A Very Special Romance (BOOK 3 COMPLETE)

Chapter 12

Enjoy na enjoy siya sa pagkain at, nakakangiting tignan ang bawat lakas ng kain niya.

"You like her cooking, huh?"

"Very much. Sometimes, can you invite her to cook us food for dinner?" masyado siyang ma-attach kay Chaniel kapag nagkataon, ngayon, ang gagawin ko, avoid her. Hindi na kami pwedeng magkita, okay. Hindi na ako lalapit sa kanya.

I promised to myself long ago, I'll try to be brave to fight for the girl I love. But then, hindi lahat nang lumalaban, minamahal ng mahal nila. Hindi na ako mahal ni Chaniel, at maybe, she has boyfriend waiting for her, or will become her boyfriend. Whatever it was, ang pangalan nun, Stephen Carlos Santos. Ang lalaking engage sa kanya.

"May sasabihin ako sa'yo, Athena," I held her hands. "Chaniel and I have no connections with each other now. Kung ano ang mayroon kami noon, anak, I used to tell you she was my girlfriend...pero hindi na maibabalik pa ang dati, Anak. I hoped you understand me. We can't invite her, okay."

"Friends naman kayo, di ba? Sayang naman, I want her to be my Mom."

"Yeah, true."

"Apo," narinig ko si Grandma kaya napalapit ako kaagad na may panic na. I coped her cheeks and kissed her on the forehead.

"Are you okay, Grandma? I'm sorry that I am not there when you needed me last night. It was just I turned insane when I heard Chaniel is turning down my offer."

"Totoo ba? Wala na talagang pag-asa na maibabalik pa ninyo ang dating kayo?" umiling-iling ako na napangiti.

"Yes. Hindi na niya ako mahal, Grandma. And I respected her feelings. Kung hahabulin ko lang siya, hindi siya magiging masaya. Pinagtatabuyan nga niya ako. She already forgiven me, at yun ang mahalaga sa akin ngayon. At isa pa, hindi pa siya handa na pumasok sa isang panghabang-buhay na pangako. I'm sorry, Grandma. I can't do what you want. I'm sorry," I heartedly apologize. Pero, ngumiti lang siyang tumatango.

"Umaasa pa naman akong magiging masaya ka na."

"I am happy. With you, and Athena," I glanced at my daughter, and she mouthed I love you. "I love you, too."

"Hindi ka ba naniniwala sa pag-iibigan muli sa ikalawang pagkakataon? Maybe, she can love you again."

"Sige na, Grandma. Huwag na nating pag-usapan si Chaniel. Kumain ka muna," mukhang naintindihan naman niya ang nararamdaman ko, kaya, she just nodded her head. She can love you again? Hindi na ako mag-iisip ng pag-ibig. I was hurt already. Hurt na hurt. Hindi dahil nag-sorry ako sa pagsigaw ko sa kanya noong unang gabi, ang ibig sabihin, hindi na ako nasaktan. I was really really hurt, like my heart torned into thin sheets of paper.

Pagkatapos kong pakainin si Grandma, nakatulog siya ng bahagya ulit, saka, nagkwentuhan na lang kami ni Athena tungkol sa school niya. She will turn five years old next seven months, and I have decided to enter her in school. ANG LAYO PA, DI BA?