Perfect Opposites (Book 1 and 2)

Chapter 22: Pride Speaks

Claudia's POV

"Hello po, madame."

Mabilis na tumayo at binati ako ng secretary ni Keith nung makita niya ako.

"Nasa loob ba ang boss mo?"

Tumango siya sakin. "Opo. Kakatapos lang po ng meeting ni sir. Bakante po siya ng 15 minutes pero may darating po na—"

"I don't care if he has another appointment. Mas importante ang pag uusapan namin. Let them wait. I'll go inside now."

Hindi na siya nagsalita at yumuko lang ito to show some respect to what I just said.

I opened the door without knocking.

Agad umangat ng tingin si Keith sa akin saka napakunot ang noo.

"Granny?"

"Don't bother to stand," sabi ko nung makita kong tatayo na sana siya para salubungin ako.

Umupo nalang siya ng maayos. Tumigil ako sa harap ng mesa niya saka tiningnan siya ng seryoso.

"What are you thinking, Keith?" I tried to calm myself down kahit na galit ako sa kanya dahil sa nangyayari sa kanila ni Ria. Napakunot-noo siya. "Sa tingin mo ba hindi ko malalaman ang totoo?! Why did you allow this to happen to your family??"

He suddenly knew what I was talking about dahil halata ang pag-iba ng reaksyon niya.

"Granny, it was not my fault. She was the one who decided to leave the house and took the kids with her."

Of course it was his fault! Manang-mana talaga sa ama niya na mahilig magpalusot. He was really a very proud man.

I smirked. "At wala kaman lang ginawa para pigilan sila??"

Napailing siya saka yumuko.

Napabuntong-hininga ako dahil sa sinagot  niya. I expected him to answer that question. Kilala ko siya. Mataas ang pride niya. Akala ko dati ay nabawasan na kahit konti ang pride niya dahil natuto na siyang magmahal ng totoo.

When he was a kid, sobrang masayahin siya at puno ng pagmamahal ang puso. Napakalambing pa. Pero nawala lahat ng yun nung namatay ang anak ko, ang daddy niya. Nabawasan ang pagkamasayahin niya. Naging seryoso siya sa buhay lalo na nung nalaman niya na sa kanya ipapamana ang negosyo. Ginawa niya ang lahat para maging proud sa kanya ang daddy niya. All his life, he thought about how to take our business to the higher level. Puro negosyo ang inuuna kaya tuloy pati puso niya ay nagbago na. Akala niya lahat ng tao na nakapaligid sa kanya ay parang cliente kong itrato niya. He wanted everything in his own way and he would get frustrated if he wouldn't get what he wanted. He thought and acted like a businessman even when it came to love.

"Dinalaw ko sila kanina sa apartment na tinitirahan nila," sabi ko na kinaangat ng tingin niya. I knew it. He loves them dahil kung hindi, hindi siya magiging interesado sa sasabihin ko. Ma-pride lang talaga itong apo ko. "Nalaman ko rin na pumunta kana doon. The house is too small for them. Bakit hinayaan mo silang doon tumira?"

"I offered Ria to stay in my condo. She declined. You know her, granny."

"I knew she would reject it. Iisipin ni Ria na iniinsulto mo siya. Nakikita ko namang kaya niya buhayin ang mga bata. You know what, nakita kong masaya naman ang mga apo ko doon kaya hindi na ako masyadong nag-aalala para sa kanila. Ria said that the kids are enjoying their life now. They're living an ordinary life yet they look contented. Sanay narin si Kelly magcommute araw-araw. She even made friends sa kapitbahay nila at naglalaro sila sa labas. Klyde is also growing into a happy little boy. Mana sa mommy niya," I told him with a smile on my face.

I said those on purpose. I wanted Keith to realize something.

Nakita ko kung paano umiba ang itsura ni Keith. I saw sadness and pain in his eyes. Tumahimik lang siya sa narinig mula sakin, but I knew he was very affected.

Alam kong nasasaktan siya.

"You better fix this, Keith. Huwag mong sanayin ang pamilya mo na wala ka sa tabi nila. Baka isang araw ay magising ka nalang na wala na sila sa buhay mo."

Gulat na tumingin siya sa akin pero agad din napalitan iyon. Bigla siyang sumeryoso saka siya sumagot, "I know time will come that they will come back to me," kampante na sabi niya.

"And what made you say that?" Taas-kilay na tanong ko.

"They will miss living a luxurious life especially Kelly. Someday, mahihirapan sila sa gastusin especially that Ria don't earn that much. When the kids start to ask a lot, and she can't give them what they ask, she will realize that she needs me. She will need my help to provide for them. Pag nangyari yun, babalik din sila sa akin."

Nainis ako sa narinig ko. Lumapit ako sa apo ko saka binatukan siya. He's impossible!

"Granny, what the??" reklamo niya sabay hawak sa ulo niya dahil sa gulat.

"Bakit ganyan ka mag-isip? Akala ko matalino ka? Alam natin pareho na hindi mangyayari yang iniisip mo! You know how strong and independent your wife is. Kaya niyang maghirap at magsakripisyo para maibigay lahat ng kailangan ng mga anak niyo. That's one of the reasons why you fell in love with her, right? Mamuti lang ang mga mata mo kakahintay na mangyari yang sinabi mo. Kaya pull yourself together, Keith! Act as a husband and a father! Be mature! Hindi kana bata!"

Marahas siyang napabuntong-hininga at parang problemado na tumingin sa akin. Na-realized niya na ba kung ano ang totoo?

"I am mature. It's just that... I don't know what to do. I tried talking to her, but she's so difficult. Tama ka nga, I married a strong-independent woman at ang hirap niya suyuin. I was offended seeing them so happy without me. But I have an ego too, granny. I don't want to beg on my knees to ask for her to come back. Magmumukha lang akong kawawa. You know that I am not like that. Hindi ko ugali na gawin yun."

Tama siya. Kilala ko ang apo ko. Alam ko na hindi siya ganun. Hindi siya yung tipo na magmamakaawa. Ako tuloy ang naaawa para sa kanya. He didn't look fine at alam kong pinipilit lang niya na magmukhang okay dahil ayaw niyang magmukhang mahina sa harap ko. But I could feel how he longed for his wife and children.

He needed to change. He needed a push.

I stood straight and calmed myself down and gave him a sincere advice that I hoped that could wake him up.

"You already lost your fiancé because of that pride, Keith. I hope you won't lose your wife and children because of that too. It will benefit you the most if you put that pride away for the sake of your family."

Tumalikod na ako pagkatapos kong sabihin yun. I left him pondering on what I said.

It is up to him now.

21 June 2017
Miss Kae 💋