My Make-Believe Boyfriend College Hottie Series : Bobby and Ashley

Chapter 44 : The Healing In Progress

ASHLEY

"HAVE YOU EVER asked mom if she wanted to be with you despite you being poor?"

Tinanong ako minsan ni Robert Aldus ko kung sasama pa rin ako sa kanya maski na maghirap siya at gumapang sa lusak.

And I said yes. Without having second thoughts.

Because I love my Robert Aldus.

Malungkot na tumango si Daddy. "Yes. She said still wanted to be with me."

Tears stinged my eyes.

Napalunok ako. Bigla akong naawa sa mommy ko.

Hindi ko siya masisisi kung maging alcoholic man siya ngayon.

Her one great love left her. It was painful to even think of it.

Let alone that painful truth happened to her.

"Then why?"

It was the most bitter why I let out from my lips.

My heart went out to my mom.

Bigla ko siyang na-miss ng sobra-sobra.

Despite her weaknesses and flaws, alam kong ipinaglaban ako ni Mommy para sa spot ko sa buhay ni Daddy. She really did.

"I had to protect her. Sasaktan nila ang mommy mo..."

"Nina Ang kong?" tanong ko na ang tinutukoy ko ay ang paternal grandfather ko.

"No. Your Auntie Maris's family. Malaking kahihiyan para sa angkan nila kapag hindi ko ituloy na pakasalan si Maris. The whole chinese community knew we were bethroted. At hindi kayang tanggapin iyon ng buong angkan nina Auntie Maris mo kung sakaling umatras ako at pakasalan ang mommy mo..."

Naitakip ko ang isang kamay ko sa bibig. "God..."

"I had to protect my Anna Linda, Ashy... They will surely hurt her. I didn't want her to suffer. I love her..."

He uttered mommy's name with so much fondness.

With so much love.

"I love her so much... Until now... Please know that in your heart..."

Napatingin ako kay daddy. Nakita kong namumula ang mga mata niya. He had bloodshot eyes from suppressed tears.

He swallowed hard. "Two decades had passed and I still love her." He smiled sadly. "My Anna Linda."

I bit my lower lip. Ilang beses akong pumikit-pikit para pigilan ang napipintong pag-iyak.

Malungkot siyang ngumiti. Tears were welling up in his eyes. Hindi na niya iyon itinago pa sa akin.

"Mahal ko siya mula noon hanggang ngayon. I loved her the moment I set my eyes on her."

He laughed, quite sarcastically. An empty laugh with a dry humor in it.

"Hindi mo alam kung ilang beses akong umiyak sa harapan niya para tanggapin niya ako maski na kasal na kami ni Auntie Maris mo. And she did--"

"We both got weak at that point in our lives because we love each other--so in love with each other," he continued. "Hindi mo rin alam kung gaano ako umiyak nang makipaghiwalay siya sa akin dahil marami na kaming nasasaktan sa bawal na relasyon namin..."

Hindi ko magawang makapagsalita. I was stunned from his revelations.

"Hindi mo rin alam kung ilang beses akong umiiyak nang palihim sa tuwing nababalitaan kong may bago na siyang boyfriend. At hindi mo alam--"