Chapter Nine
Napahinga siya ng malalim as they enter their family's estate here in London. Nakatira sila sa isang exclusive village, what can she say? Their family is just filthy rich kaya hindi na nakapagtataka iyon.
"Rich kid ka nga talaga Leian! Look at your house!" Erin gushed as the car enter the gate of their house. "Oh, scratch that. I mean mansion!"
Napaismid siya, she hate that house. It does not hold any happy memories to her. "Hindi ako ang mayaman, my parents are." Tipid niyang sagot.
"Why did you start in scratch back in the Philippines? I mean you are filthy rich here in France but you opted to build your company with your own money?" Erin asked again.
Nahiya tuloy siya ng napatingin ang parents nito sa kanya. Nate is just sitting quietly beside her. Kaharap nila sa limousine ang parents ng binata, si Erin at Keenan.
"Is that true hija?" Tito Richard asked her, nahihiyang tumango lang siya. "That's quite impressive hija, you build your company on your own and you're just 26, that is such a big achievement." Puri nito.
She felt her self blush. "Thanks tito." She said shyly.
"You better start calling us mom and dad now hija, you see... You're getting married in a few weeks time. Hindi ka na naman iba sa amin " Nakangiting saad naman ng tita Elena niya. Mukang gustong-gusto talaga siya ng ginang.
Naalala niya tuloy ang totoong rason ng lahat ng nangyayari. Bago pa makabuo ng kung anu-anong ideya ang utak niya huminto na ang sasakyan sa tapat ng double door ng kanilang bahay. She already informed her parents na dadating siya pero much to her dismay, parang wala lang ito sa kanila. Well, what's new? Hindi na siya nasanay.
She breathed deeply as she get out of the car. Saktong bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa kanya ang matagal ng butler kanilang pamilya, si John.
"It's a pleasure to see you again miss Leian." He bowed his head a bit. "It's been a while now." He greeted. He is wearing his usual poker face, ganyan na talaga ang itsura ng butler nila ever since. Nasanay na lang din siya, he may look tough but he is kind on the inside. He is more like a father to her, knowing her relationship with her parents.
Sinimangutan niya ito. "Drop the formalities John, will you? And it's nice to see you again." Niyakap niya ito. "I miss you, and of course ate Lora." Tukoy niya sa kanilang chef na isang filipina. Kumalas siya mula sa pagkakayakap dito. "It seems like you've gained a few wrinkles John. Perks of being in their early 60's huh?" She teased.
Tumikhim lang ang matanda at tumingin sa kanyang likuran. Obviously dropping about the issue of age.
Doon niya naalalang may mga kasama pala siya. Binalingan niya ang mga ito, Nate is now standing beside her. "John, I want you to meet, Tita Elena, Tito Richard, their daughter Erin and her boyfriend Keenan. And this is Nate....."
"Her future husband." Nate cut him off extending his hand to John.
John raised his eyebrows and look at her knowingly. Tinanggap nito ang kamay ni Nate. "Pleasure to meet you sir." Iginiya na sila ni John papasok ng receiving area.
"We can stay in the lanai, is it okay John?" Tanong niya, mas maganda kasi ang view doon. Mas relaxing dahil sigurado siyang may tensyong magaganap maya-maya lang.
They settled themselves their enjoying the view of the famous Eiffel Tower, this is Paris, France anyway. Nate took a seat beside her and held her hand. She look at it then look at Nate's face. Is he nervous or what? He looks constipated or something.
"John, where are they?" Tanong niya na ang tinutukoy ay ang mga magulang niya.
"They're coming, I already instructed one of the maids to call them. They will probably here any minute now. I'll let the maids serve some refreshments." John explained.
After awhile they heard some footsteps nearing them, napalingon ang mga ito bukod sa kanya. Napayuko siya, is she ready to face her parents again? She felt Nate's reassuring hand on hers.
Narinig niya ang pagtikhim ng kanyang ama.
"Richard Montejo. This is my wife Elena." Rinig niyang pakilala ng daddy ni Nate.
Nag-angat siya ng tingin, bahagyang nagkamayan ang mga ito. "Leandro Sandejas." She heard the monotone voice of her dad. It held seriousness and authority. "My wife, Carina." Nagbeso ang kanyang mommy at Tita Elena.
"To what do I owe this visit?" Her dad said in a business-like tone.
What's new? Ni hindi man lang siya binati ng parents niya. She swallowed bitterly. She wanted to say that she's there but nevermind. That won't change a thing.
Tumikhim si Nate, pinisil nito ang kamay niya. "I'm here to ask your daughter's hand in marriage." Walang pasakalyeng saad nito.
She saw her dad's eyebrow raised ang kanyang mommy naman ay napatutop ng bibig.
"Are you pregnant?" Tanong ng kanyang dad. Sa wakas ay napansin din nito ang presenya niya.
"No dad." She answered curtly. Well, she hope so.
"So you love my daughter then?" Binalingan ng kanyang ama si Nate.
Napatingin siya kay Nate, how will he answer that question now? They are doomed!
"Yes sir." To her surprise Nate answered looking sincerely to her father.
Pinigilan niyang mapakunot ang noo sa narinig pero natigilan ng marealize niyang kailangang umacting ni Nate kung ayaw niyang malaman ng parents niya ang totoo.
"We didn't started right, I mean I pushed my self into her eventhough she is well guarded. She built this invisible walls around her and I must admit sir, it's not easy to break those walls. It took me a lot of effort just to break it. But if I will be given to go back to those times I wouldn't change a thing at all. I don't care if we didn't start good, what matters is we love each other and I think that what make things right between us. So here I am..." He chuckled lightly, siya ay nakatanga na lang sa binata. "Asking your daughter's hand in marriage because I want her to be the girl whom I'll spend my lifetime with. As the famous song say, I want to marry your princess and make her my queen." Nate said looking intently at her father's eyes. Nauna pa itong nagpropose sa kanyang ama kesa sa kanya.
She look at her parents, it's like they are digesting what Nate just said.
Tumikhim si Nate ng walang nakuhang reaction sa mga ito. "I am really serious ma'am, sir, that's why I brought my parents with me. Mamanhikan na po sana kami."
"You really love my daughter huh? If you don't mind me asking, what can you give to my daughter? I mean what do you do for living, we just met and I think I can not just pass my daughter's hand to someone whom I barely now." Gusto niyang mapataas ng kilay sa sinabi ng kanyang ama. Kailang pa itong naging concern sa kanya? Nakakapanibago lang. Or maybe he is just interested with business again.
"I graduated Business Management in Yale sir." Her parents looked impressed, kahit siya ay namangha. Achiever talaga ang magkapatid na Montejo, Erin studied in Harvard at si Nate ay sa Yale. "I'm currently the CEO of our family's company, Montejo Network."
Napasinghap ang kanyang mommy. "Montejo Network? You mean the largest TV network in the Philippines?" Namamanghang tanong nito.
Tahimik lang na nagmamasid ang mga magulang ni Nate, maging si Erin ay nakikinig lang din sa usapan. Mukhang hinahayaan nilang pangatawanan ni Nate ang pinasok nitong gulo.
"Yes ma'am."
Her mother's eyebrow raised. "He's a good catch Leandro, bagay sila ni Leian. He runs one of the biggest company in the Philippines. He is smart, handsome and rich. What can we say?"
Napangiti si Nate, paniguradong naboost nanaman ang ego nito.
"But our daughter is a good catch too Carina." Saad ng kanyang ama. "She built and established her own company at the age of 26."
Gulat na napatingin siya sa kanyang mga magulang. How did they now about it? The last time she checked walang pakialam ang mga ito sa kanya.
"She do?" Manghang tanong ng kanyang ina.
Bumagsak ang kanyang balikat. Sinasabi na nga ba niya.
"Ilang taon ka na nga ulit sa Manila Leian?" Her mother asked.
Now you'd ask? Kating-kati na siyang isumbat iyon sa kanyang sariling ina but she get a hold of herself. May mga bisita sila.
"Almost four po." Nakayukong saad niya, she doesn't want them to see the hurt that is surely visible in her eyes.
"Ma'am, sir if you don't mind me interrupting. Please let us not talk things that would make my girlfriend uncomfortable." Nate pressed her hands reassuringly. "I don't want to be rude but honestly speaking, I dragged her all the way here just to speak with you because I want you to be there in our wedding even thought I don't find it necessary anymore besides she managed it all by herself for the past few years. Nang siya lang at wala ni isang tulong o suporta man lang mula sa inyo."
"Nate..." Pigil niya dito, hindi na maganda ang itsura ng kanyang daddy. He is clenching his jaw samantalang ang kanyang mommy ay hindi na makatingin ng maayos sa kanila.
"This is our family, stay out of it young man." Her dad said seriously.
Pero sinalubong lang ng binata ang seryosong tingin ng kanyang ama. "I am her family now sir. My family is her family now, we become her family when you refused to be one." He said seriously with those peircing eyes. Ayaw man niyang aminin pero napahanga siya ni Nate. He is such a brave man for talking to her father like this. It's like he became her voice, lahat ng hinanakit niya sa kanyang magulang ay isinatinig ng binata para sa kanya.
Tumikhim ang kanyang ama. "Okay, let's plan for your wedding then."
Rinig niya ang pagbuntong hininga ni Nate sa tabi niya. It is surely a sigh of relief.
"Perhaps we can exchange cellphone numbers, so we can coordinate to you about the wedding." Baling ng kanyang ina sa mommy ni Nate. Nagkamayan naman ang kanilang mga daddy.
Maya-maya pa ay nagpaalam na ang kanyang mga magulang dahil may lakad di umano ang mga ito. Pero bago sila tuluyang makaalis ay nilingon siya ng kanyang ama.
"Leian, can you stay for a couple of days? I was wondering if you can spend time with us before your marriage. I know this is too much to ask but we surely have a lot of catching up to do."
She saw her mother's faint smile. Pakiramdam niya ay may bumara sa kanyang lalamunan at hindi siya makapagsalita. Tumikhim siya.
"Y-yes dad."
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A/N:
A glimpse of Nate Montejo on media.