Fifty-Four: Tyler Osmond
There were a hundred different ways I've imagined how it'll gonna be once I meet Vanessa's parents.
But this was not so one of them. Never did I picture it'll be like this.
Hindi pa rin ako makatingin sa mga magulang ni Vanessa na ngayon ay nakaupo doon sa sofa. Kung saan naroon kami kanina, nadatnan nilang may ginagawang milagro.
Well, we were just kissing. Yung posisyon lang talaga namin.
"Why aren't you talking? We're waiting," si Tito Ricardo, yung daddy ni Vanessa ang nagsalita.
From my seat, I took a quick glance at Vanessa who was sitting on a chair a meter away from me.
Tumingin din siya pabalik. At nang mayroon kaming narinig na tumikhim ay sabay kaming nag-iwas ng tingin.
Saka ko narinig ang boses ni Vanessa. "Tyler's my boyfriend."
"Ano? Hindi ba't girlfriend mo rin yung anak ng senador? Pinagsasabay mo silang nitong anak ko?" pagalit na sagot ni Tito Ricardo.
"Ricardo, break na sila nung babae. It's on the newspaper this morning. Di ka kasi nagbabasa eh," sagot ni Tita Gemma.
"It's because you spent so much time reading it. Kapag tapos ka na, wala na ako sa mood magbasa," saad naman ni Tito Ricardo.
"What are you trying to say, Ricardo?" balik ni Tita Gemma at nagsimula na silang magdiskusyon.
Nagkatinginan kaming muli ni Vanessa at hindi napigilang matawa. Her parents were cute.
"At sinong may sabi sa inyong pwede kayong tumawa dyan?" biglang saway sa amin ni Tita Gemma. "Itong mga batang 'to, hindi pa nga kayo tapos mag-explain sa amin."
That's when I took a deep breath. And at that moment, I started to tell them everything, "Ganito po kasi yun..."
I told them the full story. From me courting Vanessa to what happened with Olivia. Wala akong ni-left out even Olivia's pregnancy. I just know they would understand it better that way. I apologized too for keeping from them my relationship with Vanessa. Pero sinabi ko naman 'yung intensyon kong magpaalam at magpakilala, 'yun nga lang hindi talaga napayagan ng pagkakataon sa kadahilanang alam na nila ngayon.
"So you were the visitor that Vanessa was talking about nung anniversary namin," Tita Gemma was the first one to talk.
Tumango ako sa kanya.
She sighed. "Grabe pala ang pinagdaanan mo, hijo. I am sincerely glad that you were able to overcome that trouble. Ang sa akin naman, I won't say I'm not disappointed na late na namin nalaman ang relationship niyo. But then again, it already happened. And to be honest, I approve of you for my daughter, Tyler. Just hearing you a while ago and looking at you now, I know what you feel for Vanessa is genuine. So, okay you guys have my blessing."
"Really, mommy?" hindi mapigilang tili ni Vanessa.
Napangiti naman ako saka mahinang sumagot kay Tita Gemma, "Thank you po."
Ngunit nagbago agad ang atmosphere nang tumikhim si Tito Ricardo. "Don't be happy too much, you little ones. Hindi ko pa sinasabi ang verdict ko."
Kinakabahan akong naghintay ng sasabihin nito. I was hoping for the best but I can't stop thinking of the worst. Tito Ricardo blew out a deep breath then he nodded once. "Okay. May magagawa pa ba ako? Um-oo na 'yung reyna ng buhay ko. What Gemma believes to be okay, I believe it too."
"Thank you, Dad," si Vanessa ulit ang unang nag-react. Then I seconded that.
"But hephep kids," singit ni Tita Gemma. "Just because we already gave you the blessing, that does not mean we're also giving you the permission to do everything. You get what I mean, right? Maghinay-hinay muna. Finish your studies, and if you still feel the same way by that time, get married and then you can have the freedom to do everything you want. I hope you both can respect this request of ours."
Tumango ako kay Tita Gemma. "I promise po, tita. I won't do anything that will disrespect Vanessa or the both of you po."
"Good, be contented with the kissing muna," she replied. "Though keep it private and don't let us caught you like earlier."
I smiled awkwardly. Yep, totally not gonna happen again. Because earlier just became the most embarrassing moment of my life.
"At isa pa, Tyler. You have to pay a visit at our house. We should do this bonding thing."
I laughed nervously but nodded at him. Hindi ko alam kung anong ibig sabihin doon ni Tito Ricardo. But whatever it was, I'm just game to do anything to be on his good side.
It didn't take long for me to find that out. During our semestral break, I did that visit. Umuwi rin kasi si Vanessa sa kanila kaya lagi rin akong nagpupunta doon para bisitahin siya.
So, what Tito Ricardo was talking about was a drinking bonding. He tried to make me drunk and made me answer questions just to test my true intentions to Vanessa.
What he didn't know is I can handle my alcohol well. Kaya ang ending siya 'yung naunang nalasing at nagconfess ng kung anu-ano. I was so tempted to record everything but didn't do it. Ayokong ma-bad shot kay Tito although most of what he kept on babbling about ay patungkol lang sa pagmamahal niya kay Tita Gemma.
Naulit iyong bonding session namin pero nang sumunod ay kasama na si Miles. And I was glad that happened because after that, we finally cleared the bad air between us.
We also spent some time at my Dad's place. I still remembered the look on my family's faces when I brought Vanessa with me one dinner time.
My nephew and niece were ecstatic especially Nali while Ate Teriz had that all knowing look. Dad was happy and Quentin just gave me a teasing smile.
Sa kanilang lahat, si Tita Juliet lang ang medyo nagulat. But later on, she congratulated us and even joked about what she did before, trying to match Quentin and Vanessa and that she's not really good at that.
Tumawa lang kami doon. And that was one of the happiest dinner I've ever had. It could be perfect if mom was there pero alam ko namang hindi pa iyon uubra sa ngayon.
Kaya naman hindi na ako makapaghintay na mabisita ulit si Mommy at isama ulit si Vanessa sa Subic.
That was how we spent our vacation, going to each other's family's places. At doon ko rin napagtanto na may maganda rin palang epekto na hindi kami makapg-date sa public.
But the vacation days were ending soon. At mas lalo ko lang nadama 'yun nang mag-announce na simula na ng enrolment.
"Please?" Vanessa pleaded again, now she's even using her puppy eyes. Who can say no to that?
But I tried to play hard to get. "Why don't you look at it, yourself?"
"I'm nervous," sagot niya. "I know I did okay pero kinakabahan pa rin ako."
I sighed. "For sure you just didn't pass your subjects, mataas yung nakuha mong grade."
"Thank you," sagot niya at akala ko'y titigil na nang abutin niya yung manggas ng t-shirt ko at hinila-hila iyon. "But still, ikaw muna tumingin, please? I'll give you a reward if you do. How about if I get an uno, you'll get a kiss from me?"
I narrowed my eyes at her. Man, that sounded so tempting. Especially that we didn't get to that a lot lately as we were under the supervision of her parents.
"Deal, but one kiss in every uno that you got."
Napanguso si Vanessa. "I don't think I got more than one. Yung prof. lang sa PE yung nagsabi na iu-uno niya kaming lahat eh. Unless, may problem sa attendance." Then she sighed but nodded anyway, "Okay. Deal."
She told me her username and password on the student access as she hid on my back. I successfully opened her profile. Sa grades niya ako agad pumunta at nang nagload iyon ay napangiti ako.
"Ano na?" tanong ni Vanessa sa likuran ko. "How was it? Ilan mababang grades ko?"
"Shouldn't you be asking kung ilang ang uno mo?" balik ko sa kanya.
"What?" taka niyang tanong saka nadama kong inalis na rin niya ang ulo sa likuran ko. Then she peaked over my shoulder.
"I got three?" she shrieked.
I turned my head to look at her. "Yep. I'm proud of you. But, where's my reward now?"
Malapad na ngumiti sa akin si Vanessa bago hinawakan ang kaliwang pisngi ko saka biglang nilapatan ng sunod-sunod na halik yung kabila. Tatlong beses.
"There," she smiled happily.
Bumagsak ang panga ko saka napailing. "You tricked me."
"Hindi kaya," tanggi niya. "Kiss kaya 'yun. Sa cheeks nga lang pero kiss pa rin. Saka reminder lang, nasa kusina lang sina Mom and Dad."
Okay, she got her point.
Tumabi na rin sa akin si Vanessa saka nag-enroll na. At nang matapos siya ay bigla siyang humarap sa akin. "Your turn. Mag-enroll ka na rin."
I stared at her then I tried to smile. "Sa Sunday na para last minute."
Vanessa frowned. I knew she could read me. At alam niya ring iniiwasan ko lang 'to. I just didn't want to do this with her here now. It was not that I envy her after I saw her grades.
Simula pa lang alam ko na ang magiging kapalaran ko. After all, it was my choice.
Siguro, ayoko lang makitang kaawaan niya ako. Not that she would do that. But still, it was my fear kicking in.
"Ganito na lang, ako na lang yung mag-eenroll sayo. And promise," itinaas niya pa ang kanang kamay, "hindi ko titingnan yung grades mo."
It took some seconds but I nodded at her eventually. I gave her my username and my password which she laughed at. It was her initials and her birthday.
I just shrugged. Wala siyang magagawa. She made me that whipped for her.
Nang makita kong nakalog in na siya ay nagtungo na ako sa sofa at iniwan siya doon sa lapag. Tahimik ko lang siyang pinapanood mula sa pwesto.
"Ilang subject na nga yung eenroll-an mo?" tanong ni Vanessa,
"There should be four," sagot ko. Since hindi ko napasa 'yung AD 9, hindi ko pwedeng mapasukan yung corequisite na subject nun.
Kumunot ang noo ni Vanessa. "I don't know but there are five here. Rizal, Taxation, Politics and Governance, Architectural and Design 10—"
"What?" I cut her off. Tumayo na ako at saka tumabi muli sa kanya, sinilip yung mga subjects na nandoon. And indeed, there was AD 10. But how? Alam kong hindi ako pasado sa AD 9.
"Move a little bit, please," suyo ko sa kanya saka ano ang umupo sa harap ng laptop. Agad kong pinindot ang tab ng grades at namilog ang mga mata sa nakita. I passed them all. Even AD 9 and I even got 2.0, meaning yung buong natitirang 85% percent.
"Nakapasa ka," masayang bulalas ni Vanessa saka bigla niya akong niyakap. "Congrats!"
I patted her back. I felt delighted too. But at the same time, super curious on how and why did I get that grade.
Kaya naman hindi muna ako nag-enroll at nagsend ng email kay Prof. Samonte tungkol sa grade ko sa subject niya. And it didn't take long before he emailed me back and asked me to go to GU and meet him there.
Kinabukasan, iyon ang ginawa ko. And on the way to their faculty, I couldn't help but remember the last I also met a professor because of grade. That was when sa MHU pa ako nag-aaral.
But that time, it didn't turn out well. I hoped this time I'll get a different result. Sana talaga ay hindi nagkamali si Prof. Samonte sa grade na ibinigay niya sa akin at hindi iyon bawiin.
"Mr. Villaruiz, you're here," agad na bati sa akin nang professor nang pumasok ako ng faculty nila.
"Good morning, prof," bati ko at naglakad patungo sa table niya.
"Why did you email me? Nabababaan ka ba sa binigay ko sayong grade? To remind you, 85% max na lang talaga ang pwede mong nakuha because you failed to submit your plates, remember?"
"No, sir. Hindi naman po sa ganoon. I actually am curious na nakapasa pa po ako. I also didn't submit my project."
Tumaas ang pareho niyang kilay saka napatango. Subalit hindi siya agad sumagot. Sa halip, tumayo siya at may kinuha doon sa drawer sa likod. At nang bumalik siya ay inilapag niya ang hawak sa ibabaw ng mesa. "Kaya pala ikaw na lang ang natirang hindi pa kumukuha niyan. Your girlfriend, I mean ex-girlfriend submitted it on your behalf."
Oh, so it was Olivia's doing.
"Hindi ko ba naman alam sa inyong mga kabataan. Hinahayaan niyong makasira 'yung relationship niyo sa pag-aaral. It should be a source of inspiration, hindi distraction," patuloy ni Prof. Samonte.
Nanahimik lang ako at kinuha na iyong portfolio saka nagpaalam na rin at sinabing mag-eenroll pa. But on my way to the parking lot, I got a message.
Wala sa contacts ko 'yung number ngunit pamilyar iyon sa akin.
Unknown: Hi, Tyler. Are you free right now? Can we meet?
Hindi ako nagreply. Sa halip, idinial ko iyon.
At nang sagutin niya iyon ay agad akong nagsabi, "Where do you want us to meet, Olivia? Nasa school ako ngayon."
"What a surprise that you know it's me," biro niya. "Anyway, nasa GU din ako. Why don't we meet dun sa café sa tapat ng school?"
"Okay. See you there," sagot ko.
Nauna na akong nakarating sa café pero hindi rin nagtagal nang dumating siya.
"I'm glad you said yes to this," sabi niya nang makaupo sa tapat ko. "Akala ko irereject mo ako."
"I want to listen to what you're going to say," sagot ko. "Gusto ko ring magtanong tungkol doon sa portfolio."
"Ah, ngayon mo pa lang ba nalaman ang tungkol dun?"
Tumango ako. "Yeah. That's why pumunta ako kay Prof. Samonte."
"I submitted it, the day after my dad talked to you. I just thought that it's not right na madamay yung school mo. I mean, it's already inappropriate na idamay ka dito una pa lang...and about that, I want to sincerely apologize. You may not want to hear my side after all that happened...but at least, let me apologize. I know wala na akong magagawa pa dahil nangyari na. But, I hope one day you find in your heart to forgive me."
Huminga ako nang malalim. "Contrary to what you're thinking, I actually want to know what happened. Maybe, to understand it, whatever your reason is."
"I honestly don't think it's rational, but sure, let me give you my version of the story."
Tumango ako at tahimik na nag-antay.
"I always liked you. By now, I'm sure you know that. I mean, after that thing that happened between us a two years ago, I still wanted us to be something. Kaya nga laking tuwa ko nung makita kita sa GU and that moment, I had only one goal—that is to be with you again. But unfortunately, you didn't give me the time of the day so I kind of got disheartened and just stopped. Then, one time nung nag-night out kami sa 8ight, I somehow bumped into Drew and we got into conversation and one thing led to another.
"We had a week but that's all. We were clear from the start naman na hanggang doon lang 'yun. But oblivious to us, meron ngang nabuo sa one week na yun. After that though, I started to feel like not myself. I don't know. If I was just missing his presence or what. Basta alam ko lang na hindi dapat ganun ang maramdaman ko. Then I got busy with the play and I saw you again and after that, naisipan ko na ipagpatuloy yung nauna kong plan. Kaya nagparamdam na naman ako. But then it was only days after that when I found out about my pregnancy, so I stopped again.
Olivia breathed deeply. "Then my father suddenly kept on mentioning about you and the project you had with him. Pero nung time na 'yun, honestly wala na akong pakialam. Maybe I'm too preoccupied with the growing human inside me. But my father accidentally found out about it and he's asking for a name, and I gave yours by impulse. I just can't pin it onto Drew that time and maybe silently I was still thinking about my goal. You know I have this personality na whenever I set my eyes on something, I do everything to get it. I know it's not healthy but I'm like that and to be honest, I'm not really proud of it."
She smiled sadly. At nakita kong nangilid na 'yung luha sa mga mata niya. Marahan kong inusog yung tissue holder sa gawi niya.
Ngumiti siya sa akin. "Thanks." Kumuha ng isang piraso doon at pinunasan ang mga mata. "Well, alam mo na kung anong nangyari pagkatapos nun. But promise, hindi ko rin alam na gagawin 'yun ni Daddy, yung sa presscon. He just asked me to come at that time at nagulat na lang ako na may mga reporter pala at sinabi niya na sa public yung non-existent na relationship natin. At one point, parang gusto ko nang bawiin but mas umiral yung pagiging selfish ko so naisipan kong sumakay na lang."
"Tapos, yung sa bahay na and you know the rest. That's it. That's my side. Hindi ko alam kung nakatulong..."
"It does," sagot ko sa kanya. "Somehow, it does."
"That's good to know then," ngiti niya. "Anyway, may isa pa akong favor," sabi niya at mayroong kinuha sa bag na dala. It was an envelope. "That's for Vanessa. My kind of an apology letter. Can you give it to her for me, please?"
Tiningnan ko yung envelope bago ibinalik ang tingin sa mga mata niya. "Why don't you just talk to her in person?"
"No matter how I want to do that, I'm afraid I can't since flight ko na mamaya," sagot niya.
"Saan ka pupunta?"
"California, sa relatives ni Mommy. I decided to stay there for the meantime," sagot niya. "Election na next year and I don't want to cause unnecesarry issues sa part ni Daddy. Also, ayoko rin talagang mai-dyaryo tong pagbubuntis ko. Ayoko naman na wala pa ngang kamuwang-muwang 'tong magiging anak ko, kung saan-saang issues na siya madadawit. I want a silent pregnancy for my baby."
Tumango-tango ako saka naalala ang kaibigan ko. "How about Drew? Does he know about this?"
"Yeah," tango ni Olivia. "We talk from time to time. Ah saka pala, may isa pa pala akong favor..."
"About saan?"
Nahihiya siyang napangiti. "A while ago, I kind of hinted I felt something for your friend. Can you please not mention it to him? I know marami akong atraso sayo pero sana mapagbigyan mo ako dito."
I fought the smile that was about to break into my lips as I knew that Drew felt the same way for her. Hindi man niya sinabing direkta kung sino yung babaeng dahilan ng pagmumukmok niya ng ilang araw dati, alam kong si Olivia 'yun.
Tumango na lang ako kay Olivia. "Sure. Makaasa ka. My lips are sealed."
I would just let them figure it out by themselves.
"Thank you," sagot niya. "Paano, I have to go. I still have to double check my things. Itong letter baka makalimutan mo," turo niya ulit doon sa sobre.
Kinuha ko na iyon at tumayo. Tumayo na rin siya.
"Ingat sa flight," huli kong sabi.
Ngumiti siya pabalik sa akin. "Thank you. I'll take this time to reflect also. And I hope when I come back, I can face you and Vanessa again as a better person."
*