AGS 1: The Love Investment (PUBLISHED)

47. Security Check

Ang lalim ng buntonghininga niya bago ibinalik ang tingin sa akin. This time, nakikita ko na ang pagsuko sa titig niya.

"Jaesie, my mother knows I don't flirt with hookers. Everyone knew I don't usually fling with random ladies I don't know."

Nararamdaman ko ang bigat sa mga salita ni Rico habang nakatitig sa mga mata ko. At ayoko ng pakiramdam na parang binibigyan niya ako ng dahilan para lalong matakot para sa aming dalawa.

"Your mother like anyone else aside from me, Rico."

He shook his head. "Hindi si Mum ang makikisama sa mapapangasawa ko kundi ako. Don't bother yourself, Jaesie."

"I am bothered."

Hindi siya nakasagot. Nanahimik din ako.

Nagbuntonghininga na naman siya at tumango. "The Tanciongcos are good business partners with my family. Amiga ni Mum si Tita Maria. Aira, their daughter, is an acquaintance."

"Sila dapat ang kikitain mo ngayong araw."

"Nasa schedule pero canceled nga, di ba?"

"Pero nasa schedule. You considered."

"That was my schedule last April. May na ngayon, Jaesie."

"Still, she's considered."

"The date is considered, not specifically her. That's a family meeting. Of course, I don't cancel family affairs."

"But you already did."

"Exactly!" Nagtaas na siya ng boses. Mukhang naiinis na siya sa usapan. "Last April, you weren't even on my schedule. The wedding this May wasn't even on my calendar. Living under the same roof as you wasn't even on my agenda. Cancelling my pre-existing plans today is no different than adjusting my schedule for you. It's not about the Tanciongcos, all right? It's about us. And I can cancel all my business appointments for the whole month just to stay with you, so you don't have to worry about my whereabouts if I go missing. Can't you understand that?"

I kept my mouth shut para lang hindi ko masalubong ang biglaang pag-init ng ulo niya. And it wasn't like I wanted to argue with him. Gusto ko lang maghanap ng security na hindi siya padadarag sa salita ng mama niya.

May tiwala naman ako kay Rico, pero sa mama niya, wala.

Sobrang bigat ng buntonghininga ni Rico at inubos na agad ang lamang tubig ng baso niya kahit hindi pa ubos ang pagkain niya sa plato.

Nakonsiyensiya tuloy ako. Wrong timing ang usapan namin.

"I know my priorities, Jaesie," sabi niya sa mas mahinahon nang tono, parang sumusuko na sa naunang usapan. "And I'm here for you as my top priority. So don't ask why I chose to work here today rather than at my other businesses kasi kapag pinili ko ang ibang business ko, hindi mo na ako makikita pa ulit. And I don't want that to happen."

♥♥♥

RICO SECURED his words about us and me as his wife, pero lalo lang niya akong tinakot sa mga salita niya.

Pinili niya ako, okay, that was sweet. Pero naiisip kong kapag hindi pala niya ako pinili, that was the end of us, parang gusto ko na lang siyang ikulong sa condo ko.

Balisa ako habang naka-supervise dapat sa kanya. Sobrang tagal kong natulala habang iniisip na paano ko ba siya babakuran bilang asawa niya kung, legally speaking, hindi pa naman talaga kami kasal?