The Betrothed Maiden (THE DEVIL'S BABY MAKER)

LIX

LIX

*HARRA

"Haru, gusto mo ba talagang sumama sa 'min?" Tanong ni Kuya Uther.

"Opo." Nakangiti kong tugon sa kanya.

"Are you running away?" Tanong ulit ni Kuya Uther.

"Running away? From who? As far as I remember, I have no obligations here." Tugon ko habang nag-iimpake ng mga damit.

"Haru." Kinuha ni Kuya Uther ang kamay ko at marahang pinisil. "Are you going to be happy if we leave this country? You can decide for yourself now. Hindi mo kailangang sumama kung ayaw mo naman talaga." Nag-aalalang sabi ni Kuya Uther.

"Gusto ko. Doon ko gusto ipagpatuloy ang pagbubuntis ko. Ayaw niyo ba 'kong kasama?" Hindi ko mapigilang malungkot. Napabuntong hinga naman si Kuya Uther.

"Of course not. Ayaw ko lang na makita ka ulit na napipilitan lang. But if you really insist, Oji-san and Oba-chan will be very glad to see you again." Nginitian niya ako saka hinagkan sa noo at lumabas na ng kwarto ko. Nang magsara ang pinto ay napahiga ako at muling napaisip.

"Is this what you really want?" Agad akong napatingin sa veranda at doon ay may bulto ng lalaki na nakatayo sa gilid ng sliding door.

"N-Neien?" Biglang kumabog ang dibdib ko at napaatras sa head board ng kama ko.

"Relax, it's just me. Terrence." Tipid na ngiti niyang saad. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag.

"A-Anong ginagawa mo rito at paano ka nakapasok?" Tanong ko sa kanya nang tuluyan siyang makapasok.

"I'm extraordinary, remember? Sneaking around is just... basics. Anyway, I'm just checking you out. How are you, Haru?" Nakangisi niyang tanong.

"I-I'm fine. Kayo? Kamusta na kayo?" Pangangamusta ko.

"If you want to ask about Neien, he's dying and hopeless. Your strings were knotted into different ties. It's very confusing. Actually, hindi ko inaasahan na ganito ang magiging reaksyon niyo kapag nalaman niyo na ang totoo." Umiiling na sabi niya.

"Matagal mo ng alam?" Naguguluhan kong tanong sa kanya.

"Yes. I gave you a very obvious hint." Sabi niya habang pinaglalaruan ang bracelet ko na nakalapag sa study table ko.

"You mean..." Mahinang sabi ko.

"Yep. You're string is connected to the person who gave you this red ruby pendant. Hindi mo ba alam na ito ang family crest nila?" Tanong niya. Umiling ako.

"H-Hindi ko alam. Bakit hindi mo na lang sinabi sa 'kin? Sa 'min?" Salubong ang kilay na tanong ko sa kanya.

"Hey, it's not my job. It's your task. My job is to keep you together, string attached. This is your destiny and I have nothing to do with that. But if you insist on running away, you might break the bond. It happened five years ago and it may happen again but this time you're no longer connected to him ever and he will have his new string connected to someone else." Paliwanag niya habang diretsong nakatingin sa 'kin.

"T-To someone else?" Parang piniga ang puso ko sa isiping may ibang makakasama si Neien.

"Yes. Are you brave enough to leave him or love him too much to keep him? If you choose to leave there's a small chance that the string won't break." Hindi ko alam kung ano bang gagawin ko o anong sasabihin ko.

"I-I ..." Lalo akong naguluhan dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Also, he called off the wedding to be with Harra. He chose Harra over everything." Nakapalumbaba niyang sabi.

"Because he thought Haru is dead. Ganun lang niya kadaling palitan si Haru. Sa maikling panahon na nakasama niya si Harra ay agad niyang nakalimutan ang pagmamahal niya kay Haru. How am I supposed to trust him my heart if he keeps on breaking it?" Naguguluhan kong tanong sa kanya. Natahimik naman siya.

"Different names, same feeling. You know human is complicated. They are easily confused with what's real and what phantasm is. That's why they end up bringing reality and phantasm together. But if you try to take a closer look you'll see that what you are having is both illusions. Reality exists in dreams and dreams exist in reality. What's sure-enough are just your feelings. How you feel about reality and phantasm." Mahabang turan niya.

"What are you trying to say?" Tanong ko. Napangiti siya.

"Just follow your heart; it will lead you to your happiness." Nakangiting tugon niya. Napipilan ako.

"Haru? Sinong kausap mo?" Tanong ni Kuya Yuihara saka binuksan ang pinto. Agad kong nilingon si Terrence pero wala na siya at tanging bukas na pinto na lang ng veranda ang nadatnan ko.

"K-Kuya..." Nauutal kong tawag sa kanya.

"May kausap ka ba? I heard you talking." Nakangiting sabi ni Kuya Yuihara saka inilapag ang mangkok ng Oreo at baso ng carrot juice.

"W-Wala po. Kinakausap ko lang ang baby ko." Tipid ko siyang nginitian.

"You don't look like a pregnant woman. You're still beautiful and very charming." Pambobola ni Kuya Yuihara. Natatawa ko siyang binato ng unan.

"You don't need to shower me with compliments. I'm not like your women. I'll be fine with just 'Hi'. Hindi mo na kailangang mambola." Natatawang sabi ko saka sumimsim ng carrot juice. Actually lumalaki na ang baby bump ko. It's four months now.

"Is it safe for you to travel to japan?" Bakas sa mukha ni Kuya Yuihara ang pag-aalala.

"Sabi ng kaibigan kong OB Gynecologist, safe pa naman daw na sumakay ng eroplano. Don't worry." Nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya para mawala ang pag-aalala niya.

"Buo na talaga ang desisyon mo." Seryosong sabi niya. Tumango ako at pumapak ng oreo.

"I want a new life." Maikling tugon ko.

"I understand. Just always remember, we are here to catch you every time you fall just like when you're still a baby and you're just starting to walk. We are always behind you to catch you if you fall." Masuyo niyang sabi habang hinahaplos ang buhok ko. Agad ko naman siyang niyakap.

"Thank you, Kuya." Gumanti rin siya ng yakap. I felt somehow relieved though Terrence confused me by his words. If I fall I have a family who will stand for me.

If I leave him, there's no chance of us being together. But if I choose to stay with him, I'm putting everything at risk. No matter what I choose, one of us will end up hurting and broken. It's either I save myself or danger my life staying with him.

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Thank you for waiting~
If you were Harra, which will you choose? It's a tough decision.
Enjoy reading and keep voting~
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