Life With You

9 - This Is It

"So ngayon kahit puro matatanda ang kasama mo, ok lang sa'yo?"

"Kung sila Lolo Pablo at Dada and Mama ang ibig mong sabihin, I don't mind." irap niyang sagot. She's cute when she's like that.

"Bakit ang taray mo?" puna ko.

"Sinong mataray?" sabay irap niyang muli.

"Wala, yong baka kako mataray. Tingnan mo nang hahabol." pag iba ko na lang ng usapan.

"Why so many cows?" Bigla niyang tanong sa kumpol ng mga baka, malayo man ay kita pa rin.

"Malawak ang lupain ng mga magulang ni Lolo Pablo noon. May palayan at nagaalaga rin sila ng mga kalabaw at baka. Yon na ang nakagisnan ni Lolo Pablo at hindi niya yon inalis kahit malayo na sa linya ng negosyo niya ang pagaalaga ng mga yan, I guess in memory of his parents. Kahit nong magka pamilya na siya. Dito rin niya na meet si Lola Minerva kaya mas lalo niyang nahilig ang pag aalaga. Biro nga ni Lolo siya daw ang kalabaw at si Lola ang baka." ngiti kong kwento. "Lalo na at madalas gustong gusto ni Lola ang sumakay sa kalabaw." mahina kong sabi.

"Why I don't see any carabao now?" tanong ni Jade at bigla akong natahimik. "Althea?"  tawag niyang muli.

"Because of the incident happened years back. Lola fell off habang sakay siya ng kalabaw...it was a bad fall and at her age mahihirapan na siya sa mga procedures if she'll ever undergo an operation..." halos pabulong kong kwento sa mga pag alala sa mga nangyari.

"I'm sorry...for asking..." as I felt her hand on mine.

"It's ok Jade. Lolo kept the cows dahil na rin nalilibang siya and for Lola. Hindi naman siya galit sa mga kalabaw, it's just the memory of that incident I guess." sagot ko at napatango lang siya. "Actually isang dahilan ni Lolo ay ihahanda niya raw yan para sa kasal ko dahil pakakainin niya raw ang buong bayan." Wala sa loob kong sabi. "That was before he knew about me liking girls. I was high school then."

"I see." nasabi niya lang.

"It's nice to know that your family accepted us. I mean they allowed you to marry me." pag iiba ko ng usapan.

"I guess it's more than monetary reasons. Dada would always tell us how Lolo Pablo believed in him all these years. How your Lolo trusted him so much. How your Lolo become an inspiration to him. How Kuya Gab ang Kuya Paul had their own business because of how Lolo Pablo supported them."

"So it's out of gratitude?"

"I don't know, maybe. Or could be a huge debt and Dada could not refuse Lolo. But know what Althea? Lolo has been a part of our family though I'm not that close to him. Sabi nga ni Dada parang siya daw ang naging Papa niya when Angkong passed away. Our relatives disowned him for marrying Mama and he felt it even more when Angkong was gone, our relatives kept their distance. Lolo Pablo was there at my Dada's lowest moment." kwento ni Jade. I don't know pero the only memory I have with Tito Oscar was he was always at Lolo's side whenever Lolo would bring me to his office before. He'a one of the few people who remained with Lolo. "And besides sabi ni Dada you're a good granddaughter daw and can be trusted, you'll never take advantage of me." gising niya sa pag isip ko sabay ngiti niyang baling sa akin. "And he's right."

"I'll take that as a compliment." balik ko sa kanya saka ako tumingin muli sa kumpol ng mga baka at naramdaman kong bumaling na rin siya doon. Gusto kong ipagtapat na wala naman talagang utang ang pamilya nila sa amin, na hindi siya pambayad utang.

"Althea, do you imagine yourself having a family?" bigla niyang tanong.

"Hindi ko alam kung kaya kong magka pamilya, Jade. I'm afraid I can't be a good wife and a mother." I confessed.