Escaping Strings

Chapter 26: Intrigue

“There's one more thing, tito.”

Martina looks at me, feeling bothered. I give her a smile before I look back to our parents.

“Tita, mom, dad....”

“Babe,” paghawak niya sa kamay ko nang para bang pinipigilan ako, “I'm not ready.”

“I am here. It'll be alright, hmm?” I caressed her cheek before I face all of them again.

“What is it?” Mom asked.

“We're having a baby.” And my heart skips a beat.

“What?!”

“Seriously?!”

“Since when?!”

Sunod-sunod na tanong nina mommy, Tita Irene and Tita Lia.

“Bakit hindi niyo sinabi sa amin?” pagmamaktol naman ni Cara.

“Sorry, hindi namin nasabi sa'yo,” sabi naman ni Diane bago nila tinawanan si Cara.

“Alam niyo? God, you are so unfair!” Napailing na lang ito.

“Magiging lola na tayo!” my mom to Martina and Diane's moms.

“Mukhang hindi na muna ako aalis ng bansa ah,” sagot ni Tita Irene.

Thank God, they aren't mad.

Tito Martin clears his throat, “I'm glad to hear that. Hindi mo na kailangan pang hingiin sa amin ang kamay ni Martina, sa'yong-sa'yo na siya.”

“Dad?! Bakit feeling ko, pinamimigay mo ako?!”

Napangisi lang si Tito Martin sa sinabi ng anak niya.

“Mukhang wala naman nang dahilan pa para hindi matuloy ang pagpa-plano ng kasal niyo, hindi ba?” Dad asks.

Wala na nga.

But Martina....

“Tito... kailangan pa po ba talaga naming maikasal? Paano po kung hindi namin mahal ang isa't isa?”

That... breaks my heart. She really hates marriage. Damn, Tito Daniel, help me!

“Martina, what are you saying?” Tita Irene frowned at her daughter.

“Hija, you have to get married. Do you want your child to grow up without having a name he or she deserve?” Tita Lia.

“Right, and we would never let anyone in this family bear a child without the name of marriage now or later. You have to get married and that is final, Martina,” Tito Daniel said na medyo nagpagaan ng loob ko.

I really want to marry her, sana gan'on din siya, pero mukhang malabo.

“But tito....”

Napasandal na lang ako sa kinauupuan ko kasabay ng pagbuntong hinga ko. I did not expect this. Akala ko, okay na kami. Akala ko talaga ay payag na siya.

“Babe, nasasaktan na ako," I muttered.

I know she heard it. Napatingin ako kina mommy at nakita ko kung paano umiling si Tito Daniel.

Tumayo si dad para lapitan kami, “Iiwan muna namin kayo. Ingatan mo si Martina.”

Tumayo kaming mga lalaki at isa-isa silang nagpaalam sa akin.

“You better talk,” Tito Daniel stated, patting my shoulder.

He face Martina before he hold her hand and gently squeeze it, “Ayaw ko sanang mangialam pero gusto kong pag-isipan mong mabuti ito. If you're thinking that this is still about the company, you're wrong. Think, Martina. I know you, you're a genuine Fortalejo. I know that you will choose the right decision.”

Umalis si Tito Daniel sa harap ng nakayuko lang na si Martina para lapitan ang anak niyang si Diane.

“The three of us have a conference. We better get going.”

“Sure po, tito.”

“Call me dad already.”

“Yes, dad,” I said and he smiled.

Tito Martin walk toward his daughter, “Baby,” he chuckles, “I guess, you are the one who will use that word now.”

Hinila ni tito si Martina para tumayo, “Like what your Tito Daniel said, the two of you will not get married because of the company anymore. It is for your child, Martina. You can't say that you do not love Matt, there's a living proof inside of you already. Hindi mo ito puwedeng takasan.”

“Dad...,” Martina just stared at the ground and I knew she's already crying.

“Babe, I told you not to cry. Gusto mo bang pumangit kayo ni baby?” I kid, comforting her as I caress her back.

“Matt, ikaw na ang bahala,” Tito Martin told me before he kisses her head and left with Tito Daniel and dad.

“Babe naman, nasasaktan na talaga ako,” I said between our hug.

“I hate you,” she muttered.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako.

“Martina, my daughter.”

“Mom,” she cried out hugging her mother.

“Please, don't do this. You should calm yourself, darling. Babalik kami ng mga tita mo para i-check ka,” she said as she wiped her tears.

“Hija, Matthew is a great man. If he did anything wrong, tell me. Ako mismo ang gugulpi sa kaniya. At kung mambabae? Ako mismo ang magngungudngod sa kanila sa kubeta,” my mom comforts her.

She smiled, “Thank you po, tita.”

“Mommy.”

“Thank you po, m...mommy.”

“My niece, don't cry on your mother's shoulder,” she laughs, caressing her hair, “You soon will be one too.”

“Tita Lia naman eh. Na-miss ko po kayo,” Martina hugs her tita.

“We better get going. My future son-in-law, ikaw na ang bahala kay Martina. I trust you.”

“Yes po, ti—”

“You better suit yourselves calling us like your own parents. It'll be fun,” natatawang sabi ni Tita Irene na nagpangiti rin sa akin.

“Yes po, mom.”

She smile before hugging me.

“Martina, 'wag masyadong magpapagod,” paalala nito bago muling yumakap sa anak niya.

“Aalis na kami,” paalam ni mommy sa amin saka yumakap.

Well, I didn't expect that this kind of situation would be this easy.

But what I did not expect more was her reaction. Yes, I know that she doesn't want to get married, but in our situation? I mean, we are having a baby! I thought, if I... fuck! This is hard, really. It's hurting me. Ito na nga talaga yata 'yung sinasabi ni Iris. Hindi, umpisa pa lang ito.