Into the Woods

Chapter 13

It's almost next to impossible pero nakauwi kami ng maayos ni Rob, unscathed! Hindi ko alam why it crossed my mind na baka hindi na kami makauwi ng buhay. Hindi kami sa bahay ko hinatid kundi sa bahay nila Rob. Wala masyadong napag-usapan sa byahe. Yung tungkol lang sa ilang business nila. Nothing more. Halos hindi na ako huminga all throughout. The nervousness that Harvey gave me is not ordinary. Yung tipong hindi mo alam kung kelan siya aatake. Nakakakilabot. I don't want to see him ever again.

Galit na galit sa akin si Rob dahil bumaba pa ako at nagpakita pa kay Harvey. He belongs to the family Rob mentioned that someone from his group betrayed and stole money. He's only trying to protect me. Ayaw na sana niya makita ako ni Harvey in person kahit na kilala niya ako at alam niya mukha ko. Ngayon, pakiramdam ni Rob na nagka-interest pa sa akin si Harvey.

"Rob, we're okay. Kaya wag ka ng mag-alala. Nakauwi na tayo ng ligtas." I'm sitting on the edge of his bed. I'm so drained out with the incident.

"You don't know what you're talking about. Hindi mo kilala si Harvey gaya ng pagkakakilala ko sa kanya. He is a manipulative man. He always get what he wants. I'm not ready to lose you, Drew. Not anytime soon. Take good care of yourself. We should have never left home without a bodyguard. Kahit malapit lang or sandali lang tayo sa pupuntahan natin, hindi na pwede wala tayong kasama." Rob is pacing back and forth. "I have to make a call."

Sa sinabing iyon ni Rob, naisip ko na we are in grave danger. A knock interrupted my deep thoughts. I opened the door and I managed to smile a little when I saw Tita Margery, mother of Rob and Nathan.

"Hi Drew." Tita Margery nodded. "Where's Rob?"

"Hello po, Tita Margery." I pointed near the window. "He's speaking with someone."

"Oh. Anyway, he's not the main reason why I'm here. Can you come with me?" She asked. How can I decline? At ano naman kaya ang pag-uusapan namin?

"Sure Tita. I'll just tell Rob." Lumapit ako kay Rob at sinabi ko na sasama lang ako sa Mom niya.

We left Rob's room and went outside the garden. We took a seat under a Lemon Tree. One of my favorite tree in the Villavicencio's place. Hinihintay kong magsalita si Tita Margery.

"Drew, I've known you since you were a child. I watched you grow up and became close to my two sons. Technically speaking, you're Rob's girlfriend..." She paused. I don't like where this talk is going. I bet my life this will end badly. Can't I take a break first? After the incident with Harvey, I want to be in a deep slumber.

She continued, with fierce eyes. "I can't take the burden anymore. I want to let this all out. I know why Nate left for London. He confessed that he can't go on without you. That he fell deeply in love with you, but don't want to get in between you and Rob. He told me he can't take it anymore. Drew, you're family is close with mine and I treated you like my own daughter. We supported your education and we gave you a job. And this is how you repay me, my family?"

Ano bang pinagsasabi niya? Si Nate naman, buong akala ko, kami lang dalawa ang nakakaalam ng tungkol sa amin. I'll leave Ashley out since she found out about us accidentally. He told his mother all about us! I have to defend myself. Biglang bumuhos ang emosyon ko. Parang utang na loob ko lahat sa kanila!

"With all due respect Tita, I want to clarify that I owe you nothing. Maraming salamat sa support on my education. But I earned that through scholarship. Nagkataon lang na your family belongs to one of my sponsors. Secondly, yes, you treated me as a daughter and again, nagpapasalamat ako doon. Pero I did not force myself na gustuhin niyo ako. That is your choice. As for Rob, nandito pa din naman ako, kahit na paulit-ulit na niya akong sinasaktan. Alam kong alam niyo lahat yun. I never left his side. And Nate? I love your son. He is my bestfriend. Kung ano man ang meron kami, which hindi namin sinadyang mangyari, kami na ang bahalang mag-ayos nun. At kami na ang kakausap kay Rob. Huwag niyo naman sana kami pangunahan." Hindi ko akalain na masasabi ko lahat sa kanya yun.