6:32 AM
You:
Denver just told my parents that he loves me and that he's courting me!
My parents are flipping out! Wasak isep I tell you huhuhu
Piper:
Oh my God! Hahaha!
Livestream please hahaha!
You:
Wow! Thank u sa support P! I'm shaking here!
Piper:
Hahaha update?
You:
They're talking in my Dad's office!
They won't let me in!
It's an interrogation!
You know how hysterical my Mom could be and my Dad becomes
this big scary bear when it comes to boys!
Piper:
Well, Denver's a bear too right? I mean he's your denbear
You:
It's really nice talking to you piper
Piper:
Jk hahaha
U have nothing to worry about
Even if your parents like him or not, denver never giving up
That guy is like you when it comes to memes—unstoppable
You:
What a reference P
Biglang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina ni Daddy kaya naman agad akong nag-angat ng tingin at napatayo mula sa kinauupuan.
"Mom?" Nagulat ako nang lumabas si Mom mula sa office na umiiyak. Agad akong lumapit sa kanya at niyakap siya nang mahigpit. "Mom what happened?" tanong ko.
Mom hugged me tightly, kissing the top of my head over and over again. "I am beyond proud of you Braylee. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel otherwise. You and your brother are the most precious thing this world could ever give me. All I wanted was to protect you, to keep you safe, to keep you from committing mistakes that you will regret–hindi ko alam na nasasakal na pala kita. Anak, I never wanted you to be perfect. I wanted you to be happy. You were never a disappointment, Braylee. You're more than just a girl with ALS. You're our sweet precious Braylee and I love you so much, don't you ever forget that."
I cried along with my Mother. We both cried out loud as we both hugged each other. Something about her words filled up the hole that has long bothered my heart.
Moments later, Dad came out of the office and joined our hug. The three of us were crying but it was not a moment of weakness; instead it felt heartwarming, like we filled this gap that all of us have been trying to ignore. And even if Kuya Bryan wasn't with us, I still felt his presence guiding us from up above. I just hope that when I die, my parents will be okay.
****
"Seriously, Denver? Anong sinabi mo sa mga magulang ko?" I asked Denver for the nth time as he drove me to my working place; the nature park.
"Sabi ko naman diba, they just asked me how we met so I told them how we first met. They also asked about my personal background and what are my intentions. That was all," Denver chuckled as he glanced at me from the driver's seat.
"So you told my Dad that you were once an F-boy?" My eyes grew wide.
"I was never a fckboy!" Denver insisted, the smile on his face was no longer there as he defended himself.
"Yes you were! Haji told me!" giit ko naman.
"Sinasabotahe lang ako ng bumbay na 'yon!" giit naman ni Denver. Hindi ko maiwasang matawa sa reaksyon niya. Mukha siyang batang inis na inis. Ang cute!
"And why are you laughing huh?" Denver asked as he suddenly pulled the car over to the side of the road.
I gulped when Denver suddenly faced me. Our faces, just inches apart. Looking at his eyes I could tell what his next move is going to be. I don't know how it happened but Denver and I could have this sudden understanding just by looking at each other's eyes.
"Kiss me and I will never talk to you again!" pagbabanta ko bago pa man niya gawin ang binabalak niya.
Agad siyang napangiwi. "Ba't napaka-lambing mo sa iba pero pagdating sa'kin nagtataray ka na?"
"Just drive, Denver Hawthorn," pabiro ko na lamang siyang tinarayan.
Nang marating namin ang Nature Park, dali-dali kong tinanggal ang seatbelt ko at humarap sa kanya. Matapos mapahinto ang makina, kunot-noong humarap sa akin si Denver, nagtataka kung ba't ako nakaharap sa kanya.
"Whatever you said to my Parents, thank you. You're the best bear ever, Denbear!" I said with a smile as I grabbed his face and planted a kiss on his cheek. It was the first time I ever iniated a kiss on someone other than my parents kaya naman hiyang-hiya ako. Sa sobrang hiya ko, hindi ko na tiningnan pa ang reaction niya, nagtatakbo na agad ako palabas ng sasakyan kaso dahil sa ginawa ko, nadapa na naman ako sa damuhan.
"Braylee!" narinig kong sigaw ni Denver kaya naman dali-dali akong tumayo habang pinapagpagan ang pantalon ko.
"Okay ka lang?" alalang sambit ni Denver nang hawakan niya ang mga braso ko at sinuri ito.
"Not my best landing but i'm still cute anyways!" pagmamalaki ko. "Thanks for the lift! Goodbye, ex-enemy!" paalam ko at nagtatakbo na papasok ng nature park kung saan naroroon ang building namin.
"Braylee! 'Wag kang magtatatakbo!" sigaw ni Denver na humabol parin.
Huminto na lamang ako at nilingon siya. Saktong lumapit naman sa akin ang isa sa mga guard dala ang isang logbook. "Good Morning ma'am!" bati niya sa akin.
"Good morning po!" Bati ko agad sa kanya sabay tanggap ng logbook para mairecord ang pagdating ko. Nang akmang isusulat ko na ang pangalan ko, biglang inagaw ni Denver ang logbook.
"Denver ano ba! Ako ang dapat magsulat diyan!" giit ko. Napalingon agad ako sa guard pero tumawa lamang ito at napakamot sa kanyang ulo na para bang nahihiya.
"Ah eh, Good Morning po boss! Magpapatawag po ba ako ng meeting sa mga staff? Hindi po namin alam na darating ka ngayon," bati nito kay Denver bagay na agad ikinakunot ng noo ko.
"Boss?" Agad akong napatingin kay Denver.
"Wala po, sinamahan ko lang po 'tong girlfriend ko," nakangiting sambit ni Denver sabay akbay sa akin. Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Denver at mukhang ganun din ang guard.
****
"You bought the nature park?!" I couldn't help but yell as Denver and I walked along the park trail.
"Dad and his colleagues invested to keep this place running." Mahinang sambit ni Denver habang pinagmamasdan ang mga puno sa paligid. "The owner of this Nature Park was about to file for bankruptcy three years ago. I told Dad about it and he liked the idea of me, trying to manage a nature park after I graduate. I wanted to tell you but then your brother died and it was a really bad time," he added.
I wasn't convinced with what he just said. I stopped walking and grabbed him by the elbow.
"Your Dad won't just buy a Nature Park just because you asked him to," I said.
Denver sighed as if he's giving up. "I know how important this place is to you and your family. This can't just go to waste. Plus my Dad had always wanted me to pursue business so I thought, i'll just hit three birds with one stone--try to run this as a business, put to use my interest and knowledge as an ecology student, and save the place you love the most."
For a second there, I was amazed at Denver. For him to ask something this big from his Dad considering they weren't in good terms for such a long time... that's just amazing.
"Wait so I was hired here because of you? Not because of my abilities and credentials?!" I couldn't help but be disappointed. Akala ko pa naman hardwork ko ang nagdala sa akin sa dream job ko.
"Oh come on, Teddy," Denver chuckled.
I sighed. "And for the record, i'm not your girlfriend."
"Galit ka ba?" tanong ni Denver kaya agad akong umiling.
"Tara, lakad-lakad muna tayo 'dun," pagyayaya ko na lamang patungo sa direksyon ng bangin na lagi naming pinupuntahan.
****
"I can't believe you're my boss," muli akong napabuntong-hininga habang kapwa kami nakaupo sa dati naming pwesto; sa parehong lugar kung saan ko siya unang dinala. Napapalibutan kami ng mga bulaklak at mula rito ay rinig na rinig namin ang mga alon na tumatama sa baba.
"You seem disappointed," Denver sighed.
"Well, I thought I earned the job because of my own effort. I didn't think---"
"Nalaman ko lang na dito ka nagta-trabaho nang bumalik ako. Wala akong kinalaman sa pagkaka-hire sa'yo. You deserved to work in this Nature Park Braylee. I saw your proposal about that Treehouse and it's amazing," he insisted.
"Now you're just pulling my leg," I jokingly rolled my eyes.
"Dad and his other investors approved your Treehouse. They liked the idea of having your Treehouse built near this cliff," Denver said and in a snap all I thought about was my brother.
"They approved the Treehouse?" I couldn't hide my happiness. I smiled from ear to ear.
"Everyone liked the idea and your proposal blew them away. The investors want us to work together for it right away," Denver said with pride.
"What if my condition worsens before we finish the Treehouse?" I couldn't help but worry.
Denver fell silent. He didn't answer. He just looked at me wih a blank expression.
"Promise to finish the Treehouse for me?" I asked.
Once again, Denver answered me with silence.
END OF CHAPTER 64!
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