuluyan ni Mr. Lee, then it would be all useless. But still, kahit masakit, she needs to accept the reality. A reality that is so painful. Hindi niya alam kung kaya ba niya iyong tanggapin. Maybe right now, hindi pa. But just like the way she forgets Dudong, alam niyang malalagpasan niya rin 'to.

"Demunyo, may tanong lang aku," an Lukrecka kanina habang nasa kotse sila.

"What is it?" Mr. Lee smiled.

"Pa'no kung bumalik si Thalia? Tayo pa rin ba?"

Huminto ang kotse. Hindi sumagot si Mr. Lee.

Mahigpit ang hawak niya sa kanyang unan habang humahagulgol siya. Habang lumuluha ang kanyang mga mata ay nakatitig lang siya sa beer can ng Fujiwara Densui na nakapatong sa tabi ng lampshade niya.

That was the beer can that Mr. Lee gave to her matapos siya nitong pyansahan para makalabas ng kulungan a month ago.

She clearly remembered how she drink that beer habang naglakad silang dalawa ni Mr. Lee a gilid ng daan. That was the time that they talk about their lives while the world was on its deep sleep.

Napatingin siya sa pink niyang blouse na naka-hanger gilid ng cabinet. Iyom ang damit na isuot niya noong sumayaw silang dalawa ni Mr. Lee sa gitna ng daan habang umuulan. She clealy remembers how the pouring rain became slow motion. She remember how happy she was that time.

Sa ibabaw ng cabinet ay nakita ni Lukrecia ang isang headress na gawa sa mga balahibo ng manok. That was the headress thet she wear noong sumayaw silang pareho ni Mr. Lee kasama ang mga tribo sa Davao.

Napahagulhol siyang muli. She closed her eyes at maya-maya pa ay nagbaliktanaw si Lukrecia sa isang tagpo kung saan naroon silang salawa ni Mr. Lee sa kusina at hinihintay nilang pareho na kumulo ang tawa-tawa.

"Maherap ba maging tatay?"

"Yes. When you become a parent of your own child, you will fully understand your parents way back when you're still a child. It's an exciting phase of a person's life yet it is the most critical stage of the life of your child. You should act as a role model in front of that small person. You will be his mirror, he'll do what you will do. You should love him fully or else, he will be hating you for his whole life. He will not forget it. Ikaw Lukrecia, kailan mo gusto maging magulang?"

"Penagplanuhan namin 'yan ni Dudong dati. Sabe niya sa'kin, gustu niya tatlu anak namin, sabi ko naman gostu ko dalawa lang. Masaya kami nun nung pinaplanu namin 'yun piro ayun! 'Yung planu namin, sa ibang babai niya genawa! Animal talaga."