"I'll take you home," Ken told her after. "Stop crying."
Ano ba ang gusto nitong mangyari? Ano ba ang dapat niyang gawin? Magtatalon sa tuwa? If given a different take on the situation, she probably would be jumping for joy right now. He asked her to marry him. That's a leap!
Too bad he doesn't love her. If only he asked it out of love, then things would have been different. She might cry all the same, but for completely different reasons.
She wiped her tears and forced a smile. He just gave her a nod and went out of the room, motioning her to follow. She did follow him. She followed him outside the motel and into his car that was parked a few blocks away.
"Pabababain mo ba ako ulit?" kaswal niyang tanong nang makaupo siya sa passenger's seat.
"I'd love to, but no. Not this time," he told her.
"About what you said earlier—"
"That's an ultimatum."
She sighed. So it's all or nothing. Bakit nga ba niya hahangarin na mapatawad siya nito kung ang kapalit naman ay ang kalayaan nya? Guilt is an unbearable burden. It weighs her down. Once it's gone, the depressing feeling will go away. She'll be able to breathe freely again. But would her freedom be a reasonable price for it?
--
Napamaang ang buong pamilya ni Ken nang sabihin niya kinabukasan ang napag-usapan nila ni Ahn.
"Are you out of your mind?!" singhal ng daddy niya sa kanya.
Hindi na nakapagpigil si Iya. Hanson was about to strike him pero nauna na rito ang kapatid niya. Sinugod siya ni Iya. She punch-slapped him a few times before breaking down.
"You asshole! Have you no heart? What about Aubrey?!"
She was lashing out so Hans had to hold her. Sumubsob ito sa asawa at saka umiyak nang umiyak.
"Kendrick, can we talk please?" pakiusap ng mommy niya.
Tinanguan niya ang ina at sinundan ito papunta sa backyard. Nang lingunin niya ang tatlo sa loob ay nakita niyang masamang-masama ang tingin ni Hanson sa kanya. His dad looked baffled. Si Iya naman ay iyak pa rin nang iyak.
Sinarado ng momy niya ang pintuan pagkalabas nila. She sat on the shaded part of the bench, na nasa ilalim ng puno sa likod-bahay nila. She patted the space next to her, motioning him to sit there.
"Kendrick, what were you thinking?" mahinahon nitong tanong nang maupo siya.
"Why is everyone flipping out? Akala ko ba ito ang gusto nyong lahat na mangyari?" inis niyang tanong.
He hated what he saw in her face. Pity.
"Ken, you just got back. Did you expect everyone to believe na magkakaayos agad kayo ni Ahn pagbalik mo?"
"We did patch things up, ma," he told her.
But his mother is not easily fooled. Parang may alam itong iba kahit hindi niya sinasabi. Though she didn't argue with him on that one.
"But why the rush? She's still in college, Ken. Alam mong hindi papayag ang ninong mo."
"That's why I'll marry her right after graduation," he reasoned out.
"Masyado pa ring mabilis. There's not enough time to prepare for the wedding. Kahit pagpapa-schedule sa simbahan, matagal."
He gave his mom a tight smile. "Sino ba'ng may sabing sa simbahan kami magpapakasal?"
--
Aubrey didn't take that news well. Paano nga naman nito matatanggap ang balita? Hindi naman ito manhid para hindi masaktan. Ilang oras din ang nakalipas bago ito sumagot sa tawag ni Iya.
