“Andrei, dad needs to see you.” I told him as he lie on my lap while browsing the net on his iPad. Ilang araw na rin kaming absent sa trabaho at naghire muna si Andrei ng kapalit naming dalawa. We’re still fixing our damned relationship kaya naman we decided to stay like this for a while.
“Sure… kahit na katabi pa ni Dr. Solomon ang shotgun niya habang kausap ako.” Then I laughed at his remark. Alam kong alam ni Andrei na iba ang galit sa kanya ni dad, although kahit close pa silang dalawa ng dad ni Andrei since they’re in the same hospital.
“Walang baril and daddy ko, Andrei. Sa palabas lang ‘yung shotgun, kaya please don’t think of my dad that way kasi ang katabi lang naman niya eh ‘yung aso naming mala-K9 sa laki.” Then I laughed and he frowned. Alam kong takot si Andrei sa aso kaya naman niloko ko siya, pero totoong may aso kami sa bahay pero nasa malaking dog house naman siya naglalagi.
“Haaay! I hate dogs, Vickie. Alam mo naman siguro ‘yung corny na kwento ni Christian about dun sa aso ng kapitbahay namin na kinagat ako at tinurukan ng Anti-Rabie ng maraming beses sa ospital, right? Ayoko lang maulit.” The he rolled his eyes at me at bumalik sa iPad niya. I pinched his cheeks kasi nagtatampo siya.
“Para kang bata, syempre nasa dog house ‘yun. Dad never let Connor inside the house, kaya please don’t be such a baby boy, Andrei.” I kissed him on the lips at nanatili siyang nakasimangot kaya naman pinisil ko na ‘yung pisngi niya ulit.
“Victoria, kinakabahan akong harapin ang dad mo. He’s mad at me at alam ko ‘yun. I saw him glare at me nung birthday niya.” Then he pouted.
“Kaya nga you have to be there and prove him wrong. Make him believe you and win his trust. I want to marry you this month, kaso ‘di pa ako nakakapaghanap ng wedding planner.” Then I smirked at him.
“Aba, sobrang ready ka na yata maging Mrs. Falcon?”
“Oo naman, kasi childhood dream ko na ‘yan. Don’t ruin the dream for me, Andrei. You have no choice but to marry me, or else itatali kita katabi ni Connor sa bahay niya.” Then I laughed really hard at alam kong naisahan ko Andrei dun. I love pissing him off lalo na kung talagang naiinis siya.
“You know my weakness… sige ka mamaya buntisin kita.” Then he smirked.
“Now na! Bilis, para walang kawala si dad. Tara na!” I jokingly said and he’s shocked at my words na para bang ‘di niya in-expect na magiging aggressive ako.
“Whoa… ikaw pa talaga ang nagmamadali?” Then his eyebrow rose.
“Aba, eh baka matakasan mo pa ako kaya buntisin mo na ako agad para this week kasal agad tayo andno buts.” I said.
“Hindi kita tatakasan kasi nga gagawa pa tayo ng basketball team, football team at volleyball team. I won’t leave you, kahit na marami pa tayong anak o kahit tumaba, pumangit o maging mas mataray ka pa. I promise.” At nagpacute pa siya sa akin.
“So mataray ako?” I asked him.
“Oh chill lang, joke lang ‘yun. Please don’t be mad, inaasar lang kita. Tara na nga sa kwarto at bubuntisin na nga kita nang tuluyan.” I smirked at him.
“Eh!” I squealed.
=-=-=-=-=-=-
We’re now insie our house at alam kong kinakabahan si Andrei. I felt his hand sweating against mine at hindi ko naman siya masisi kung ganito siya kakabado. I feel for him kaya nga mahigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa kanyang kamay. I keep trying to calm him down, but still ramdam ko ang takot niya. Alam niyang may galit ang dad ko sa kanya. He hurt me way back then and it’s actually an old news to me now that we’re planning to wed this month.
“Okay lang ‘yan, dad’s a really nice person. Just be yourself.” I told him.
“Mahirap ‘yan isipin. Ah basta! Si Christian dati ang gusto niya kaya wala akong choice kundi gawin ang lahat ng makakaya ko to pull his heartstrings. I’m scared but I know I’ll make it, kasi para sa’yo ‘to.” He smiled at me at alam kong kakayanin namin ‘to.
My dad finally descended from the stairs.
“Andrei Marco Falcon.” Sabi ni dad at nakipaghand shake siya kay Andrei.
“Good evening po, Dr. Solomon.” Kinakabahan niyang sabi.
“Tara sa dining table, nakapaghanda na ‘yung mommy mo Vickie. Let’s eat.” My dad coldly said at alam kong matindi ang awkwardness na mararamdaman namin sa hapag kainan. Oh sh*t, I don’t want to curse, but how will I digest the food kung ganito kami katakot kay dad. Iba ang aura ni dad ngayon at malamang sungitan niya si Andrei.
“So… Alam mong alam ko ang childhood history niyo ng mabait kong anak. Don’t get me wrong, okay? Mabait naman kaming tao ng mommy ni Victoria, at alam ko namang nakita mo ang pagpapalaki namin sa kanya. We love her, kahit na maliit lang ang pamilya namin. She grew up alone kaya mahirap. She’s too smart kaya lahat naiinis sa kanya, at isama mo pa na may kaya ang pamilya namin kaya naman hirap siya makipagkaibigan. I just want to tell you that I hope you won’t hurt her in the future.” ‘Di ko napigilang maiyak sa speech ni daddy. Masyadong nakakatouch at pakiramdam ko malaki talaga ang bilib sa akin ng pamilya ko.
Andrei is smiling at ramdam kong naramdaman niya ang sincerity ng parents ko. Mabait ang mga magulang ko at pinalaki nila ako ng maayos. The only reason I never had a sibling is because my mom had an accident wich caused her to no longer bear a child. If ever daw mabuntis siya eh mamatay lang. They can’t bear the heartbreak kaya naman they settled only for me. Mahirap intindihin nong una kung bakit wala akong kapatid, kasi maayos naman ang pamilya namin at imposible namang ayaw ng parents ko. They loved children kaya nga parang anak na rin nila ang mga pinsan ko eh.
But now, I realized na may mga dahilan ang bawat pangyayari, like what happened to me and Andrei. I realized that everything has to happen for us to grow up and create a love bond that won’t break even if a storm passes by. That’s what happened, we became stronger, better and happier.
“Alam ko naman po, Dr. Solomon. I never found a hint of bad attitude in Victoria, and I know how great the both of you are. You raised her very well at alam ko pong mahal na mahal niyo siya st sigurado akong higit pa sa pagmamahal na ibibigay ko ang meron kayo para sa kanya. I value her with my whole heart. In these past ten years, I never loved anyone. I kept on denying na may gusto ako sa anak niyo, but in the end I found my way back to her.” My mom teared up and she smiled at me like it’s some sort of an approval.
“We love her so much, Andrei. We tove her too much kaya nga siguro naging medyo anti-social siya. It’s our fault and I’m never going to dig up the past para lang sisihin ka sa nangyari. I know you were just young and naïve kaya mo lang nagawa ‘yun. I understand.” Dagdag pa ni mommy.
Naramdaman ng parents ko ang sincerity ni Andrei kaya naman nagsimula na kaming kumain. I never imagined this would happen. Akala ko everything will end up in hatred, sadness and anger. I really hope we can bury everything in the past. Ayoko na rin kasing maalala ang lahat. I really just regret that I should’ve enjoyed my teen years more. Sana hindi ako nagpakasubsob sa pag-aaral para nakita ko sana ang mga bagay na namiss ko. Maybe we could’ve started way back then if I wasn’t weak that time. If I was stronger, I wouldn’t have caused him a scar he’ll forever bear.
“I love her too, and I hope you can let me love her forever.” He said.