BACK OFF! LUKRECIA IS MINE!

C H A P T E R 39

Pursue

K I D
"So, it was her? Siya ba ang Mommy Shark mo?" The whole room was very quite that time noong itinanong iyon ng Dad ni Kid na si Mr. Lee. Inside that hospital room, somewhere in the second floor, silang tatlo lang ang naroon. Si Lukrecia na wala pa ring malay tao at nakahiga lang sa patient bed, si Kid na nakaupo sa upuang nasa may paanan ni Lukrecia at Mr. Lee na nasa harap niya.

Kid was looking at the marble tiles. At kahit doon siya nakatingin ay kita niya pa rin ang kalahating katawan ng Dad niya.

"I don't know that she was your girlfriend," mapaklang sagot ni Kid, the tone of his voice is awkward and hesitant.

"27 year's old na si Lukrecia. You know that?" Baritone, full of authority, and quite cajoling; that's how Mr. Lee delivered that question. Naka-cross arms siya sa harap ni Kid. Medyo masakit ang ulo. Medyo antok. Alas dos na rin kasi ng madaling araw.

"Why Dad? 37 year's old ka rin naman ah? Kung si Lukrecia at ako, 10 year's ang gap namin, ten year's din ang gap niyo."

"Aba--" Kamuntikan ng mapa-mura si Mr. Lee. Kid's answer hit him so hard.

"At isa pa Dad, kapag nagmahal ka, wala sa edad 'yun. Kapag mahal mo 'yung tao, mamahalim mo 'yun kahit pa fetus pa 'yun o uugod-ugod na."

"Yes Kid, wala sa edad ang pagmamahal at wala rin naman sa edad makulong. Lukrecia's going to be a teacher. If you're going to pursue what you felt towards her, it might have a great effect on her career."

"So anong gusto mo Dad? Sa'yo pa rin si Lukrecia? Tapos dalawa mo silang pagsasabayin ni Mom?"

Nag-igting ang mga panga ni Mr. Lee sa sinabi ng anak niya. Magsasalita pa sana siya nang biglang may pumasok sa kuwarto. Si Doc Matteo.

"Let's talk later," ani ng Dad ni Kid sa kanya. May galit at pagbabanta sa boses nito. Napa-ismid lang si Kid at lumabas na ng kuwarto.
* * *
Paglabas ni Kid ng pinto, napahinto siya nang makita niya si Thalia. It was standing infront of him wearing a solicitous face. Kid saw her smile, and in a while, he saw her tears running down on Thalia's cheeks.

Kumibot ang mga labi ni Kid. Hindi niya magawang tignan si Thalia as if she was a stranger.

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang dapat niyang maging reaksyon. Naghalu-halo na kasi ang mga emosyon sa loob niya.

By a hand, Thalia tried to reach his face pero umiwas si Kid. Umatras siya ng isang beses.

"Don't touch me, you're not my mom anymore..." Kid said, his voice is almost cracking.

"Kid... anak..." Thalia, weeping, tried to reach out again but it was still a failed attempt.

On her desperation, she kneeled infront of his son, and when she did that, she kneeled firmly on the cold floor as she face her son with a pleading ang crying face, "Patawarin mo si Mommy mo nak, nagkamali siya..."

Kid heard it all, her mom explanations, and after that he faced the white wall, and through his right fist, he punch it angrily.

"AHHH!" Kid shouted. Bakas na bakas sa boses niya ang pinaghalong galit at puot. Tears are escaping from his eyes.

"Ginawa mo kaming tanga ni Dad for 10 years! Ginawa mo kaming tanga! And you left us because you want to pursue your dream? Bakit? Hindi mo ba puwedeng ituloy ang pangarap mo habang kasama kami!?" Kid voice echoed in the hospital hallway.

Muli niyang sinuntok ang pader. Biglang nagkamantsa ng pulang dugo ang puting pader iyon. The blood ran down from his fist, slowly and thickly.

Mas lalong napaiyak si Thalia. She knows she can explain it once again pero hindi niya na magawa. The moment she heared her son cried was the same moment her heart wrenched and her mind went blank. All she felt right now is the tormenting pain.