Nasa maliit silang dining table ngayon at nagsisiksikan doon habang seryosong-seryosong nakatitig ang Tatang niya kay Aspen.
Katrina was trying to breathe. Natatakot siya ngayon sa ekspresyon sa mukha ng Tatang niya. Mukhang hindi ito titigil sa pamimilit sa kanilang magpakasal sa lalong madaling panahon.
"I... I'll make it right with your daughter, Sir," magaling na sagot ni Aspen. "I don't think she deserves to be dragged to the city hall nang labag sa kalooban niya. She deserves a grand wedding."
Tinitigan niya ng masama si Aspen. Pinapaasa na naman nito ang Tatang niya.
He suddenly grabbed her hand at itinaas iyon.
"Pangako ko po sa inyo. Magpapakasal kami ni Katrina. I'll make it right with your daughter, Sir. Just trust me," he announced as sincerely as he could.
Katrina gauged the reaction of her parents. Tumango lamang ang Mama niya samantalang wala pa ring reaksyon ang Tatang niya.
"We just came from a check up bago kami dumiretso ng Pampanga. And here's the baby's ultrasound." May kinuha si Aspen sa wallet niya. It was a photo of their baby from the ultrasound. Meron pala itong maliit na kopya noon. Ipinakita ito ni Aspen sa mga magulang niya. "That's our baby, Sir. Your future grandchild. So please... kahit para na lang sa kanya. Give us time. I'll marry Katrina, Sir."
Inabot ng Tatang niya ang maliit na litrato at pinakatitigan iyon.
Nakita niyang halos maiyak ang Mama niya sa nakita. "Congratulations, anak. Masayang masaya ako para sa'yo."
Seeing the baby changed hi father's reaction. Nakita niya ang pagkontrol ng emosyon ng Tatang niya. "Sige, pagbibigyan kita. Siguraduhin mong aayusin mo ang kasal ninyo ng anak ko sa lalong madaling panahon."
"Yes, Sir. Thank you!"
Iyon lamang at tumayo na si Nilo at bumalik na sa kwarto nito para magpahinga.
"Bigyan nyo pa siya ng kaunting panahon. Matatanggap din niya ang lahat ng 'to, anak," mahinahong payo ng Mama niya.
"Salamat, Ma." Napatungo na lamang siya at hinila muli ang kamay niya na hawak-hawak ni Aspen.
"Kailan kayo babalik ng Maynila?"
"We need to be back as soon as we can, Tita. Masyado na akong matagal na nawala sa opisina. I can leave Katrina here if she wants at susunduin ko na lang siya sa susunod na weekend."
"Sasama na ako sayo," Katrina said. Kailangan niyang makausap ng sarilinan si Aspen. Kailangan nilang makahanap ng paraan para hindi matuloy ang pagkukunwari nilang ito.
"O sige. Humayo na kayo at mag-ingat sa daan. Magpaalam din muna kayo sa Tatang niyo."
****
It was thirty minutes of silence on the road. Pagkakain ng panghalian ay nagsimula nang baybayin ni Aspen ang daan pabalik ng Maynila.
Katrina was silent and was calculating her first words.
"Did I do something wrong?" tanong bigla ni Aspen. "You've been awfully quiet."
She just shot him a glare. Nagtanong pa talaga ang walanghiya.
"What?" tanong muli ni Aspen.
"You just made my parents hope for something na alam natin parehong hindi mangyayari."
Aspen just shrugged. "We'll figure it out. Huwag ka ng mastress doon. Ako na ang bahala."
"Bahala saan? Kung paano natin to lulusutan? My parents are expecting us to get married. Hindi naman natin pwedeng palabasin na namatay ka kaya hindi matutuloy ang kasal. Your family is well-known and so are you!"
"I'll take care of it," he said with finality. "Didiretso ako ng opisina ngayon. You can just rest."
"You can't just say you'll take care of it. This is my family we're talking about, Aspen. Hindi to laro."
Aspen just breathed deeply.
"You have a fiance," she whispered, not giving up on their conversation.
Aspen didn't even respond. "Just trust me. Hindi ko naman kita pababayaan. I'll still take care of you and the baby."
She choose not to answer anymore. He seemed convinced na matatakasan nila ang Tatang niya in the long run.
****
"Ano? Buhay ka pa ba?" tanong ng best friend niyang si Selena. Nasa coffee shop sila ngayon sa baba ng condo ni Aspen. Binisita siya ng kaibigan ng malaman nito na nakabalik na sila mula Pampanga.
"I have no other choice," pilit na sagot niya at tinitigan ang cake na nasa harapan nila ngayon.
"Hindi ko rin alam ang tumatakbo sa isip ng hilaw mong boyfriend na iyon. He must really be serious in taking care of you for him to declare that in front of your family," Selena commented while sipping on her coffee.
She just shrugged. "I feel like a mistress now."
"Hindi ka niya kabit kung wala namang nangyayari sa inyo," Selena said.
But Katrina just kept quiet and didn't answer.
"Oh my God! May nangyayari na sa inyo?" gulat na gulat na tanong nito.
"We couldn't help it. I'm attracted to him. He's good looking. What do you expect?" defensive na sagot ni Katrina sa kaibigan. "And my hormones are crazy!"
"Katie, he has a fiance! At isa pa, itinatago ka nga lang niya, eh. You're now officially his mistress!"
Hindi makatingin ng diretso si Katrina sa mga mata ng kaibigan. She's fully aware of that now.
"Oh my fucking God," Selena cursed.
"What is it?" Katrina turned into the direction of the man na papasok ngayon sa coffee shop. She recognized him as one of the friends of Aspen. It was Gio. Naglakad ito papuntang counter para um-order. He was probably here to see Aspen. "Bakit mo kilala si Gio?"
"You know that scumbag?" galit na galit na tanong ni Selena.
"Yes, he's a close friend of Aspen."
"The fuck!!!" pagmumura muli ni Selena. "He's a Tantoco."
"And what about the Tantocos?"
"Sila ang nagpalayas sa mga magulang ko noon. My parents worked for that family at binalewala lang nila iyon."
Katrina could see the hate in her eyes as her best friend stared at the guy on the counter. "Ano namang plano mo? It's from the past."
Umiling si Selena. "I'll make them pay one way or another," she answered in a whisper.
Gio was looking around and suddenly, he spotted her. Mabilis na nilapitan siya nito at binati. "Hey, Katrina!" masayang wika nito.
"H-Hi!" she greeted back at him. "A-Anong ginagawa mo dito?"
"I was looking for Aspen. He texted the boys that he's back. And since it's gonna be his birthday tomorrow, gusto sana namin icelebrate ang salubong ng birthday niya. Well, aside from his party in the Alcaraz mansion tomorrow, of course."
"Party?" gulat na gulat na tanong ni Katrina. She didn't even know it was his birthday tomorrow. At inaway-away niya pa ito kanina sa kotse. Pero hindi rin nito nasabi sa kanya na may birthday party ito. Was he hiding it from her dahil hindi rin naman siya maaaring makita at makilala ng pamilya nito?
"Yeah, didn't he mention it?" Gio asked.
Umiling lamang si Katrina.
Gio understood the awkwardness of the situation kaya iniba nito ang topic. "Who's this lovely lady with you?"
"Ahh, Gio this is my friend Selena. Selena, Gio," pakilala ni Katrina sa dalawa.
"You look familiar, Miss. Have we met before?" Gio asked.
"Not yet," Selena answered fakely. "But it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Tantoco."
"Oh you know me?" he asked.
"Of course, who wouldn't recognize someone as handsome and rich as you?" birong tanong ni Selena.
While the two were getting along, Katrina was busy thinking about Aspen and why he didn't even bother mentioning about his birthday to her.
*****
A/N: Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas! It's officially my Christmas break. I took a long leave because I didn't wanna be bothered this Christmas. I want a full-blown break after everything that I've gone through and done this year! It was a mix of tears and joys but i know they're all for my inner strength!
So guys, patuloy pa rin tayong lumaban vs 2020 okay? :) The world may be hellish right now but let's power through.
And here's a new chapter to celebrate the holiday spirit!