Masakit ang ulo at katawan kong gumising dahil napagod ako kagabi. Gusto ko mang bumangon, hindi ko naman magawa dahil nanlalata ako.

Mabuti na nga lang at walang pasok ngayon kaya hindi ko kailangang bumangon ng maaga. Babalik na muli sana ako sa pagtulog pero narinig kong may nagkakagulo sa labas.

"Bakit amoy babae 'tong polo mo Theo? Tapatin mo nga ako, nambababae ka ba?"

Parang biglang nawala ang mga hinaing ko kanina nang marinig ko kung ano ang pinagtatalunan nila Mama sa labas kaya napabalikwas ako ng bangon para puntahan sila.

'Dad is cheating?'

"Sinasabi ko sa iyo, hindi ko alam. Maniwala ka sa akin, hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari. Ang naaalala ko lang nagkakasiyahan lang kami ng mga kaibigan ko kagabi."

Napapahilamos na si Dad dahil mukhang hindi na nito alam kung paano kukumbinsihin si Mom. Maski ako ay hindi ko alam kung ano ang iisipin ko.

"Talaga ba? Paano mo ipapaliwanag tong mantsa ng lipstick dito sa kwelyo ng damit mo?"

Galit at naluluha nang tanong ni Mom habang hinahampas pa rin si Dad samantalang si Dad naman ay walang magawa kundi salagin ang mga hampas at pigilan si Mom sa ginagawa nito.

"Tama na, huminahon nga po muna kayong dalawa." Pumagitna na ako sa kanila dahil hindi ko na kaya ang nakikita ko. Dahil doon ay nilubayan ni Mom si Dad at saka naglakad papalayo.

Tinignan ko si Dad nang may naguguguluhan na mata saka ko siya tinalikuran para sundan si Mom. Hindi makakatulong kung paiiralin ko din ang bugso ng damdamin ko.

Kailangan ko munang alamin ang mga nangyari para makapag-isip ako ng maayos, para alam ko kung paano ko sosolusyonan ang mga gusot na nangyayari.

Kung hindi nila kayang ayusin ang gulo sa pagitan nilang dalawa, ako na ang iintindi at tutulong para maayos silang dalawa. Hindi naman sa gusto kong makialam, pero kabilang din ako sa pamilyang ito kaya marapat lang na may gawin ako.

"Mom tahan na. Kung ano man po ang nangyayari, pag-usapan niyo po ni Papa ng maayos, lalo lang po kayong magkakagulo kapag nagsisigawan kayong dalawa eh."

Pag-aalo ko kay Mommy, hanggang ngayon kasi ay hindi na siya matigil sa pag-iyak.

"Naiintindihan kong marami kang iniisip at the moment Mom. Pero kapag hindi niyo po ito pinag-usapan ng maayos, mas lalo niyo lang hindi maiintindihan ang isa't-isa."

Matamlay lang akong tiningnan ni Mom at nakiusap na hayaan ko na lang daw muna siyang maging mapag-isa para pahupain ang galit niya. Naisip kong baka yun din ang kailangan niya kaya hinayaan ko na lang muna siya.

Even if I'm not sure if I am doing the right thing, I also went to Dad to know what really happened. It doesn't matter if he tell me the truth or not. I just need his explanation.

"Dad, what is happening?" I simply asked as I found him in his office being problematic on his desk. I knew that he knew what I am referring to but he just let out a sigh.

I still waited for him to answer but he didn't even try. I don't know what to feel at the moment, it seems like Mom is right.

"Dad please, explain what really happened. Are you really cheating on Mom?" I asked recklessly. I don't care anymore if he gets mad, what's important right now is to get some answers.

"I don't know. I don't know." I stepped back as I heard him say that. He looks so miserable that I can't help thinking that it's possible.

"What do you mean you don't know Dad? Are you saying that it's possible? Are you going to excuse yourself by saying that it was an accident? That you are drunk when that happened?"

I asked continuously as I start to get frustrated. There's a part of me who wants to believe that he didn't cheat because of all members in our family, Dad is the one who hate disgrace the most, but there's also a part of me who believe the possibility because of the evidence.

"No. Please Sam help me figure this out, I can't lose our family." I don't think I can stay any longer so I decided to leave the office.

I quickly grabbed my coat and car key to get out of the house. I don't like witnessing all of that mess. It's just so peculiar, I thought things can't get as worse as I experienced before but things now are really worst that things seems to be out of hand.

I saw Tita Clementine along the way but because I'm too occupied of what's happening, I didn't even greet her. I was about to open the car door when Tita Clementine stopped me from doing so.

"I'll drive, it seems like you have a lot of things in your mind right now. I can't risk you getting involved in an accident." I gave her the key and let her drive.

We stopped at a convenience store before going to our next destination. We drove in silence and no one dared to talk until we arrive at the seaside.

"Eat this, it's still early in the morning so I thought you haven't eaten yet." She finally spoke while handing me a packed food she bought at the convenience store earlier. I just accepted it as I really didn't have anything to eat.

"Would you mind sharing your concerns with me? You know that you can rely on me if you have troubles right?"

I don't know but as soon as she said that, I gave my pride up and tried to tell her what happened. It is supposedly private since it is a family matter but I think I can trust Tita Clementine.

"Mom thinks that Dad is cheating on her and the worse part is, I am starting to think that way too." Tita Clementine did not show any reactions about it so I continued.

"Dad is a conservative guy, he always makes sure that no member of the family will get into trouble as he doesn't want to bring disgrace to the family. That's also the reason why he's always strict when it comes to my actions. As I am a strong-willed girl, I do anything that I want, to put things in their right place. I am not afraid of being judged as it happened to me many times already. Maybe that's why I act careless all the time.

Tita Clementine just opened a canned soda to relieve her thirst. Usually people with high status are picky when it comes to something so I'm quite surprised that she bought a packed food in a convenience store and drinking a canned soda.

"What seems to be the problem then if Theo has such personality?" She suddenly asked. I was silenced for a moment as that idea also crossed my mind.

"I don't know anymore. Mom found Dad's long sleeve polo shirt with a lipstick stain and according to Mom, it also smells like a woman. Kaya hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong ilagay sa kukote ko."

Sumasakit na ang ulo ko kakaisip kaya sumandal ako sa inuupuan ko saka ko binuksan ang bintana ng kotse para may pumasok na hangin at makapagrelax.

"There's just one way for you to find out." That got my attention. Yes, there's just one way to find out. She might be thinking what I am thinking.

"I can help so you don't need to watch his moves everyday." I just nodded as an agreement. Talking with Tita Clementine right now just reminds me of something.

"How about you, aren't you going to say something to me? Like your relationship with my mother. I am certain that somehow, you are related to her"

She's taken aback as I involved Mom and her in our conversation. She finished her drink before answering me. When she faced me she has indifferent look in her eyes so I really can't tell what she's thinking.

"What makes you think that I somehow related to your mother?" Simula nang mapansin kong iba ang epekto ni Tita Clementine kay Mom, may nagbago sa pagtingin ko sa kaniya.

Gusto kong layuan si Tita Clementine pero may parte sa akin na nagsasabing hindi ko siya dapat layuan, dahil siguro hindi ako makakakuha ng sagot kung lalayo lang ako.

"Nung nandoon ka po sa bahay at nakita ka ni Mommy, napansin kong namutla siya. I thought that she's just feeling unwell so I didn't think much about it, I didn't even paid attention to your resemblance at first as I thought that it was just a coincidence but it seems that there's really something off as I saw that she's really uncomfortable when you are around. Mom also told me to stay away from you. My question is why? Why is she uncomfortable when you are around? Why is she trying to keep me away from you as if she's protecting me from harm?"

Natatakot ako sa maaari kong marinig. I want to think that she is dangerous but I don't feel it that way. All I feel is curiosity.

"She's not protecting you." She simply said. I am between of being convinced and unconvinced. As much as I want to believe what she's saying, I also want further answers.

"Then why is she uncomfortable when you're around. It seems that she's so afraid that something might happen. Did you do something to her to act like that?"

I know it's too much to ask and I am not picking my words properly. Naisip ko lang na didiretsahin ako nito kapag prangka ko siyang tinanong pero hindi, mas dinagdagan lang niya ang isipin ko sa isinagot niya.

"Maybe there's particular relation to us both. Siguro nga may ginawa ako sa kaniya pero mas maganda kung iisipin mo ding meron siyang nagawang hindi maganda sa akin kaya ganoon na lamang ang takot niya. Either way, you will find the answer soon as it will automatically be revealed."