Chapter Two

Matthew let out a baffled sigh and clenched his fist. He tried to calm down but it was like a hard thing to do. Everything he built up was slowly falling apart for him. He did his best but it felt like it wasn't enough. His father still chose the most terrifying decision, to bring his mistress into their house. 

After his long term session with his doctor, the dream haunting him never disappeared. Not like before that he could see it every moment he slept but it still lingered in his mind. That was the reason why he accepted his father's offer to manage their own company. He pushed himself so hard to work to forget his dream. He became someone that every person in and out of their company was afraid of. 

He thought everything was going in his plan but he failed. The day he closed an important and big deal with an investor, was the day his father went home with his mistress, Ira. The woman was beautiful, he wouldn't deny that fact. But everytime she looked at her, he wanted to destroy her. Ira was younger than him and 20 years younger than his father. 

Something cold went up straight to his face that made him stop from his deep thoughts. He sighed again and just looked at the scene in front of him. The sound of waves was crashing through the seaside rocks, the golden sun rays were dancing with the playful waves creating a magnificent view. 

He didn't know why but everytime his mind was filled with numerous thoughts, his feet always brought him to the sea. It soothed him somehow. 

Nag desisyon siya na bumalik na ulit sa opisina dahil alam niyang marami na namang nakatambak na papeles na kailangan niyang aprubahan. 

Your father needs you. He always ask me when are you coming back

That was the message he received from his doctor that became his buddy after. 

Napabuntong hininga na naman siya. Wala na yatang araw na dumaan na hindi niya iyon ginagawa. Kung bakit kasi noong akala niyang magkakaroon na siya ng katahimikan pagkatapos dumaan sa mahabang gamutan ay tsaka naman nagdala ang ama ng problema sa bahay nila. Dahil doon, hindi na ulit siya tumapak sa bahay. Ayaw niyang makipag plastikan sa bagong asawa ng kaniyang ama kaya pinili niyang manirahan na lang sa kaniyang condo. 

Napailing na lamang siya. Hindi niya alam kung dahil nalulungkot lang ang kaniyang ama o naghahanap ng aruga ng isang asawa kaya ito nagpakilala ng bagong babae sa buhay nito. Ayos lamang naman kung maghanap ito ng atensyon sa ibang babae pero hindi niya talaga maintindihan kung bakit kailangan pa nitong ibihay. At napakabata pa ng babae halos parang bunsong kapatid na niya. 

***

Inis na ibinagsak niya sa kama ang cellphone pagkatapos ng tawag. Kung kailan naisipan niyang kausapin ang ama ay tsaka naman sumingit muli ang babae nito. 

He felt betrayed. 

But he already made his decision. He would go back to their house and be with his father even if it was living with his father's mistress under one roof. 

He made sure he brought everything he needed before leaving his condo. 

He fixed himself before he knocked on the door. He didn't tell his father he was going back home. The door opened, he was excited to see him. But the smile he prepared slowly faded away when he saw who was in front of him. 

Ira 

The woman looked shocked, her small puffy red lips slightly opened. 

She was wearing a red cotton small sleeveless dress that perfectly matched with her white skin. Her messy bunned hair made her look like a child. 

Matthew could feel his blood raised up when his eyes fell on her chest. He could see two small circles…her nipples. 

Damn it! 

"Matt! I mean, Matthew. No, no! Collin's son?" Halata sa boses nito ang pagkataranta. Namumula na rin ang magkabilang pisngi nito na halos umabot na sa tainga. 

Napataas ang kilay niya. "What?"

Nagkagat labi ito at ngumiti na halata namang pilit. "I don't know what to call you. Sabi mo kasi huwag kitang tatawagin sa pangalan mo. Sorry," sagot nito. Pinagdaop nito ang dalawang kamay at nilaro laro ang mga daliri. 

Gusto niyang matawa sa reaksiyon nito, pinigilan lang niya ang sarili. 

"Pasok ka." Sinenyasan siya nito na pumasok. 

Kahit gustuhin man niyang pumasok ay hindi niya magawa dahil nakaharang pa rin ito sa daanan. Bahagya niya itong hinawi para makadaan siya. Kita niya ang pagkagulat sa mukha nito. 

"Are you always like this? Wearing tiny clothes? Talagang sanay na sanay ka ng ganyan kaharap si Dad?" Hindi niya mapigilan na komento. 

Ira's eyes bulged out when she realized his questions. She hurriedly looked at her clothes and covered her chest. She flushed red more than a while ago. She looked uncomfortable. Before he could say something again, Ira ran as fast as she could. She immediately ran upstairs and he heard the door slam, loud enough. 

Crazy mistress

He brought his luggages inside his room. It was still the same when he left. But something caught his attention, it was his picture beside the bed. He put it inside his drawer as far as he remembered. Why was it here? 

After he fixed his things, he took a shower. Not long after, he heard his door creaking. Thinking it was his father, he ignored it. 

"What the fuck?" His voice echoed in his room. 

He caught Ira holding his picture and was about to put it in his drawer. Ira jumped enough that he heard a loud thud after. She was laying on the floor while her hand was hanging in the air, still clinging to the picture. 

"What the fuck are you doing here?" He was irritated. The fact that Ira had access into his room even if he locked it was surely shocking. 

Ira slowly stood up and hid his picture behind her as if he didn't see it. She looked everywhere, avoiding his eyes. She already changed her clothes to something decent. 

"Sorry. I just want to ask what do you want for lunch?" She was still busy looking everywhere but him. 

"So you just walked in here to ask that? Kapal ah?"

Ira flushed red again. Mukhang gulat na gulat ito sa huling sinabi niya. Totoo naman na makapal masiyado ang mukha nito dahil sa walang paalam na pagpasok nito sa kwarto niya. 

"Sorry," bulong nito. Bahagya itong tumingin sa kaniya at ngumiwi. "Labas na ako." Nagmamadali na lumabas ito at halos masira ang pinto niya nang malakas nitong isinara iyon. 

"Sorry ulit. Hala, di ko naman sinasadya. Alis na 'ko!" Sabi nito nang sumilip sa loob. Para itong bata na ayaw mahuli sa akto. 

Napailing na lang siya sa asal ng babae. Ngayon niya lang ito nakausap at nakasama nang matagal. Hindi niya inaasahan na may pagkapilya pala ito. 

Napaisip siya kung bakit hawak nito ang kaniyang picture at mukhang itatago sa drawer. Ito kaya ang nag alis noon sa pinaglagyan niya? Bakit? 

Pagkatapos niyang magbihis hinanap niya sa labas ang ama. Pero kahit saan ay wala ito. 

"Will you please stop following me?" Iritado niyang utos sa babae na kanina pa sunod nang sunod at nakikisilip din sa bawat silid na puntahan niya. Naiiwan pa ito minsan at kapag nalilingunan niya ay nakasilip ang kalahati ng katawan nito na para bang may hinahanap din. 

Simula sa paghahanap niya sa mga kwarto sa taas hanggang sa pumunta siya sa may garden ay nakasunod ito. Ano ba 'to? Aso? Maliit na aso? Kasi napakaliit nito. Bansot

"Eh, what are you looking at ba kasi? Kanina pa tayo paikot ikot sa buong bahay. Nahihilo na ako." 

Napataas na naman ang kilay niya. Ito pa ang may gana magreklamo? 

He didn't know what came to him as he walked near her and flicked her forehead. Mukhang pati ito ay nabigla rin sa ginawa niya. 

Mabilis siyang nag iwas ng tingin at tumikhim. "Dad. Where's my father?"

Napanganga ito at mukhang wala sa sarili na hinampas ang sariling noo. "All this time, you're just looking for Daddy? Sana kanina mo pa ako tinanong. Akala ko naman may nawawala kang gamit."

Para na naman nagpanting ang tainga niya sa narinig. Daddy? 

Mukhang na realized naman nito kung bakit nanahimik siya at masama ang aura ng mukha. "Umh, Collin isn't here. Isinama siya ng kumpare niya sa isang isla. One week daw doon at parang reunion 'yon ng kanilang college batch."

Kumunot ang noo niya. Ngayon lang yata nangyari na um-attend ang ama sa reunion ng mga ito. Dati naman kahit palagi itong niyayakag ng mga ka batch ay hinding hindi ito nasama. 

"Sana sinabi mo agad." 

"Di ka naman nagtanong," sagot nito na medyo may pagtataray pa. 

"Naiirita kasi ako sa mukha at boses mo."

"Eh ano naman?" Nakahalukipkip na tanong nito. 

"Bakit sagot ka nang sagot?" Naiirita na naman siya. Lahat ng sabihin niya meron din kaagad ito. 

"Bakit kasi tanong ka nang tanong?"

Halos tumirik na lang ang mata niya sa inis. Mukhang hindi talaga sila magkakasundo ng bagong asawa ng ama niya. Boses pa lang nito nakakairita na. Napakadaldal pa.