CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
"VALERIAN" napalingon si Vhal ng makita ang taong matagal na panahon na niyang hindi nakikita.
Ma?
"Anak.." she inaudibly said parang ayaw iparinig sa lahat na tinawag siya nitong anak. "H-how are you?"
"I-I'm okay" he politely answered. Well, he couldn't disrespect her, nanay pa rin niya ito. "Why are you--"
"Vhal, hijo" bago pa niya matapos ang tanong ay sumulpot si Dr.Juancho Alfonso. " break a leg"
Sakto naman na nagflash sa screen ang pangalan ng anim na racers na nakapasok sa susunod na round.
And to his surprise, nandoon si Declan.
"E-Excuse me, I- I have to go" pumunta siya sa suite kung saan sila nakareserved at naabutan sila roon.
"Kuya Vhal!" Tawag ni Zacharie sabay paglingon sa kanila.
There he saw her, alam niyang kinakabahan na ito. Declan is out there on the field.
"He's here, Vhal. He's really here" she murmured, tama siya. "What happened to you?"
"I saw them, mom's here and --"
Hinawakan ni Natalie ang kamay niya. "We'll win this" she whispered. "Together"
No, Natalie. It's dangerous out there! gustong gusto niyang sabihin iyon but he knows how important this is for her.
Hindi pa nito alam but he knew.
Pagbalik niya kanina sa hotel ay naabutan niyang kinakausap nito ang housekeeper at inutusang bumili ng pregnancy test.
He was the one who bought it. She just asked for two but he added three more to make sure. Geez, paano kung totoong buntis siya?
Magiging tatay na ako?
"This is what she asked for, don't tell her that I know" ani niya sa housekeeper at inabutan na rin ng tip.
He read the instructions, ang sabi sa P.T ay 10 minutes bago basahin ang resulta and it looks like he have to wait for 10 long minutes.
Bakit ganoon katagal? He looks at his watch for every three seconds, isang minuto lang ay parang isang oras na!
Napakunot ang noo ni Vhal ng makita ang manager nitong si Erwin na papapunta sa kwarto nila.
Hindi pa tapos ang 10 minutes!
"Natalie!" Damn,did she tried it?
Wala pang isang minutong pumasok si Erwin sa kwarto ay lumabas na agad ito. "Bakit ba nagmamadali ka?"
He hid on the corner para hindi siya makita ng mga ito. "Manahimik ka na lang bading, tara na!"
He's gay? Erwin's gay?
Iniisip niya kung nasabi na ba ito ni Natalie but he don't mind at all. Bahala na!
Pumasok siya sa kwarto at dumiretso sa --- wait, 10 minutes and it's only 3 minutes have passed, so kailangan pa niyang magantay ng 7 minutes para malaman ang resulta!
Damn!
Hindi na siya nakapagantay! In just 5 minutes ay tumayo na siya at tinignan ang P.T.
It has two lines. One faint pink and the other one was clearly red.
I'm going to be a father..
Napaupo siya sa sahig at napasapo ng ulo. He can't help but to cry. Yes, Valerian Fernandez cried over a white stick with two red lines.
"Natalie.."
~¤~¤~
"MAHAL mo talaga ang anak ko, ano?" Napalingon siya sa ina ni Natalie. "Kahit hindi mo sabihin, alam ko"
"More than my life" he answered.
"Then, don't let her do this. Pigilan mo siya" pagmamakaawa nito. "I can't lose my daughter, Vhal"
Hinawakan siya nito sa kamay. He can't lose her too! Lalo na ngayong dalawa na sila, mas lalong hindi niya makakayanan.
"I want her back, Tita" he said. "Kung pipigilan ko siya, mas lalo siyang mawawala sa akin"
"Hindi mo alam ang sinasabi mo"
"But I do, alam ko po" he politely said. "She have supported me through the years, this time I'll do the same" he said.
"But you have no assurance! Hindi ikaw ang may hawak ng manibela kundi siya" alam naman niya iyon but he's already done making decisions for her.
This time, he have to let her decide. Hindi na niya gagawin ulit ang ginawa niya noon.
"I'll make sure she make it out there, Tita. I swear with my life"
Bago pa makaalma ang ina ay tapos na ang 30 minutes na binigay sa kanila. They need to be back on the track!
Kung kanina ay ramdam niya pa ang tension ni Natalie,ngayon ay hindi na. Napalitan ito ng determinasyon para sumabak sa loob.
"Natalie, whatever happens. Don't do anything stupid" he said.
"I'm not stupid" sagot nito sa kanya. Nasa loob na sila ng kanya kanyang sasakyan.
"You're not but you're angry." Ani Vhal. "Anger makes you stupid. Stupidity gets you killed"
He's right, Natalie. Focus and Drive
Muling tumunog ang baril at doon na muling nagsimula ang laban na matagal na niyang inaantay.
Ang laban na hinding hindi niya uurungan.
~¤~¤~
SHE can't believe it.
The fight is among them. Vhal, siya at si Declan.
They're the three who'll race for the golden cup.
"Calypso!" Tukoy sa kanya ng mga reporter galing sa iba't ibang bansa. "Was the rumor real, that you were once Mr.Valerian Fernandez lover and currently Mr.Declan Alfonso's girlfriend?"
Napakunot ang noo ni Natalie sa chismis na narinig. "No"
"Stepback" pagprotekta sa kanya ni Erwin. "We would not answer any of your questions!"
Ngunit sinisiksik na siya ng mga reporters. Napasapo si Natalie sa ulo, she feels suffocated.
"Oh, It's 2.6!" Napatingin siya kay Vhal na ngayn ay akay akay siya. "Sir!"
"Vhal, take her inside the suite" ani Erwin habang ito naman ay tumawag ng ilang securities.
"Hey, anong nararamdaman mo?" Tanong sa kanya ni Vhal, tila nagaalala. "Do you want me to bring you to the clinic?"
"H-ha? Ayos lang ako, nahilo lang ako sa flash ng mga camera at sa dami ng tao" she said at umupo sandali.
"Take this" inabutan siya nito ng biscuit. "You need this.." hindi niya alam kung bakit naman niya sinubo rin.
Oh god, she's hungry!
"Oh, tubig" he said "hindi ka pwede uminom ng pain reliever--"
"Bakit naman?" So she really hasn't figured it out.
"Natalie--"
"Vhal! Congratulations, ang galing ninyo -- oh, Natalie okay ka lang?" Guess who just ruined the moment again, yes, it's Riley.
"Kuya Vhal, Ate Nat! Congratulations" sumunod na pumasok si Lilie at lumapit sa kanya.
Nagkatinginan naman si Vhal at ang nanay ni Natalie sa mata. He kept his promise, she's still okay and would be okay until this ends.
"Valerian, you wouldn't believe who just called!" Anjo ran towards them kasabay si Gladys.
"Who?" Nakatuon ang pansin nilang lahat sa dalawa na tila excited sa nalamang balita.
"The league" tila napako si Vhal sa kinatatayuan. "Yes, you heard me right. The league wants you in!"
No way..
"What's with the league?" Tanong ni Cashmir.
"That's the world class organization of professional car racers. You have to win this race three times in a row before they consider you" and Vhal just won two consecutive race.
Maipanalo lang niya ito ay pasok na siya! This is more than of what he dream of!
"And they're considering you now!" Anjo exclaimed habang ang iba ay nagsisipalakpakan na.
Tumingin sa kanya si Vhal, she just smiled at him. She have to lose for him to gain that opportunity.
"Oh, the race would start in a few minutes, c'mon!" Tumayo na si Natalie ng hawakan siya ni Vhal sa kamay.
"I won't stop you, Vhal." She smiled. "You go and win this race, Vhal. I'll be right there behind you"