"Heto na ba?" Panimulang tanong ko ng seryoso siyang maupo sa harapan ko. Nandito kami ngayon, sa dining table habang si mama at Venice ay umalis. Kanina lang inaasar niya pa ako, hindi ko lubos maisip na ganito kabilis niyang iibahin ang hangin sa loob ng bahay.

"All the documents needed are there. All I need is your signature and I can take my son back home." Tiningnan ko muna ang laman ng brown envelope na inilagay niya sa gitna. And there... I see all the legal documents he needed to take my son away from me.

Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat kong maramdaman sa mga oras na 'to. Galit? Lungkot? Pagkamuhi? Inis? Hindi ko alam. Siguro halu-halo, pero hindi ko kayang pangalanan kung ano nga ba ang pinakamalakas sa kanilang lahat.

"What if hindi ko 'to pirmahan?" Wala sa sariling tanong ko.

"Then I have all the rights na kunin ng sapilitan ang anak ko—"

"Anak KO lang Vulcan. Walang sayo." I emphasizes the word 'ko' para ramdam niya.

"Venus, I know you hate me. But even if we turn the world upside down, you can't deny the fact that it takes two to Tango and that child is mine."

"At inalagaan, iniluwal, pinalaki ko siya ng mag-isa. Yes, you have a contribution para mabuo ang anak ko but you don't have the balls to be a father to hi—"

"Kasi umalis ka."

"And you didn't even initiated to find me."

"Kasi alam kong ayaw mong mahanap kita."

"But you still know the fact that of all people, sayo lang lumalambot ng mabilis ang ilong ko. Did you do anything? No, you didn't. You're just there, pinapalago ang kaharian mo. But thanks to you anyway, I learn how to have a dream even if not for myself."

"Venus it's all for you!"

"I don't need your company nor your money Vulcan! It's you! It's you whom I needed the most! Pero nasaan ka? Imbes na habulin ako ng gabing 'yon at piliting huwag na lang umalis kasi misunderstanding lang ang lahat, you choose to stay where you stand! You already made your choice when you choose to defend that woman of yours than to understand me. Buntis na ako ng mga panahong 'yon...oh ano? Gulat ka kunyari? Tapos sasabihin mong hindi mo alam? Kasi alam mo kung bakit? You choose to comfort her than to be with me having my check up. Tapos ganito lang? Papakitaan mo ako ng mga dokumentong nagsasabing may karapatan ka sa bata? Well fuck off Natividad! Kahit ano pang tricks ang hilahin mo sa manggas ng damit mo, you can't have my child without killing me."

"Venus—"

"Ano? Kakampihan mo siya? Of course! Magkapareho kayo ng dugo eh. Pareho kayong gago kaya kayo magkakasama." Putol ko ng magsalita si Ceres. I don't want to be rude, pero nauunahan ako ng galit ko.

Ilang saglit na katahimikan pa ang dumaan bago ito basagin ng pagtayo ni Aether.

"Baby?"

"I'm sorry but I can't. I witnessed how she suffered from different pain while she's carrying the child inside her. I witnessed how she worked hard para buhayin ang sarili at anak niya. I love you but I also love her. And I can't stand the fact that she's suffering again now while I can do something to help her. I'm sorry." Salaysay ni Aether bago lumapit sa pwesto ko at hinawakan ang kamay ko. To gave me courage and to tell me that whatever happens, her support is on me.

Nginitian ko lang siya bilang tugon. I don't need them to sympathize with me, all I want is them to understand me.

"I'm sorry dude but I'm with Aether. Hindi ko man alam na ikaw pala ang ama ng bata, pero inaamin kong minsan na rin kitang minura dahil sa kagaguhan mo." Zeus also switch side.

"Lilinawin ko lang ha, hindi ito majority vote. Kahit na ilang tao pa ang pumanig sa kung kanino man, the decision is still on the both of you." Singit ni ate na kanina pa nananahimik.

Nabaling lang ang atensyon namin ng dumating ang nanay ko na kasama ang babaeng isa sa naging dahilan ng pagtatalong ito.

"Hi everyone!" She cheerfully greet us while waiving her left hand to us while her other hand is holding her big baby bump?
Is she pregnant? With whom? Vulcan? Or his brother?

I'm sorry in advance to sound like she's a whore but I am just...

"And who are you?" Tanong ni ate.

"Owh, sorry I forgot. Brianna Anderson Natividad is the name."

"Natividad?"

"Yes. His sister-in-law."

"Owh! An in-law. How come you are here?"

"Ate." Palihim na saway ko ng mahimigan ang pagkadisgusto sa boses niya.

"Because I believe that I have an unfinished business with Venus. So? Can I borrow her for a while?" Nakangiti pa ring sagot ni Brianna.

"You see that they're still talking some business here right?"

"But I believe that my business is connected with what they are arguing. So, can I?"

"No you can—"

"Ate." Pigil ko na sa kaniya. Gusto ko mang maranasan ni Brianna ang ugali ni ate but I still care for her condition. I'm not that heartless para pahirapan siya.

"Let's go sa garden?" Aya ko sa buntis bago nagpatiuna. Pero bago ko pa malampasan ang kinauupuan ni Vulcan nakita ko pa ang pagngisi ng gago na nakapagpakulo ng dugo ko.

"How dare you!" Nanggagalaiti kong bulong bago siya nilampasan.

Nang makarating sa garden ay ilang oras pa kaming walang imikan bago niya pinuri ang mga bulaklak na ini-arrange ni mama.

"It's nice."

"Thank you."

"The weather too."

"Yeah."

"Your house is beautiful."

"Well, my sister choose this."

"Owh, she has good taste. But her mouth is dirty—hey! No offense. First impression only."

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. Kahit sino 'yan ang first impression sa kaniya. Paano ba kasi, napaka anghang ng bunganga. Kahit sino kinakalaban.

"It's fine. You're not the first one to compliment her."

This time, it's her time to laugh. I didn't even blurted a joke but she really looks like she's having fun.

"I'm... I'm sorry. Ho... hormones maybe." Tinanguan ko lang siya habang inuubos niya ang tawa niya.

Hindi ko alam kung anong pag-uusapan namin, pero sana naman matapos na itong taguan at habulan na ito. Nakakapagod na rin kasi. Paulit-ulit na lang.

Nang tumikhim siya para tapusin ang tawa njya, alam kong ito na ang oras na seseryusuhin ko.

"What do you want with your life?" One question. One simple and easy question. But I don't know how to answer or what is the answer.