In Between The Sheets

Chapter 16

"I want to meet your father," saad ko at nabitin sa ere ang kamay ni Liam na inaabot ang susi ng sasakyan mula sa driver.

Nabaling ang atensyon niya sa'kin at tumagal ang titig sa mukha ko, tila ba may kung anong hinahanap na hindi ko mawari. Nang magsawa ay marahas siyang napapikit at napabuntong-hininga.

"I thought, we already talked about this..." nahihirapan niyang saad habang humihilig sa pintuan ng kotse.

"Kaya nga, but I think, it's time to settle your conflicts with your dad. Atsaka, we're getting married anyway. Hindi ba't mas maganda kung may basbas mula sa dad mo? Besides, kahit pagbali-baliktarin mo man ang mundo, tatay mo pa rin siya."

"I will marry you if I want to. I don't need his approval!"

I rolled my eyes with his remarks. The typical arrogant and boastful Liam is back at it again. Kahit kailan talaga ay walang makakapigil sa kan'ya. He's so authoritative, tipong kahit West Philippine Sea ata 'pag sinabi niyang kanya ay ipapaubaya ng China.

"Of course, you don't need his approval. We're just going to inform him as a sign of respect. Besides, I didn't know na tinulungan niya ako sa pag-aaral ko. May utang na loob pa rin ako sa kanya kahit papaano," I said while cupping his face.

"Why are you so kind? Hindi mo 'yon utang na loob, kabayaran 'yon, Serene!"

Nangunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya, "Kabayaran? For what?"

Naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng hawak niya sa bewang ko, dahilan ng pagtaas ng isang kilay ko. Why is he gripping me so tight?

"For his stupid decisions from the past," he said with finality and maneuvered me to get inside the car.

I was left confused because I didn't know what he's pertaining to but I just chose to shrug it off when I realized that his mood changed. He looks so serious and ruthless while driving the car. Malaya ko tuloy natignan ang braso niyang umiigkas sa tuwing mina-maniobra ang sasakyan dahil sa nakatuping long sleeve hanggang siko. Dahil doon ay nagsilabasan ang mga ugat sa kamay niya na nagmistulang maliliit na vines. I guess, I should thank his dad for creating him? Natawa ako sa naisip.

"What's funny?" tanong niya nang tumigil ang sasakyan dahil sa traffic.

"Wala!"

"Ano nanaman 'yang kababalaghang naiisip mo?"

"Wala, I'm just preparing my speech for your dad!"

"Well, you don't need to prepare a speech for him. Pasalamat siya at masyadong mabait ang fiancee ko at gusto pa siyang i-acknowledge kahit matagal ko na siyang binura sa buhay ko."

"Liam..." I warned but he just looked away.

"But yeah, you can have whatever you want. A happy wife means a happy life..." he said with a ghost of smile on his lips.

Wife? Nakagat ko ang labi ko upang pigilan ang ngiti.

"We have a family dinner tonight, I guess it's the perfect time to introduce you to our clan."

Naputol ako sa pagdedeliryo nang marinig ang tinuran ni Liam. What? Ngayon na talaga? As in ngayon na ngayon?

"Oh shit, what am I going to wear? Bakit hindi mo naman sinabing ngayon na pala 'yon?"

"Hindi ba't nasa schedule ko na 'yon bago tayo tumulak papuntang Silicon Valley?"

"Pina-cancel mo kaya akala ko hindi tuloy?!"