Si Promdi made at Si State side

Chapter 35

It has been a long tiring day. And not to mention, chaotic. And a very surprising reunion. But alls well that ends well.

When he showed up at church, hindi nya agad itinakbo palabas ng simbahan ang nobya. Hinarap nya ang lalaking pakakasalan sana nito. Kamuntik pa syang matawa nang makita ito. If he didn't know how serious the situation was, baka isipin nyang gino'good time lng sya ni Rostica. Baka nga nakisali pa sya and play the role of a priest.

It was just ridiculous. The old man would pass as a living mummy. Payat at sobrang tanda na nito. There are patches of white hair on his head na parang pinadilaan sa baka dahil kapit na kapit ito sa isang side ng ulo nito. He couldn't believe that her father agreed to have her marry that old man. It was unbelievable.

He can still remember when the old man almost hit him with his baston when he told him that she will not marry him. That he will be the one she is going to marry. Kamuntik pa itong mawalan ng balanse at matumba kung hindi nya naagapan. 

"You didn't tell me na may classic ka palang admirer dito?" He said bago naupo sa tabi ni Rostica sa mahabang bangko na kawayan. It's located at the back of their house underneath a big mango tree, overlooking what seems to be a rice field. May mga nakikita din syang tanim na mga ibat-ibang uri ng gulay aside from fruits. He don't know a thing about farming, but it looks like the land is still fertile. Sayang lang at mukhang pinabayaan. 

"Iniisip ko lang, paano kaya kung di ka dumating? Ano kayang nangyari?" Wika nito. Matamlay pa rin ito at Malayong-malayo sa Rostica na kilala nya. 

"Would you have said yes?" Kunotnoong tanong nya. 

"Baka." 

"Care to explain?" Kahit na medyo nabwisit sya sa sagot nito, he tried to calm his nerves. Siguradohin lang nito na magugustuhan nya ang idudugtong nito sa "baka" nito. His still tired and all. Baka magahasa nya ito ng wala sa oras kung magkamali ito ng sagot.

"Di ko kasi alam kung hanggang saan ang pansamantalang kaligayahan ko. Baka kasi bukas o sa makalawa, may ipapakasal na naman sa akin si tatay na pinagkakautangan nya." Wika nito habang umiiyak na. "Baka kasi, sa susunod hindi ko na kayaning gawan ng excuse si tatay kung bakit nya hinahayaang mangyari ito sa amin. Baka sa susunod, matoto akong kamuhian sya at hindi na mapatawad." 

He stayed silent. He didn't know what to say. Didn't know what to do kaya hinayaan nya lang itong magsalita at ilabas lahat ng nasa loob. He just did one thing though, at yun ay yakapin ito. Paharap syang naupo dito ng patagilid at kinabig ito palapit sa kanya. 

"Nate, bakit ganun si tatay? Bakit sya naglaganyan? Does he not love us as his family anymore? Bakit sya pumapayag na gawin akong pambayad utang?" 

"I don't baby.." wika nya habang hinahagod ang braso nito.

"Alam mo bang natatakot na ako sa kanya. Paano nalang kung maisipan nya akong ibugaw para lang may pambayad sya sa pinagkakautangan nya? Para may pambili sya ng mga bisyo nya? Paano kun--" 

"That will never happen. I will never let that happen." Wika nya dito. He lifted up her chin and had her looking at his eyes. "Nothing bad will happen to you, because i will never allow it. Hinding-hindi na mangyayari ito o alin man sa kinatatakotan mo. Mamamatay muna ako o may mapapatay muna ako bago ko hahayaang may mangyaring masama sayo." He said. 

Hanggat nabubuhay sya, poprotektahan nya ang babaeng nasa kanyang bisig. Sisiguraduhin nyang wala ni sino man na may masamang balak ang makakalapit sa babaeng minamahal. Kahit sino. And he meant kahit sino. 

A fresh batch of tears following from her eyes again. Agad nya itong pinusan. "Hush.. hon.. stop crying now." Kinabig nya uli ito at niyakap ng mahigpit. "I didn't say those words to make you cry. It was supposed to cheer you up."

"It did. Tears of joy ito. Malayo sa mga iniyak ko kanina." Wika nito bago sya niyakap ng mahigpit. "SAlamat at dumating ka. Salamat at hindi mo ako pinabayaan. Salamat dahil nandito ka. Salamat.. salamat dahil mahal mo ako." She added before tightening her embrace. "Mahal na mahal kita, Nate. Mas lalo ngayon." 

Ay syet! Nakakabakla. Gusto tuloy bumukas ng tear duct nya dahil sa sayang nararamdaman. Magpasabog ng confetti at magpakain ng buong baryo. But of course dahil manly sya, hindi sya tumambling at nagsplit. Sa halip niyakap nya ang kanyang Rostica ng buong puso. 

"Mahal na mahal na mahal kita." Bulong nya dito.