KNOWING THE TRUTH
1109 Words
"Tell me, my child. What exactly is your relationship with Maximo?'
"Papa---"
She was cornered by her father. It's true that she and Maximo have gone beyond everything. Like her past relationships, she gave in already. Sometimes she even slept with him, at his house, or they both agreed to stay overnight at the hotel. And by her father's words, he already knew about her whereabouts in the evening.
"Child, no one is forbidding you to have a relationship with him.But as a father, I would like to remind you about what happened to you and Lester. Okay, let's say that you have completely forgotten him. But, are you sure that you and Maximo will be partners for life already? Child, please be wise in decision making if you don't want to be hurt again."
She is speechless at all. By her father's words, she is completely speechless. How can she still say a word while she's hit by the
core? But again, she does not know what she will do if she loses Maximo. She is in love with him more than she did with Lester.
"Papa, I know that you are only thinking of me or my feelings. And I'll be forever grateful about that. As of now, I will not deny that we've gone too far to stop our relationship. I don't even know what to do now, Papa. I'm sorry to disappoint you once again."
As she said those words, she lowered her face and she didn't notice that her father was looking at her meaningfully.
Again, "Child, don't be sorry, because it's your right to love and to be loved. And what I've said is just a reminder to you. Cheer up, my child."
She has nothing more to say, because she's got what she wants. The understanding of her father.
AFTER sometimes...
"Dad, why are you drinking again?"
"Hija, if I make a mistake, can you forgive me?"
"Huh! Dad, I'm asking you and you answered me too with a question? By the way, what do you mean by that?"
"Kristine, Hija. I have something to tell you and hopefully you can forgive me. Listen carefully, Hija---"
But the young lady impatiently interrupted her father.
"Dad, can you cut the craps? Go straight to the point. You are just wasting my time."
Because of this, Maximo had a deep breath, "My child, your mother is alive and kicking. She just works in another country. She is the one who gives those presents on every special occasion in our lives."
With a disbelievable look, Kristine stammered, "W-what did you just say, Dad? Are you telling me that you let me grow up with all those lies? How about Auntie Tacy?"
Maximo nodded. "Yes, my child. But it's not what you think---"
Again, Kristine interrupted her father. "Then what, Daddy? What else I don't know about you? I guess I really don't know you!"
She did't let her father answer. She wanted to runaway from him. She is already seventeen years old and all she knows is her mother was dead when she gave birth.
While Maximo immediately stood up. "Kristine, come back here! Hija..."
But he can't blame her if she hates him. Because it's true that he lied to her. Only the difference is, he really loved the woman who satisfied all his needs as a man.
'Love or lust? Are you sure that you're in love with her? Or you are just lusting for her?' A voice echoed in his ears. That made him look around. But she couldn't see anyone in that place except him.
"Am I dreaming at all?' again he whispehered to himself.
If someone could see him right at the moment, they might say that he is going crazy speaking alone. Again, he did his best to follow his daughter.
MEANWHILE...
"Kristine, what are you doing here? And what happened to you? Oh, why are you crying?" the old Demagiba asked in disbelief.
"G-grandpa, w-where is Aunt Tacy? Can I talk to her?" she answered with a question.
"Come here and wait for her, Hija. Would you like to drink or eat something?" he said again.
But the young lady turned her head from side to side. "No, GrandPa. I only want to speak with Aunti Tacy. Is she at home?"
The old Demagiba secretly smiled. Because it seems that they are in a pageant to have a question and answer portion. Still, he doesn't want to offend the young lady who is crying in front of him.
"Come here, Hija. Sit down here and wait for me for a while. I'll go to the kitchen to get a cup of water for you. Your Aunti Tacy isn't here yet but maybe she is on her way already," he said as he assisted her to take a seat on a wooden bench.
Katherine just agreed by nodding her head. Her mind is full of those things that her father told her.
"No. It's impossible at all. He must be kidding. He just wants to test me if I believe anything he tells me. How come that my mother is still alive? I don't even know anyone on her side. All my seventeen years of living, I have lived my life with my father and his family. And now, he wants me to believe to have a mother? No, way!"
Without knowing that the old man was back from the kitchen, she said those words carelessly. Only she had been awakened from her imagination when she heard the noise coming from the shattered glass.
"Are you here to tell those to your Aunti Tacy? Did your father order you to do that, child?" He even asked.
It's useless to deny the truth because she is so sure that he heard everything she muttered. But there is a difference: her father never tells her to do anything.
"Would you believe me if I could tell you that he didn't tell me, Grandpa? Actually, that is why I came here to talk to Aunti Tacy about what I've learnt from Dad? He just confessed to me about it---"
"No, my child. Don't do that. Let them talk personally. I believe you , Hija. That is why I'm telling you not to do anything." He interrupted her confession. In his mind, he knew it. It's impossible for the young lady not to have a mother. And now the time has finally come.
MEANWHLE...
Anastacia is about to have a tricycle when a sophisticated woman stops in front of her. But that is not the real problem, but that is what she said.
- Writer
