Unexpected

Chapter 34*

Mabuti na lang talaga, mabait pa rin si Dinno.

"Yes! Di ako late!"  boses pa lang, alam ko na kung sino ang bagong dating. Si Kaysha, kararating lamang at halatang galing sa pagtakbo dahil sobrang hingal na hingal siya.

"Relo na nga niregalo ko sayo para di ka malate, eh bakit ganito?"  parang naiinis na litanya ko sa kaibigan.

"Pasensya! Hindi naman kasi tumutunog yung relo, paano ako magigising non?" she looks so pissed.

"Sige, next time alarm clock na lang talaga ireregalo ko."  at napaikot lang ang mata niya sa akin.

Naging maayos ang maghapon, kasabay naming mag-lunch ni Kaysha si Renzo just like the usual at noong hapon na at malapit nang magdismissal, nakareceive ako ng text mula kay Renzo.

| Hindi na pala ako makakasama, biglang dumating si Daddy from Palawan and he wants me to go home early, sorry Je. Babawi ako sa'yo tomorrow! I love you. |

I just said that it's okay, na mabuti na rin 'yon para surprise yung isusuot ko. Hehehe. Pero ewan, nalulungkot ako. 

Then the ball rang.

"Ano? Maghahanap na tayo ng gown?"  

 RENZO's POV

flashback --

Habang yakap-yakap ako ni Tita Anna, (Yoanna's mom) at humahagulhol sa balikat ko, we suddenly heard Ninong Rod's voice, his weakest voice. 

"Y-yoanna .. "

Sabay kaming napalingon ni Tita. Agad siyang humiwalay sa akin at nilapitan si Ninong, ako nama'y agad na lumabas para tawagin si Yoanna.

"Yoanna! Si Ninong Rod gising na!"

Sabay kaming bumalik sa ward, doo'y naabutan namin na umiiyak pa rin si Tita Anna. Lumapit din si Yoanna at hinawakan ang kamay nito.

"Yoanna, how're you?"  nanginginig na tanong ng ama.

"Daddy!"  mas lalong lumakas ang iyak ni Yoanna.

Bilib din ako kay Ninong, nagawa pa niyang kumustuhin ang anak sa kalagayan niya. 

"Mommy, what are you doing? Call the doctors now!" halos hindi magkamayaw na sigaw ni Yoanna.

"Promise me, Daddy. You will not give up. We still need to make a lot of memories together."  ngumiti lang si Ninong at bigla itong tumingin sa akin, doon lang ako nagkalakas ng loob na lumapit kay Ninong.

Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Ninong at hindi ko sinasadyang mahawakan rin ang kamay ni Yoanna na nakahawak dito. 

"I want you to be together. Yoanna loves you, and I beg you, give her a chance. She deserves to be happy." nanghihinang tugon ni Ninong, napalunok na lang ako at di alam ang sasabihin.

"Daddy, how could you say that in your condition? You should've think of your own good. Let's talk about this after your recovery, but for now, you need to regain your strength."

Ngumiti si Ninong, "I think I've reach my finish line. All I want now is to get some rest."

"NOOOO!!!" sigaw ni Tita Anna, and with that the apparatus beeps and the line went straight.

 The doctors came in, they tried their best to revive my Ninong but they were too late!

-- end of flashback

"You're just in time, go change your clothes. We'll spend dinner together with your Tita Anna." daddy said while fixing his necktie. 

Yoanna flew back to States with Tita Anna after the burial. They just want to move on and tried to get back things normally. Akala ko kasama sa pag-move on na 'yun ang ay paglimot sa napipintong kasal namin ni Yoanna. Pero ang sabi ni Dad, babalik din daw sila after a month para pag-usapan ang kasal namin. Syempre, namatay nga naman si Ninong alangan namang isabay namin doon ang kasal. And besides, Yoanna didn't want to talk about the marriage which is really in my favor. 

Alam kong nagalit siya sa akin at may posibilidad na umatras na siya sa kasal. Sana ganun nga ang mangyari, pero hangga't hindi pa ulit kami nagkakausap ay hindi ako matatahimik. I want to hear straight from her that she doesn't want to marry me anymore. Dahil kung ganun ang mangyayari, maiintindihan ni Ninong kung bakit hindi kami pwedeng magpakasal. At pag nangyari 'yon, mawawala na ang bigat sa dibdib ko. I can finally spent my whole time with Jelynne with no worries.

We first visited the cemetery, doon ay nakita ko muli si Yoanna, she looks okay now compared the last time. Siguro nakabuti talaga ang hangin sa States. Hindi na rin siya umiiyak. Nakangiti lang siya habang inilalapag ang bulaklak sa puntod ng ama.

--

Naging tahimik lang kami ni Yoanna during the dinner. Tita Anna and Dad do the talking, they talked how the business going and other business matters.

"Uhmm, about the wedding."  Tita Anna started. I felt sudden goosebumps, sana hindi na matuloy. I silently wish.

"We all know that Renzo and Yoanna were friends since they were young. We've seen how close you are, how you love and care for each other. Now that my daughter will soon reach the legal, I think it's time for you to get married. I can't think of any reason para patagalin pa ito."  Tita Anna said with so much confidence. 

I saw my Dad smiling which is a sign of approval.

They can't think of any reason para hindi matuloy ang kasal? Did they even asked me if I want to marry Yoanna? 

"Let's get married. I once lose an important guy in mylfe, I don't want to experience that again." Yoanna pleaded as she holds her hand.

"You're engaged. It means you're really getting married. Uhm, unless Renzo change his mind and -- "  Tita Anna was cut off by Dad.

"Of course not, there's no way Renzo will back off. Right son?"

Hindi ako makasagot. It's like I'm really obliged to marry Yoanna that I don't have any right to say no.

"Remember what Daddy had asked you?" tanong ni Yoanna.

I was cornered. Mas lalong napanghinaan ako ng loob. 

"O-of course .. " kahit ako ay hindi makapaniwalang nasabi 'yon. "I'll marry you."