Chapter Four
"Mom..." I quietly said as I saw her walking in after she walked Vito to his pickup truck. "What do you think of Vito?"
Ayaw kong mag-isip ng masama kay Mom but I couldn't help it after overhearing the conversation they had earlier. What were they hiding? Ano bang binabanggit ni Vito na 'nangyari'? Was my mom having an affair with a younger man?
"I think he's a nice young man. Bakit mo naman na tanong?" Her brows crumpled.
"Oh, nothing..." I shrugged. I didn't want to just come up to her and all of a sudden, accuse her of having an affair with Vito. I didn't even want to believe it was true. Iniisip ko na lang na baka mali ako ng pagkakaintindi. Mom was still in the process of grieving and Vito was kind enough to help her through it because he himself had gone through it before with his father. Iyon ang gusto kong paniwalaan.
I still wanted to believe that Mom loved Dad so much to even look at other men. I'd always loved their fairytale love story. I'd always believed in that. A city boy and larger-than-life playboy falling in love with an equestrian haciendera. I'd heard of their story from Mom over and over. How Dad spent a week at the hacienda and got jealous of David, her ex-boyfriend, how she followed him to the city and did everything to win his affection. Si Mom ang nanligaw kay Dad. They eventually lived together until she found out about Dad's then estranged wife. Nagalit si Mom at bumalik sa hacienda at si Dad naman ang sumunod sa kanya. Nagtrabaho siya sa hacienda at napatawad din naman siya ni Mom and Lolo Jaime. And after that, they lived happily ever after. I remembered how Mom's eyes would sparkle with sweet nostalgia everytime she tells me their story. Mom and Dad loved each other so much and they would never cheat on one another.
"Bakit? Do you like him?" There was a change in Mom's tone as she quietly looked at me, waiting for my answer. Was she jealous?
"N-no! Of course, not!" I exclaimed.
"So, what happened in the woods?" There was sterness in Mom's tone as she folded her arms over her chest.
"Nagkasalubong lang kami... Nilabas ko lang si Pepper at nakasalubong ko siya kasama ang kabayo niya. " I told her.
"Yun lang ba talaga ang nangyari?" Mom asked, unsmiling. It was so not like her to pry in our personal business. That was Dad's job.
"Yes... Why?"
There was a short pause before she took in a deep breath and exhaled.
"Vito is a handsome young man and I understand that you're now a woman. And sometimes when a man and a woman spend time alone together, something else happens..." Her hand reached up and tucked some loose strands of my hair behind my ear. Why was she telling me all these? Dahil ba 'something else' happened between Vito and her when they were alone kaya akala niya ginagawa ko din iyon?
"I'm not as strict and conservative as your father when it comes to raising you but I don't want you fooling around with someone you just met." Sabi ni Mom.
"Mom, what are you talking about? Fooling around? With who? With Vito?" My eyes felt like it would pop.
"Honey, your shirt is inside out." She cocked a brow.
My eyes lowered to my shirt and I was baffled for awhile."I... no, it's not what you think! Nag-swimming ako sa falls. You know, that place where you and Dad used to take us? I don't even like Vito, Mom!"
"Why don't you like him? He's a nice man." Mom's brows furrowed.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "He's just... he's just... he look stupid. Napaka-presko niya, Mom. Baka akala niya he's God's gift to women."
"You know, he actually reminds me of your Dad in his youth. Confident and adventurous." A slight nostalgic smile broke across her face.
Napataas ang isang kilay ko sa sinabing iyon ni Mom. My imagination started going haywire again. Vito reminded her of Dad when he was young and now that he was not... maybe... maybe Mom wanted someone like young Dad at kay Vito niya nakita iyon.
"Hon, who are you texting?" Dad asked as we were having breakfast.
"Oh, wala naman. Cassie just texted me, nangungumusta lang." She lowered her phone down and forced a smile. Then she turned her attention to Toffie. "Kumain ka ng kumain. Stop playing with your food."
"Say hi to Cassie for me." Sabi ni Dad.
"I will." Mom answered back.
"Mom, can we go horseback riding later?" Asked Toffie.
"I want to go horseback riding!" Cookie said.
"Me too, Mama Val!" Sabi naman ni Pixie.
"Oo nga, ipasyal naman natin ang mga bata sa hacienda. We only got a few more days to spend here before we go back to Manila."
"Honey, next time na lang." Mom said.
Ipinatong ni Dad ang kamay niya sa ibabaw ng kamay ni Mom. "Hon, I know Dad's passing is tough for you and believe me it is as tough for us, too. We love him as much as you do. You're not alone in this. We're here for you."
"I know and I thank you for that, hon." Mom gave Dad a weak smile.
Dad nipped Mom's chin between to fingers and gave her a kiss on the lips.
"Ew!" Toffie and Cookie both reacted almost at the same time.
"Oooh! Papa Axel kissed Mama Val!" Pixie giggled.
"No looking, Pixie!" Kuya Coco half-jokingly covered Pixie's eyes with his hands.
The two of them laughed at everyone's reaction.
"Baka naman masundan pa si Toffie niyan, Mom ah." Biro ni Ate Anais.
"Kung makakahabol pa, bakit hindi?" Dad wiggled his brows up and down.
"Ew! No! You guys are old!" I exclaimed.
"Excuse you." Mom's brows crumpled as she chuckled.
"Ano'ng old, Bryce? Your Mom's only 50! Hindi pa menopaused ang Mommy niyo." Sabi ni Dad.
"Okay, now that's TMI." Sabi naman ni Ate Anais.
I fake gagged. "I think I just lost my appetite."
"Kayo talagang magkakapatid. You always bully me and your Mom." Kinabig ni Dad si Mom at hinalikan sa
"Pwede pang ihabol yan, dude. Baka maka-dalawang lalaki ka pa." Uncle Tristan joined in.
"Stop it, Tristan. Baka humirit na naman yan." Mom rolled her eyes at her brother.
We had a relatively nice breakfast together. Until the men decided to go to town to get something. I was left with Mom, Aunt Andi, Ate Anais, and Ate Monique. That afternoon, the kids wanted to watch a movie so we took them to the entertainment room. Nagbantay kami nina Ate Anais at Ate Monique sa mga bata habang gumagawa naman si Aunt Andi at Mom ng snack sa baba.
But Aunt Andi was the only one who came back in the entertainment room with a plate of sandwich and she had the help bring a pitcher of juice and glasses.
"Where's Mom?" I asked.
"Umalis muna. She said gusto niya munang mag-ikot-ikot. I offered to come with her but she insisted on going out alone." Kibit-balikat na sabi ni Aunt Andi.
"Baka pupuntahan si Lolo sa sementeryo."
"Bakit kailangan mag-isa siya?" My brows crumpled suspiciously.
"Because she's grieving, Bryce. Kayo ni Dad, stop smothering her too much. She needs space." Sabi ni Ate Anais.
She didn't understand what was going on. She doesn't know about Vito but I do!
"When did she leave, Aunt Andi?" I asked.
"Just a moment ago. Bago ako umakyat. Tumulong pa siyang gumawa ng sandwiches." Aunt Andi answered.
I quickly got up from the couch and went out. Bumaba ako at tinanong sa help kung nakita nila si Mom. One of them told me she'd seen her drive away in Lolo's car. I got the keys to Dad's car and tried to find her. I was almost sure who she'd be seeing.
Ilang minuto lang ay nakita ko ang kotse ni Mom na nakaparada sa tabi ng stables. I was relieved when I saw her car parked there. At least, I know she wasn't with Vito. Baka naman nangabayo lang si Mom. I got out of my car to check if she was in the stables.
"Ah, Senyorita." I heard a groan from inside. The voice was of a man's and it sounded very familiar.
Dahan-dahan akong lumapit. Each step I made added to the ever increasing weight in my chest, each step felt like my heart slowly sliding out of its place to my stomach. I heard another groan.
"Fuck!" He cussed.
I swallowed before taking a peak in, afraid of what I was going to see. I saw Vito standing there while Mom was kneeling in front of him, her head turned to me. My eyes widened and I covered my mouth as a gasp escaped from my throat.
Parang nanghihinang napasandal ako sa wooden wall ng stable. Parang umikot ang paningin ko. My head felt like it was pounding against my skull. My stomach churned in disgust. It wouldn't take a genius to find out what Mom was doing to Vito.
I wanted to throw up. Dad loved her and I was a witnessed to that. Alam ko kung gaano siya minahal ng Daddy ko at ito pa ang igaganti niya? After collecting myself, I ran back to Dad's car and drove off.
I couldn't help but cry as I drove back to Lolo Jaime's house. Bumaba ako at sakto naman papasok si Dad sa bahay.
"Dad..." Humihikbing habol ko sa kanya.
"Hey..." Dad turned his head to me, looking worried.
I ran to him and hugged him, crying and sobbing. "Dad... si Mom..."
Dad's body tensed, he cupped my face in his hands and looked at me. "What happened to your Mom? Where is she, Bryce?"
"Mom's cheating on you, Dad." Humihikbing sabi ko.
A flashed of something crossed his face. "What? What are you talking about, Bryce?"
"Mom's cheating on you. I saw her. She was cheating on you with Vito." I cried even harder, my words barely coherent.
"Bryce..." Dad shook his head as he let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Bryce, ano bang pinagsasabi mo? You stop this right now. Hindi magandang biro yan. Hindi magagawa ng Mommy mo sa akin yan. Enough with your joke. It's not funny."
"I'm not kidding. I saw them at the stables. Mom was on her knees-"
"Bryce, tumigil ka na, ha!" Dad's voice boomed in anger. I had never heard him shout at me like that. "This is not a good joke. I don't want to hear that from you. She is your mother and you have no right to disrespect her like that."
I saw how Dad's face hardened but I also saw the flash of hurt in his eyes. He was indenial.
"Dad..."
"Enough! I do not want to hear more nonsense from you." Dad's voice quivered at the end of his sentence.
He walked in and left me there, completely baffled by his reaction.
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