CHAPTER VII

“Arranged Marriage”

A year later…….

Nandito ako ngayon sa kwarto ng aking mommy at daddy dahil wala sila may
pinuntahan. Habang nagmamasid ay naisipan ko na mag halungkat sa closet ng
daddy at sa hindi inaasahan ay may nakita akong secret compartment at binuksan ko
ito.
“Ano kaya ang mahahanap ko rito?”
Sa paghahalungkat ko ay may nakita akong litrato ngunit laking gulat ko nang makita
na ito ay litrato ng aking daddy na kinasal sa ibang babae.
“Bakit iba ang kasama niya rito?”
“Sino ito?” maraming tanong sa isipan ko na nais kong mabigyang sagot.
“May ibang pinakasalan ang daddy ko” malungkot na saad ko.

Kumirot ang puso ko sa mga nakita, hindi ko lubos maisip na magagawa ito ng aking
daddy. Bumalik ako sa aking kwarto at doon nilabas ang kanina pang pinipigil na pag
iyak dahil hindi ko maisip kung bakit ito nagawa ng aking daddy.

“Did he truly love my mom?” tanong ko sa aking sarili. Patuloy ako sa pag iyak
hanggang sa nakatulog na ako.

Kinaumagahan, nagising ako sa katok ng mommy sa aking kwarto. Bakas sa aking

mukha ang kalungkutan, namumugto ang mga mata na tila umiyak kagabi. Pinapasok
ko si mommy at napansin niya ang aking namumugtong mga mata tinanong niya ako
kung bakit.

“Anak, what happened to you? Bakit namumugto ang iyong mga mata?” tanong ni
mommy.
“Nothing mom, don't mind me I think it's because of the ants that bit my eyelids last
night”. Pag papalusot ko.
Pero sa katunayan ayaw kong malaman ni mommy ang katotohanan na may nakita
ako sa secret compartment in my dad's closet.
Inalok ako ni mommy na kumain dahil handa na daw ang aming breakfast.

“Halika na anak kain na tayo, handa na ang ating almusal.” alok ng kanyang mommy.
“Sige po mom” ang naging tugon nito.

While eating I randomly ask my mom kung ano ang mararamdaman nito pag nalaman
niyang may ibang pinakasalan ang kanyang daddy.
Nabilaukan ang mommy sa tanong ko.
“Why do you ask questions like that anak?”
“Wala mom, I just want to know what are your thoughts about this.” sabi ko
“Well, masasaktan ako anak if that happen at hindi ko mapapatawad kung mangyari
man iyon.” sagot ni mom.

“So, mom doesn't know about the marriage between my dad and another girl?” sabi
ko sa isip.
“Did my dad cheat on her?”
“Is my mom his second wife?
I tried to process the thoughts into my mind. Natulala ako ng ilang minuto at nabalik
lang sa aking sarili ng tawagin ako ni mom.
“Anak! hoy anak what happened to you, bakit natulala kana diyan?” pag aalala na sabi
ni mommy.
“Nothing mom, punta na po ako sa kwarto ko.” sagot ko.
My mom left there shocked thinking what happened to me.
I am in my room thinking parin kung sino ang babaeng iyon.
A few moments later I heard that my dad came back galing sa kanyang pinuntahan.
Hindi ko pinahalata na may nalalaman akong sikreto tungkol sa kanya. My mom called
me to join them to eat but I refused to.

“Anak, come on let's eat?”

“I'm full pa mom, i'll just eat later kapag nagutom ako.”
Pero ang totoo I am searching sa kung anong nakita ko kagabi sa kwarto nila.
“Bakit wala akong makitang sources? Is this an arranged marriage or what?”
“Should I talk to my dad about this? or I just shut my mouth and forget about it?”
Naguguluhan ako gusto kong maliwanagan pero there's something na pumipigil para
gawin ko ito.

I keep on surfing the internet to find something and I did find one. I see a woman who
looks exactly ng nasa picture.
“Ito ba yun?”
I was thinking about something.
I am stuck between whether my dad married this girl because he loved her or he
married her kasi pinagkasundo sila sa isa't isa.
“Nakakainis hindi ko malaman ang sagot”
Si dad lang makaka sagot nito. I need to confront him. Pero paano? How will I do this?
I want to solve this mystery but I don't know how.

I checked my phone and its already afternoon. Maghapon na pala akong nag iisip
tungkol dito. I should talk to my dad this evening when I got the chance to, hahanap
lang ako ng tiyempo.
Tinawagan ko ang aking kaibigan para maka hingi ng tulong on how will I do this.

Ringing….
She answered.

“Hello Sav, I have a favor sana sayo.”

“What is it?” sagot nito.
“Kasi ano I found something in my dad's closet, a picture of my dad and his other girl
and worst they are married, should I confront him about this?”
“Oh, that's really sad I think you should confront him kasi karapatan mo din malaman
yun. Pero be calm lang para hindi tumaas ang BP ha” pang aasar pa nito sabay tawa.
“Sige Sav, thank you for the advice. I would confront him na later kapag mag chance.
Goodbye I'll update you later.”
“Goodbye”

After that call I prepared myself para sa confrontation na magaganap.

Later at night…

It's 10 pm and I found my dad on the

balcony scrolling through his phone. Na abala ko ata sya, napalingon siya at tinanong
ako kung bakit gising pa ako.
“Why are you still up anak?”
“I can't sleep dad”
“Oh, I see, then join me here.”
“Where's mom?”
“She's sleeping na anak.”

This is it I found the perfect time to ask him. Kapag sinuswerte ka nga naman, I am
ready to ask him this. I am so confused about it at hindi ko na kaya pang itago.

“Dad, can I ask you something? I want you to tell me the truth, dad.”
“Sure anak, kinakabahan naman ako sa sasabihin mo.” Pabirong sabi ni dad.
I am nervous on what I am going to hear but ito na yun eh, malalaman ko na ang
totoo.

“Dad kasi ano last night pumunta ako sa room niyo ni mommy and I accidentally found
something on your closet.”
Habang nagsasalita I see that my dad is shocked and nervous about this. I can see it
in his face. I kept on talking and he turned red.

“I found a picture of you and a woman you married, dad.”

My dad can't speak kahit tapos na akong mag salita. He is still in shock at natulala. I
waved my hand sa mukha para bumalik siya sa kanyang sarili. Finally, he opened his
mouth and talked.
“A-anak, how did you find that? I thought I already disposed the picture.” My dad while
stuttering.
“Don't be nervous dad, I am willing to hear your explanation.” I said calmly.

My dad still can't believe I know a secret about him. I want to know when, how and
where this happened.
“I just want to clear things out”
“Alam ba to ni mom?”
“Nag cheat ka ba sa kanya?” Mga tanong ko kay dad.
“You can tell me when you're ready.”

Few minutes later….

My dad is finally ready to tell me this.
“I don't want you to leave clueless anymore anak, I know you are hurt about this but
let me tell you how that happened.

His Dad's POV

(telling the story)
Long time ago, our family was one of the richest families living here in bicol. My mom
and dad have many friends and have their own children's din. I am 18 years old that
time ng ipagkasundo ako sa anak ng kumpare nila who owns a company, I already
know your mom back then and I really admire how beauty and precious she is. Nung
nalaman ko na pinagkasundo ako ay tumutol ako, ngunit anong magagawa ko? They
are more powerful than me. I cried that night and begged na huwag itutuloy but they
still do it. I am scared to lose your mom even though she doesn't know that I exist. I
don't even know what my fiance looks like. I am left there clueless. They arranged the
marriage and I can't run from that. Nakilala ko ang pakakasalan ko nang mag meet
ang mga pamilya namin.She is Mariana. I can't forgive my parents for what they have
done to me. Galit ako sa kanila, galit na galit.
There I met the lady I was going to marry. She's beautiful and kind, but I don't like her.
Naging awkward ang tagpong iyon at nasundan ang pagkikita sa kasalan na. Natuloy
ang kasal ayon sa kagustuhan nila at namuhay kami sa isang bahay na parang walang
nakatira.As time goes by I learned to love her but not as I love your mom.
End of POV.

“So that's how it goes anak.” sabi ni dad.

“Oh, okay dad, now I can now sleep well, I can tell now that you didn't cheat on mom.”
I am now relieved on what I heard about this but there's one more thing I want to know.
“So does this mean mom is your second wife?” I asked.
“Yes, but as I said a while ago your mom captured my eyes and there, I know she will
be my wife in the future. It's just that my parents don't want it.” My dad explained.
I am curious how she and my dad end up with her. I want to know all the details about
it. The curiosity hits me so much.

I am thrilled to know so I asked my dad more.

But he refused to answer because he's sleepy na daw so I let him sleep and bid good
night to him.
“Anak, let's talk nalang tomorrow para maliwanagan ka about the things you want to
know. I am sleepy na din eh tsaka anong oras na oh you have to sleep na huwag ka
masyado magpupuyat masama yan.”
“Okay dad, good night po.”
“Good night anak, I love you, kayo ng mommy mo.”
I go back to my room at bago ako matulog ay tinawagan ko muna si Sav para mag
kwento.
Ringing…..
Then Savannah answered the phone
“Hi Rhyn, ano kamusta? Did your dad answer your questions?”
“Yes Sav, actually he told me the story and it was an arranged marriage with the girl.”
“Nakakaloka diba? pero I feel relieved na din naman, salamat sa tulong mo. Matulog
na tayo, pasensya ka na din sa abala at this time pa me nag call saiyo.”
“Ano ka ba okay lang yon, I'm happy that you're satisfied na and hindi ka na
magugulohan pa. Good night Rhyn.”
After niya ibaba ang tawag, I sleep peacefully knowing the truth makes me feel
relieved.

Kringggg…. Kringgg…
Nagising ako sa ingay ng alarm clock ko, inaantok pa ako kung kaya't in-off ko ito at
bumalik sa pag tulog. Ilang minuto palang akong naka idlip ng magising ako.
“Wala na hindi na ako makatulog.” Inis na sabi ko.
Lumabas ako at nadatnan si dad at mom na kumakain sa kusina.
“Good morning mom and dad!” sabay yakap at halik sa pisngi nila.
“Good morning anak.” sagot nila
“Maganda yata ang gising mo anak ah.” sabi ni mom
“Yes, mom because I know the truth na.”
“Sige na anak kain kana.” sabat ni dad.

Habang kumakain ay nagpaalam si mom na aalis at mamamalengke dahil linggo

ngayon.
“Alis muna ako, bibili ng makakain natin mamaya, kayo na bahala dito ah?” Sabi ni
mom.
“Okay mom” Maikling sagot ko.

Pagkatapos kong kumain ay inalok ko si dad sa balcony ng ice cream at ipinagpatuloy

ang pinag usapan namin kagabi.
“So, what happened nga dad between you and tita Mariana?” I asked.
“We have good times togethers, we make out because I learned how to love her. But
one day as I was in my car, I caught her with another man in a restaurant nag dalawang
isip pa ako kung siya yun kaya bumaba ako sa kotse at tinignan, tama nga ako. I
couldn't believe she did that to me. I rushed back home and waited until she came
back. I confronted her and said that I saw her with another guy. The tension filled the
room and I couldn't control myself. I was so angry at the time. Nasampal ko siya at
sinabihan ng masasakit na salita.
“How could you do this to me? after all that I have done to you ito ang ibabalik mo sa
akin.”
“Umalis ka dito mag sama kayo ng lalaki mo. Ayaw na kitang makita.” mga katagang
nasabi ko. (dad's POV)
Wala siyang nasabi kundi ang katagang “sorry” at “huwag mo akong iiwan.”
But what can I do? I was cheated on and I think that's the best thing to do.”

“Oh, I see” sabi ko.

“How tragic naman ang nangyari between you and her dad.”
“Yes, anak but that's life, at okay lang naman yun at least I had the chance to pursue
your mom after long years of waiting and luckily single pa ang mom mo.”
“Ang bait naman ng tadhana. But dad may balita ka pa ba tungkol sa kanya?”
“Wala na anak, last na balita na natanggap ko is wala na siya. She passed away after
fighting stage 4 cancer.”
“Oh, that's sad.” sabi ko
“Yes anak, she never tells me that she is fighting for it. I never got to see and visit her.”
“It's okay dad I know wherever she is now she is happy because you made him happy
in some time of her life.”
My dad started to cry as he said the big revelation.
“I never got to see our daughter.”
“W-what? Y-you have a child with her?” tanong ko ng may pagka bigla.
“Yes anak, I'm sorry I don't know that we have a child. It's the letter she left with the
picture of us when she left. At magmula sa araw na yon hindi ko na nasilayan ang
aking anak.”

I am shocked by the revelation and what's worse is I don't know who my sister is. I
hope I can find her soon. I'll find you ate.