Chapter 23
Robot
"You'll love my friends in New York. Masaya silang kasama!" sabi ko kay Jace at hindi mawala sa akin ang pagiging maligalig dahil sa pagdating ng aking mga kaibigan.
I already told him that my friends are gonna fly from New York to see me here in Manila, but he didn't seem excited for me though. His stoic expression remained as it was, the moment I told him that I have an upcoming trip in the next few days.
"Hindi ka ba masaya para sa akin?" Humalukipkip ako at saka umayos ng upo. "Namiss ko ang mga kaibigan ko at binalik ko pa ngang pumunta ng New York kahit isang linggo para sa kanila. It's a good thing that they are the ones who's flying here."
He heaved and sighed. "I'm happy that you're gonna meet your friends again..."
"Why don't you seem like it?" I crossed my arms at him.
"When you say friends... is it just gonna be all girls or what?" he asked me, very curious of what gender my circle of friends composed of.
My lips protruded as I kept quiet because I think I finally knew what he was jerking about. He didn't want me to meet my guy friends in New York again.
I didn't know if I was just assuming or he was some kind of jealous. Pigil na pigil tuloy akong ngumiti dahil baka mas lalo siyang magsungit dahil natutuwa pa ako sa kanyang pinapakitang reaksyon kaysa panatagin ang kanyang loob.
"Hmm... Dalawa ang kaibigan kong babae at tatlo ang lalaki," sabi ko sa kanya.
His jaw clenched, and I saw how he tightened his grip on the steering wheel because his knuckles got conspicuous. The speed of the car also slightly accelerated that I sat properly on the shotgun seat. He noticed my movement, and the car slowed down.
"In total, your circle of friends consists of three girls and three boys," he said. "Every time you're going out with them, it's just like a triple date."
Nilingon ko naman siya at nakumpirma ko na ang aking hinala kung bakit siya nagsusungit. Paano niya ba kasi naisip ang ideyang 'yan? Triple date? Ni hindi nga 'yan pumapasok sa isip naming magkakaibigan.
In our circle, there's only one couple―Monique and Wendell. Both Easton and Sadie have a relationship with someone outside our group... and well, I also belong to the both of them now. And Austin's still single. We were both single before that's why we hanged out a lot.
Madalas ay nagkakasabay-sabay ang date nang mga relasyon sa grupo naming kaya naiiwan kaming dalawa ni Austin. Though I wasn't complaining about it because he was a good companion, but I knew he had feelings for me that was why I wanted to somehow keep a distance from him.
"Hindi kami gano'n..." sabi ko kay Jace. "Kapag umaalis kaming lahat ay kaming mga babae ang laging magkakasama. My closest friend in our circle is Monique. She's a girl."
"That doesn't change the fact that you have guy friends you're hanging out with," he argued.
Humalukipkip naman ako at saka nagtaas ng kilay sa kanya. "Ikaw nga ay lagi mong kasama si Isha noong nasa New York pa ako at hanggang sa bumalik ako. Marami akong ibang kaibigan na pwedeng makasama. Ikaw naman ay laging siya lang."
Hindi ko naiwasang isiwalat ang kinikimkim kong damdamin. Pasalamat nga siya na hindi ko siya pinapalayo kay Isha dahil alam kong may pinagsamahan sila at may trabaho silang kailangang tapusin na magkasama. And besides, after all those assurance he gave me, I was able to give him my full trust that he won't break my heart.
"Why are you suddenly picking on me when we're talking about you?" he asked me with his defensive tone.
"Because they just fall on the same matter," I said and averted my gaze away from him.
He sighed."I already told you that you don't have to be jealous of Isha."
"Wala ka rin namang dapat ikaselos sa mga kaibigan kong lalaki at kahit kay Austin pa 'yan dahil kaibigan ko lang sila at hanggang doon lang 'yon," sabi ko naman sa kanya.
In my peripheral vision, I saw him glance to check on me. Nanatili lamang ang tingin ko sa harapan at nakahalukipkip pa rin.
"Fine..." he said in defeat. "When will they arrive again?"
Gusto kong mangiti dahil sa kanyang pagsuko at sa aking tagumpay pero pinigilan ko ang aking sarili.
"On Saturday," I simply answered.
"Kahit saan man kayo pumunta ay sasama ako," desidido niyang sabi.
"Wala naman akong sinasabi na hindi ka kasama, e..." sabi ko na lang.
Hindi na siya sumagot kaya naman nilingon ko siya na ngayo'y nangingiti habang nakatingin sa kalsada na aming tinatahak.
"Bukas pala ay huwag mo na akong sunduin papasok," sabi ko sa kanya nang makitang nalalapit na kami sa bahay.
"Why not?" he asked.
"I need to bring my car with me. Susunduin ko si Abrielle sa office nila dahil magdi-dinner kami sa labas. It's our girls' night out," I told him.
"Just dinner?" he made sure. "You won't go to the clubs?"
Umiling ako. "Dinner lang."
"Okay..." He nodded. "But in case you both change your plans and decided to go to the club after dinner, please, let me know. I'll come and pick you up."
Napangiti naman ako. "Opo. Masusunod po."
Sinong mag-aakalang ito pa lang ang unang beses niyang magkaroon ng girlfriend? He clearly knew how to treat a girl right even if most of the times, he will just look stoic. Alam na alam niya kung paano ako dapat alagaan bilang boyfriend ko. He might have some flaws, but it just made him cute.
Nang makarating sa bahay ay saktong kakarating lang din nina mommy at daddy na mukhang sa kabila dumaan.
"Jace!" Dad greeted Jace as soon as he got out of the car.
Nilingon ko naman si mommy na nakatingin ng diretso kay Jace. Napaisip tuloy ako kung nasabi na ba sa kanya ni daddy ang tungkol sa aming dalawa ni Jace.
"Good evening po, Tito," magalang na pagbati ni Jace kay daddy bago nilingon si mommy. "Tita..."
Tinanguan lamang siya ni mommy bago pumasok sa loob ng bahay. Gusto ko kaagad sundan si mommy para kausapin siya sa pinakita niyang pagbabaliwala kay Jace pero ayaw ko rin namang iwan si Jace rito sa labas kasama si daddy.
"You should join us for dinner," pag-aya sa kanya ni daddy. "Naghanda na ang kasambahay namin ng dinner. Zarina also needs to introduce you to her mom as her boyfriend."
I bit my lower lip. Hindi pa nasasabi ni daddy kay mommy ang tungkol sa amin ni Jace. Mukhang gusto ni daddy ay mismong sa aming dalawa manggaling.
I had no problem with that. I just hoped that my mom wouldn't make a scene in front of Jace.
"Okay lang po ba na sumabay ako sa inyo para magdinner?" paninigurado naman ni Jace na mukhang nagdadalawang-isip nang dahil kay mommy.
"Of course!" Tumawa si daddy at inakbayan si Jace.
Nauna pa silang pumasok ni daddy kaya sumunod na lamang ako sa kanilang dalawa.
Pagkarating sa dining room ay nandoon na si mommy sa kanyang puwesto. Agad siyang umismid nang makitang kasama namin ni daddy si Jace. I pursed my lips to stop myself from speaking out.
Pinaupo ko sa aking tabi si Jace at si daddy ay doon sa kabisera pumuwesto. He immediately showered Jace with hospitable words as he asked him to get food on his plate first.
"Huwag kang mahiya, Jace. Feel at home," paulit-ulit na sinasabi sa kanya ni daddy.
Ngumiti naman si Jace bago nag-angat ng tingin kay mommy na tahimik pa rin hanggang ngayon.
"I hope you don't mind me joining your family for dinner, Madam," he formally said to my mom.
Tipid namang ngumiti si mommy sa kanya. "Don't worry. It's just a dinner. And I don't mind sharing our food to Zarina's friend."
Dad cleared his throat that made me look at him. He was pointing out to my mother, telling me to tell her about my relationship with Jace.
"Uhm... Mom..." I called my mom's attention.
She wiped her mouth with a table napkin before looking at me. "Yes, Za?"
"I want to tell you something..." panimula ko.
"Go ahead. I'm listening," she said.
Beneath the table, I felt Jace hand held mine. Pinisil niya ito kaya naman napatingin naman ako sa kanya at ngumiti siya sa akin bago nilingon si mommy.
"Madam, we want to tell you that your daughter and I are finally in a relationship," he told my mom without any hestitaion. "I promise not to hurt your daughter and give her everything she deserves even if she won't ask for it."
Tumikhim naman si mommy at saka uminom ng juice. She didn't give any comment about my relationship with Jace, but I can tell that she was surpressing herself from speaking ill words. Kilalang-kilala ko si mommy. Ayaw niya sa ideyang may boyfriend na ako at hindi ang lalaking gusto niya para sa akin ang kasintahan ko.
I just smiled at Jace to tell him that it's okay. At least, we already told my mom our relationship.
"Mauuna na po ako," sabi ni Jace nang matapos siyang kumain at tiningnan ang kanyang cellphone. "Kailangan ko pa pong sunduin ang kakambal ko."
Nilingon ko naman sa siya.
He showed me his phone to read Liana's message before I asked him why. Liana's car's engine broke down. She needed Jace to pick her up.
"Oh, sige!" Tumayo si daddy upang muling makipagkamay kay Jace.
Tumayo na rin ako para samahan siya palabas ng bahay ngunit pinigilan niya ako at ngumiti.
"I can send myself out. Just continue eating. Hindi ka pa tapos," sabi niya sa akin at nilingon si mommy. "Aalis na po ako. Maraming salamat sa dinner."
Muling tipid na ngumiti si mommy sa kanya at agad ding umiwas ng tingin.
Jace shamelessly kissed me on my forehead and bid me good bye before he went out of the dining room. Nakakahiya dahil naubo pa si daddy nang dahil sa halik na 'yon.
Nang mawala naman si Jace ay agad kong naramdaman ang tensyon sa pagitan naming dalawa ni mommy nang tumama ang aking tingin sa kanya na ngayo'y nakatingin ng diretso sa akin.
"Talagang sinuway mo ako, Zarina..." panimula ni mommy. "Is this some kind of rebellion because I'm forcing you to marry Dylan? You're using that Architect to get back on me, claiming that he's your boyfriend?"
"Erina, stop it." Mariin ang boses ni daddy nang pigilan si mommy sa pagsasalita ngunit hindi iyon sapat para tumigil si mommy.
Padarag niyang binitawan ang kubyertos sa kanyang plato at tiningnan ako ng mabuti.
"Kung ano man ang kahibangan mo sa lalaking 'yon, tigilan mo na, Zarina," utos sa akin ni mommy.
"Mom, I already told you that I've loved Jace ever since," sabi ko. "Hindi ko siya ginagamit para lang magrebelde sa inyo. Mahal ko siya at 'yon ang dahilan kung bakit ko siya sinagot nang ligawan niya ako."
"Sylvia and I are already starting to plan your engagement party with Dylan earlier this morning. Naghahanap na kami ng magaling na organizer para roon. You can't back down now, Zarina. Hindi pwedeng mapahiya tayo sa mga Ortiguera," sabi ni mommy.
"You're planning for my own engagement party without my consent?" My voice broke as I almost shouted my question.
"Sinabi ko na ito sa'yo noon," kalmadong sabi ni mommy. "Break up with that Architect. He's not good for you."
"Erina, listen to your daughter! Hindi niya mahal iyong Dylan na 'yon―"
"This is for her future, Rey!" agad namang pagputol ni mommy kay daddy. "Kung gusto mong maging panatag sa kinabukasan ng anak natin ay hahayaan mo akong gawin 'to. Dylan's good for her. He can help her running our company. We can even venture out with their company."
"Naririnig mo ba ang sinasabi mo? Mas pinapahalagahan mo pa ang kompanya natin kaysa sa anak mo," sabi ni daddy. "If there's anything that I want our daughter to achieve in the future, that is her genuine happiness. She's clearly happy with the man she loves."
"She'd come to love Dylan if she will just let herself focus on him," sabi naman ni mommy. "Ako lang ba ang nag-iisip para sa magiging kinabukasan ng anak natin?"
"At ako pa ngayon ang mali, Erina?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni daddy kay mommy.
Tinikom ni mommy ang kanyang bibig bago muling lumingon sa akin.
"Dylan's going to be here with his mom on Sunday to discuss about your engagement. Prepare yourself for that day. Huwag mong sasabihing may relasyon ka sa iba at makipaghiwalay ka na rin bago pa nila malaman," dire-diretsong sabi ni mommy na para akong robot na kanyang inuutusan.
Padarag naman akong tumayo at pinirmi ang aking matalim na tingin kay mommy.
"I will not let myself be engaged with Dylan, mom," I stated firmly. "I will not marry him for whatever reason because the man I only want to marry is Jace. If you can't accept that, well, I'm sorry. If I need to talk to Dylan about our relationship, then so be it."
Huminga ako ng malalim upang kahit papaano'y mapakalma ang aking sarili. Kahit hindi niya pinaparamdam sa akin na anak ang turing niya sa akin ay nirerespeto ko pa rin siya bilang aking ina na nagluwal sa akin.
"I am not a thing that you can sell out to others for the sake of our company," I told her. "I am not a robot which you can instruct to forget its feelings and break up just because you want it to. I am a human, mom, and I'm your daughter."