Chapter 34
Fuck! How to say 'I wanna marry him' without actually saying it?
"Aren't you tired?" Ace asked after my last statement.
Ngumiwi ako.
"Tired? Isang araw ako nandito, watching TV with Asher. I'm so bored as hell I wanna have fun,"
I smirked.
His left brow arched a bit but he didn't say a word. He walked, passing me. Sinundan ko siya sa paglalakad hanggang sa kwarto namin. He laid down Asher on its new bought crib.
"Wala ka bang plano?" I said, trying to sound like it wasn't a double meaning.
Nilingon niya ako. Naglakad ako palapit sa kama at umupo roon. He sighed.
"Aren't you tired?" he asked me again.
Hinarap ko siya, naiinis na. Pero hindi ko iyon ipinakita sa kanya. What's with him?!
"Hindi nga ako pagod, Ace. Kung gusto mo... pagurin mo ako."
His jaw clenched. There's something on his face I can't name. It's something deep... vast, I don't know. What's with him?!
"Maaga pa nama—"
"Avianna..."
Lumapit siya sa akin at nakiupo rin sa kama, magkatabi na kami. My breath became heavy, para akong nalalasing sa kaunting kilos niya.
"What?"
He looked at me in the eye. Sobrang daming emosyon ang makikita sa mga mata niya. His face looked different tonight.
Indeed, eye can't lie.
Halos manayuan ang balahibo ko nang hawakan niya ang aking mga palad at dinala iyon sa labi nya at hinalikan ang likuran ng aking palad. I gulped. He closed his eyes as if savouring the moment.
"I love you," he softly said.
He opened his eyes to see my reaction. Although, I have heard it at times already, I am still amazed and mesmerized that I can't help but to part my lips. I can clearly see the sincerity in his eyes and voice as he says those three words.
"Ace..." naubusan ako ng salita. Sobrang namamangha pa rin ako.
I bit my lower lip. He kissed my palm again. Agad nag-init ang gilid ng aking mga mata. We stared at each other for a minute.
Natigil ako sa pagtitig sa kanyang mga mata nang maramdaman ang pag-angat ng aking kaliwang palad at naramdaman ang isang malamig na bagay na isinuot sa daliri ko.
Agad akong nanlamig sa kinauupuan nang makita ang malaki at magandang bato na nakadikit sa singsing na isinuot sa akin. Natigil ang aking paghinga nang makita kung gaano kaganda at kakinang iyon.
It's a well-carved platinum that shone. Umawang ang labi ko. I lifted up my eyes and faced Ace. Agad tumulo ang mga luha sa aking mata. His face became soft. Hinaplos niya ang pisngi ko at hinawi ang mga luha roon.
He smiled weakly. "I want to marry you. I want you to marry me. Damn. I want us to get married."
"Ace..." my voice broke.
"Please, marry me. Avianna, will you be my wife? Will you marry me?" he desperately said.
Hindi ako nakapagsalita, sadyang nanghihina pa ako sa ngayon. Damn! I can't believe it will turn this way. I just can't believe it.
"I'm marrying you because I am in love with you, not because I have a child with you." he kissed me softly.
"Ace..."
"Avianna..."
Nagtama ang aming paningin. Bakas ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. I lifted my hand to wipe his tears. I smiled alluringly.
"I love you and yes, I'll marry you Ace Caspian Vesper Walton VII." I said and planted a kiss on his lips.
"Papakasalan kita hindi dahil responsibilidad mo, kun'di dahil mahal mo ako. Mahal natin ang isa't isa." ngumiti ako nang matamis.
He smiled at me. Napahawak ako sa singsing, sobrang ganda nito at nahihinuha kong sobrang mahal din nito. I wonder how much it costs, it seems really expensive.
"Tomorrow, I'll face your father." sabi ni Ace. Naiangat ko ang paningin sa kanya. "I would ask his permission to marry you. Hihingin ko ang kamay mo, that is the least thing I can do."
Umiling ako. I still can't believe this is happening. This is already too much and now he's asking for my father's permission. He really takes it seriously.
Napayakap ako sa kanya. "Aren't you gonna regret it? It's a lifetime commitment, Ace. You really want to settle down?"
Hinarap niya ako. "With you, I will."
Napangiti ako. "I love you,"
He kissed the tip of my nose. "I love you."
Kinabukasan, maaga pa lang ay dumating na ang parents ni Ace sa hotel at agad hinanap ang apo nila. Ipinaalam nilang ipapasyal daw nila, wala naman akong isyu roon kaya pumayag ako.
Bukas ang lipat namin sa bahay ni Ace, hindi pa naman ako nakakapunta roon pero ngayon ay nae-excite na ako. I wonder how it looks like. Buo na ang desisyon kong sumama sa kanya, especially now that we're already engaged.
Napangiti ako sa tuwing naaalala ang kagabi, it may be not the most romantic proposal, for me it was one. We're now committed for this. No retreat, no surrender.
"Nandito na tayo," Ace announced.
He parked the car on the company's parking lot. Lumabas siya sa kotse at lumiko para pagbuksan ako. Ngumisi ako bago kunin ang kamay niyang nakalahad.
"Thank you," I smiled sweetly. He grinned.
Pumasok kami sa building at halos mabali na ang leeg ng mga empleyado sa kakasulyap sa amin. Hindi ko mapigilan ang guminhawa at mapangiti. Bumabalik na sa dati ang kompanya... It's such a bliss.
"Ako na," sabi ko sabay pihit ng siradora sa office ni Daddy. Bumukas ito. Nagkatinginan kami ni Ace bago pumasok sa loob.
Naabutan naming nagpipirma ng mga dukomento si Daddy. He didn't even notice our presence. That is how busy he is. Hindi ko mapigilan ang manlumo at malungkot sa kalagayan niya ngayon.
Bumuntong hininga ako. He looks older than his age. Dala siguro ng stress at mga recent issues and problems regarding the company. At wala man lang akong nagawa at naitulong bukod sa deal na inaproba ni Ace.
Tumikhim ako. "Dad,"
Slowly, he lifted his eyes. Eyebags are visible below his eyes. Sobrang kulubot na ng balat niya at namumuti na rin ang buhok. I felt dismayed for myself, I was a rebel brat back then and my parents always understood me. It's time to pay back the favor.
My father's face lit up the time he recognized me. I smiled at him. He stood up from his swivel chair and suddenly crossed the distance between us. He hugged me.
"Oh, Syden. I missed you so much." as if he's about to cry. Nag-init ang gilid ng mga mata ko ngunit pinigilan kong maluha.
"I missed you too, Dad." I tapped his back.
"Where's my grandson? I badly missed that li'l kiddo, too." ngumiti siya. "You should visit me more often so I won't get bored,"
"Uh..." nilingon ko si Ace. Dad didn't notice him, now that I glanced at Ace, he glanced at him, too.
Gulat na gulat si Daddy nang makaharap si Ace. Ace extended his hand.
"Pleasure to meet you, Sir. Ace Walton," pormal na sabi niya.
Napalunok ako at nilingon si Daddy. Wala siyang kibo at halos mapako na sa kinatatayuan. Ang kamay ni Ace ay nakalahad sa ere ngunit hindi pa rin ito ginalaw ni Daddy.
He didn't accept Ace's hand. I could feel the tension raging on my father's face towards Ace.
Lumapit ako kay Daddy at marahang hinaplos ang braso. Umiigting ang bagang niyang nakatingin kay Ace. Ace didn't show any expression.
"Uh... Dad..."
Marahas ang pagbaling ni Daddy sa akin. Matalim ang mga mata niyang tumingin sa akin, tila isang galit na tigreng halos lapain na ang kaaway.
"Bakit nandito ang lalaking iyan, Syden?" mariing tanong niya, sapat lang para marinig ni Ace.
I glanced at Ace to see his reaction but he's just plain cold and had no expression shown. Bumuntong-hininga ako at hinarap si Daddy.
"Dad... Won't you accept his hand? He politely introduced himself, please..." mahinahong sabi ko.
He shook his head. "Ano'ng ibig sabihin nito, Syden?" nalilito man, ramdam ko ang pagpipigil ni Daddy na sigawan ako.
My heart beat nervously. I know I have been a bad daughter ever since but only once of my life did Dad shout at me. It was when he forced me to make the deal signed.
Pero ngayon, hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling ang galit niya. Was it for me or for... Ace? Why would he be mad at Ace, though?
"Dad... I know this is too sudden but—"
"Syden!" he burst out. Natigilan ako.
Nakita ko pa ang paglapit ni Ace sa akin pero pinigilan ko siya.
"Stay away from that man, Syden. He's no good for you!"
Umawang ang labi ko. Hindi ako makapaniwalang masasabi iyon ni Daddy. Is he that insensitive? Hello? Ace's just behind him!
I saw how Ace clenched his jaw. Marahas akong napabuntong-hininga at matamang hinarap si daddy.
"Dad... He's my boyfriend! And you can't just demand me of what I'm going to do! We're here to tell you t—"
"Syden, listen. I am not against with your decisions in life especially if it's about love, okay? But..." huminga siya nang malalim. "Honey... He's a notorious heartbreaker! I won't let anyone hurt my princess."
Umawang ang labi ko. Somehow, it melts my heart. Kahit gaano pa ako naiinis ngayon, his last words made me feel wobbly and teary-eyed.
"Dad..."
"You're so fragile, Syden. Just like your mother..." may dumaang sakit sa mata niya.
I feel his pain. My mom is my Dad's greatest downfall. Nandoon ako noong panahong wasak na wasak siya at halos wala nang planong mabuhay ngunit pinili ko pa ring hindi siya samahan at i-comfort.
"I only want the best for my one and only... daughter, Syden." lumiit ang boses ni Daddy.
I hugged him, real tight. Umiyak na ako. I love my father very much, he's my first love and seeing him in this state makes my heart break into pieces.
"This is what the best for me, Dad. You were the reason why I met him, you urged me to—"
"And I already regretted that!"
"Pero hindi ako. I'd never regret meeting the father of my child. Dad, he's my fiance now. We're engaged already,"
"What?!" nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Mas lalong bumakas ang poot at galit sa mukha.
"I am here to ask for your permission, Sir. Hihingin ko po ang kamay ng anak niyo... Mahal ko siya at handang pakasalan. And I'm true to my words, Sir." sabi ni Ace.
I glanced at him then back to my father. Mas lalo yatang nadagdagan ang galit ni Daddy. Parang kinukurot ang puso ko, I thought I'd be happy now. Mukhang hindi pa ako tuluyang maging masaya.
"Dad... Please..."
"No..."
"I love him, Dad. Maging masaya ka nalang po para sa amin!"
Nagulat siya sa sigaw ko. Tila ba natauhan sa kung ano. Nakita ko ang bahagya niyang paglunok bago sumulyap kay Ace. He glanced at me. He shook his head.
"You can leave now—"
"Dad!" gumaralgal ang boses ko.
"I don't wanna see his face again, Syden. Do you hear me? Make him leave. I don't care if he's the father of my grandson! Leave!" sigaw niya na halos pumiyok.
Nilapitan ako ni Ace at hinaplos niya ang braso ko, pinapakalma.
"Papalamigin muna natin ang ulo ng Daddy mo. Let's go," he whispered.
Bumuntong-hininga ako. Hinarap ko si Daddy.
"We'll leave, alright. I always love you, Dad. And I also love Ace. Stop urging me to choose between you two, ayaw ko pong masaktan ka."