The Greatest Love Affair

(35) - The Second Wave

MIGUEL's POV

The morning before the second trial of my annulment, Simon and I talked about what could possibly happened later.

One thing's for sure, babaligtarin nila Shantal ang kwento. I know they'll not let go of me easily, lalo na at may alam ako sa mga negosyo nila at mga ginagawa nila behind their good image. They once wanted for me to be one of them, they once asked me to be part of their schemes, but I refused to do so. Kaya ko'ng kumita ng pera sa malinis na paraan at wala'ng tinatapakang iba'ng tao.

Hapon pa ang trial kaya lahat ng sasama sa'kin mamaya, nagdecide na maglunch 'nang sabay-sabay sa bahay nila Simon. Sinipag kasi magluto si Erin, kaya pumayag na rin kami. Mas gusto naming lahat na busog kami kapag humarap kami sa korte mamaya at sa pamilya ni Shantal. For sure, iinit ang ulo ng lahat.

From my annulment, sunod na binuksan ni Simon ang topic tungkol sa usapan na iniiwasan ko muna'ng isipin — my so-called parents.

It turns about that Simon and Erin knew about it already, well, hindi naman ako galit or anything, siguro hindi lang talaga alam ni Catherine ang gagawin niya kaya sinabi na niya sa dalawa para humingi ng tulong at payo. Besides, I don't see anything wrong about it. One way or another, sasabihin ko rin naman 'yun kay Simon na para ko 'nang kapatid at pati na rin kay Erin.

"Ano'ng plano mo?" tanong ni Simon sa'kin.

"Ano ba'ng dapat ko'ng planuhin?" tanong ko pabalik kay Simon at napailing ako, "Should I do something about them? At the first place, bakit ako? Diba sila 'to'ng umalis?"

Before I could continue my sentiments, Simon tapped my shoulder and interjected, "Kumalma ka lang kasi. Kapag pinag-uusapan natin sila, lagi ka'ng high blood, eh. Kung ganyan ka ng ganyan baka ikaw pa ang mapahamak d'yan. Okay?" he reminded me then he squeezed my shoulder, "Hindi ko pa 'to sinasabi kela Mama at Papa."

I frowned in confusion, "Shouldn't we tell them about it?" I asked him back.

Hindi nakasagot agad si Simon at 'nang bitawan niya ang balikat ko ay umiwas siya ng tingin at napayuko. Mabuti na lang at nasa kusina sila Cathy, Erin at Tita Amanda, sila Tita Sandy at Tito Victor naman parating palang, kaya wala'ng iba'ng tao'ng nakakarinig sa'min dito sa lanai nila Simon.

Wait, bakit parang hindi sang-ayon si Simon sa pagsasabi kay Tito Victor at Tita Sandy tungkol dito? Diba dapat siya pa nga 'yung una'ng magsasabi sa'kin na payag siya?

He sighed and that's the time that I knew that he's ready to answer me, "'Nung tinanong kasi ni Cathy si Tito Art..." I felt the hesitation in Simon's voice, parang hindi pa niya alam kung komportable ba siya na banggitin ang pangalan na 'yun, I just gave him a nod, to give him a signal that it's fine, "...anyway, tinanong niya si Tito Art kung gusto ba niya na magkita kayo, he said something like baka hindi pumayag si Papa."

I frowned again in confusion.

Hindi papayag si Tito Victor? Is that what he mean?

"Hindi papayag si Tito Victor you mean?"

Simon answered me with a nod.

"Ba't niya naman nasabi 'yun?" naguguluhan ko'ng tanong ko kay Simon.

Ever since Tito Victor took the responsibility of being my father, he showed me nothing but support and love. Kaya sigurado ako na kung sakali'ng gustuhin ko na makita ang magulang ko, he'll be the first one to say yes and be happy about it. Kaya hindi ko maintindihan ang gusto'ng iparating ng "tatay" ko na hindi papayag si Tito Victor sa bagay na 'yun.