Eighteen Days to Love You

Epilogue

"Vynnice!" nag-a-alalang salubong ni Mommy nang sabay kaming dumating ni Matteo sa farm.

I cannot believe that they travelled all the way here just to confront me! Even Ate Vea, Kuya Vino and Ate Max—EJ, too. They are all here.

"Jacqueline!" singhap niya pa nang agad na lumapit sa amin si Tita Jacqueline para sampalin si Matteo.

"You scum! An opportunist and a money-leeching bastard!" she accusingly said while pointing her fingers at him.

"Tita! Don't talk to him like that!" pigil ko sa kanya at pumagitna ako sa kanilang dalawa kaya ako naman ang sinampal niya.

"How dare you slap my daughter!" galit na sabi ni Mommy at pinigilan naman siya ni Daddy bago pa siya may gawin.

"Jacqueline, calm down!" pigil ni Tito Erik sa kanya.

"And how dare your daughter mock my son for having this cheap guy as her lover while she's engaged!" Tita Jacqueline accusingly said.

"Tita, I don't know what you're saying—"

"You don't know?! You don't know, Vynnice?" nanunumbat niyang sabi bago niya inihagis ang mga pictures sa akin. Bumaba ang tingin ko at nakita ko ang ilang pictures noong magkasama kami ni Matteo sa Vigan kung saan magkahawak kami ng kamay. "Alin ang hindi mo alam? Na malandi ka?"

"Jaqcuie!" sigaw ni Daddy. "Don't call my daughter names! I'm warning you! You're in our premises!"

"Wala pong kasalanan si Vynnice," depensa pa ni Matteo kaya muli siyang binalingan ng tingin ni Tita Jacqueline.

"Do you know who's really at fault? YOU!" bintang niya kay Matteo. "You're the one who ruined everything! And I cannot accept the fact that my son will be insulted this way! More so, by someone who has nothing compared to him!"

Napailing pa si Tita Jacqueline bago siya kumawala sa hawak ni Tito Erik. She looks disgusted by his mere sight as she gave him a look from head to toe.

"Oh, baka hindi mo naiintindihan dahil ingles?" she mockingly continued. "Ikaw ang may kasalanan! At naiinsulto ako na isang kagaya mo lang ang ipapalit ni Vynnice sa anak ko!"

"Mom, that's enough..." pigil ni EJ sa kanya. "It's okay. I'm sure Vynnice can explain. Right... love?" he expectantly added.

There is sadness in his tone when he called me using his term of endearment. I know that I am hurting him but what can I do? There is no mutual love in this engagement, it is only business for our families.

"I'm sorry, EJ..." is all I could utter. "I'm sorry."

"So, the rumors are true? Did you really elope with him?" tanong niya at napailing ako.

"No," mabilis kong iling. "I left because I needed to do that for myself before getting tied to our supposed marriage. But... but falling for him is not something that I can control."

"So, you love him?" diretsong tanong ni EJ at marahan akong tumango.

"I do," matapang kong sagot. Hurt and disappointment are visible in his expression, but I bravely looked at him in his eyes. "I'm sorry if this is hurting you but I will never be sorry for loving him," pag-amin ko at naramdaman ko ang pagpatak ng mga luha sa pisngi ko. "I know how disappointed you guys are. But I tried. For this family, I really did."

Mabilis kong pinunasan ang pisngi ko bago ko hinarap si Tita Jacqueline. "I know how angry you are right now and I'm sorry. But I can't let you insult Matteo in front of me, because this guy right here made me so happy and that is something that no business proposal or merger can give. Matteo filled me with love, Tita. More than the grandeur of this life and luxurious things, he gave me something that cannot be bought."