"What the hell are you doing here?"
Bahagya akong natakot noong marinig ang maawtoridad na tono na boses ni Papa. Tumingin ako kay Zane pero hindi ko man lang nakitaan ng anumang takot ngayon. He didn't even flinch with Papa's sudden question. He's looking right into the eyes of my father with all seriousness.
"I clearly remember you told me a few months back na humarap po ako sa inyo kapag kaya ko nang ipaglaban ang nararamdaman ko para sa anak ninyo," magalang na sabi ni Zane habang diretso lamang ang tingin sa mga mata ni Papa. "Kaya po nandito ako ngayon sa harapan ninyo para gawin ang ilang buwan kong pinaghandaan," lumipat ang tingin niya sa akin sandali at ngumiti ng maliit.
Magsasalita pa sana si Papa pero naputol siya nang magsalita si Tita Lydia. "O, bakit nandiyan pa din kayo? Papasukin niyo ang bisita sa loob. Maghahain ako,"
"He's not-"
"Let him in," Tita Lydia said firmly and I heard Papa sighed. He moved aside and opened the door widely just enough for Zane to enter. When he finally did, Papa closed the door and let me walked first. Silang dalawa ni Zane ang nagsabay na naglakad papuntang dining room
When we reached the dining room, Maureen ran to me with her arms wide open. I smiled and bent down a little to carry her before we walked towards the table. Manang Esther helped Tita Lydia prepare the food. Zane pulled a chair for me to sit on and another chair beside me where Maureen sat since she wanted to sit beside me. Zane pulled the chair to my right and sat there.
"Oh, before I serve the seafoods, do you have any allergies to it?" Tita Lydia carefully asked Zane.
He shook his head and smiled. "No po,"
While waiting for the food to be served, I shifted my gaze to Kuya Ian, who seemed surprised that Zane was here.
"Hi, Kuya!" Maureen said and waved at my brother. Kuya Ian gave her a smile and waved back. His hair was messy, and he was wearing a casual shirt and sweatpants since he just woke up.
"Oh, good thing you're awake. Join us," Tita Lydia invited him to join us for dinner which Kuya willingly agreed.
"I will. I also wanted to witness what's gonna happen here," he said and pulled a chair just in front of Zane. He gave him a meaningful stare and a slight nod. There was an unoccupied chair which serves as a boundary between him and Papa. I glanced at Papa who's arms were crossed over his chest and was looking at Zane with no emotion on his face.
"Okay so, pray muna tayo," Tita Lydia said as she sat beside Kuya.
"Me pray, mommy!" napalingon kaming lahat nang magsalita si Maureen. Her mom said okay which made my sister ecstatic, earning a chuckle from us. She told us to be quiet because she'll start the prayer. "Name of... father... son... holy spirit... amen! Lord... thank you for... the food. A-amen," she said and did the sign of the cross. We replied 'amen' before we started eating.
Inayos ko ang plato ni Maureen at isinuot ang bib niya dahil medyo makalat siyang kumain. She haven't mastered the usage of utensils so we still have to feed her. She could hold it naman na pero nagkakalat kasi kaya kailangan pa din na susubuan namin siya. At since sa akin siya nakatabi ngayon, ako ang sumusubo sa kanya.
"So... Zane," napatingin ako kay Papa nang marinig ko siyang magsalita. "You mentioned earlier sa labas na... you came here to to do something that you've been preparing yourself for. Am I right?"
"Yes, sir," Zane answered immediately.
"What is it exactly?" Papa raised his brows, seems challenging this man beside me.
I glanced at Zane but I saw him looking straight at the eyes of my father. He placed his utensils first before clearing his throat and talked.
"Before we parted ways a few months back, I could clearly remember you telling me to face you when I was ready to fight for your daughter. Those days that I'm not with Celine or communicating with her, I'm... preparing myself for that. I'm making myself ready to face you with all my might and to prove to you that my affection for your daughter is genuine. Patawarin niyo po ako kung hindi ko na po kayang mahintay pa na bumalik si Celine sa akin kaya ko po ginagawa 'to,"
"So, what's makes you think na kapag ginawa mo 'to, ibibigay ko sa'yo ang anak ko?"
"I'm not expecting you to do that, sir, knowing how protective you are of Celine. The very least I ask is that you allow me to show to you that I love your daughter more than anything and anybody else. I want to show you that I love your daughter as much as you do. I want to prove to you that I can cherish her as much as you do. Or maybe even more than you could do," Zane said in a serious manner. I glanced at Kuya who's looking at Zane with his serious eyes, seems like examining my suitor.
"Prove, huh?" Papa asked and placed down his utensils. "Is my daughter even included in your plans at this moment in time and in the future? Ayaw kong mapunta sa walang kwentang tao ang anak ko, para lang alam mo,"
"Yes, sir. I clearly understood that. Because like you and even her brother right here, just wants what's best for Celine," Zane answered. "To answer your question, Sir. yes. Your daughter is included in my plans. The moment that I felt this feeling towards her, my plans already includes her. And she will always be included for your daughter is my top priority above all, Sir,"
"What are your plans, then?"
"Once I graduate in college as Civil Engineer, I'll work on a big company and hopefully, be promoted as the chief engineer. Once I've become more successful and financially stable, I'll marry your daughter," he said and gave me a glance." If... it's okay with her, of course. I don't like peer pressuring her or dictating what she had to do because I know she's capable of doing that herself,"
"Saang kumpanya mo naman balak magtrabaho kapag nakagraduate ka na? And how big is that company that you'll be applying to?" Papa raised a brow.
"The owners of Rodriguez Corp. already approached me, Sir. Kapag nakagraduate na ako ng college at pumasa sa board exams, sa kanila na po ako magtatrabaho," Zane proudly answer. "Like I told you earlier po, our future is already planned. Also, don't worry, Celine and I won't depend on each other in terms of financial,"
Papa slightly nodded and didn't utter a word. I glanced at Zane and he gave me a smile. An assuring one and I felt him held my hand under the table. Akala ko ay tapos na ang interrogation part ni Zane at Papa pero nagkamali ako. Dahil makalipas ang ilang sandali ay nagsalita ulit si Papa.
"Zane, who are your parents again?" he asked.
"Georgina and Michael Jimenez, Sir," Zane answered.
"The owners of Jimenez Medical Hospital?" Papa asked again, and Zane nodded. "Ah, so you are the son of my cheater ex-lover," he bitterly uttered, which made my brows furrowed. I glanced at Zane, who also seemed to be astonished by my father's remarks. "Oh, your mom hasn't told you? Wow, she hasn't changed at all. She's still as secretive as before. She kept it a secret, like how she kept the secret of her affair with your jerkass father, "
"Samuel, your language! May bata sa hapag, mahiya ka naman," saway ni Tita Lydia sa kanya.
"Wala naman siya no'n," mahinang bulong ni Kuya Ian pero narinig ko 'yon mula sa pwesto ko.
"Now, Zane, tell me, how can you be sure that you're different from your mother? Knowing that in the past relationship we had, she fucking cheated on me with your naive father!"
"Samuel!" Tita Lydia said in a loud voice. "Manang Esther, kindly take Maureen to her room. Hindi na maganda ang naririnig niya dito," Tita Lydia told Manang Esther who quickly get Maureen out of the dining room. When they finally left, Tita Lydia gave Papa a death glare while all of us remained silent. Papa placed down his utensils and looked at Zane, didn't bother about Tita Lydia.
"What now, Zane? What's your assurance that my daughter won't be able to experience the feeling that I'd experience before with that flirtatious woman, which turns out to be your mother?" he asked challengely.
I glanced at Zane who's still looking at my father with the same intensity. I saw how he tightly gripped on the utensils so, I held his right hand under the table. Second after, he gave me a soft glare. I felt him held my hand and squeezed it a bit as if he was assuring me that he's fine and calm. He sighed and clenched his jaw before meeting my father's eyes. "I may not know what exactly happened between you and my mom but, I don't think that's the reason for you to insult my parents. Especially my mom. Mataas po ang respeto ko sa inyo bilang tao at ama ni Celine. Pero hindi din po ako mananahimik lang sa isang tabi kapag nadadamay na po ang mga magulang ko," matigas na sabi ni Zane.
"Una po sa lahat, hindi po malandi ang Mommy ko. Naging saksi po ako kung paano niya mahalin ng sobra ang Daddy ko. Halos dalawang dekada na po silang kasal ng Daddy ko at kahit kailan, wala po silang naging kahit anong issue ng pangloloko sa isa't isa. Napalaki po kami ng maayos ng mga magulang namin at bilang nag-iisang lalaki sa aming magkakapatid, itinuro po sa akin ng mga magulang ko na kung dumating man ang panahon na magmamahal ako, sisiguraduhin kong panghabang-buhay na. Laging pangaral sa akin ng Mommy ko na 'wag na 'wag akong mananakit ng babae, dahil para ko na rin siyang sinaktan kapag ginawa ko 'yon," sabi niya at hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang kamay niya sa ilalim ng lamesa.
"Kung niloko ka man po ng Mommy ko noon, gaya ng sinasabi ninyo ngayon, humihingi po ako ng tawad sa inyo. Siguro po noong mga panahong iyon, may dahilan ang Mommy ko kaya nagawa niya 'yon. Kilala ko po ang Mommy ko. Hindi po siya nakakagawa ng isang bagay na basta-basta lang. Lahat po ng ginagawa at desisyon niya sa buhay, may dahilan." dagdag pa niya. "Ngayon, kung nag-aalala po kayo na baka masaktan ko ang kaisa-isang prinsesa ninyo, binibigay ko na po sa inyo ang salita ko ngayon pa lang. Hindi ko po siya sasaktan. Hindi po mangyayari sa amin kung anuman ang nangyari sa inyo ng Mommy ko noon. Hindi ko po kayang saktan ang anak ninyo sa kahit anong paraan na maiisip ninyo,"
"Paano naman ako nakakasiguro?"
"Dahil mahal ko ho ang anak ninyo. Sa halos ilang taon na paghihintay ko sa anak ninyo, napatunayan ko na po kung gaano katibay at kalalim ang pagmamahal ko sa kanya. Sa ilang taon na paghihintay kahit walang kasiguraduhan na aabot kami sa ganito, napatunayan ko po sa sarili ko na wala na akong ibang mamahalin bukod sa kanya. Dahil po doon, hindi ko po kailanman nakikita na sasaktan ko ang anak ninyo, gaya ng ikinakabahala ninyo ngayon."
Natahimik ang lahat pati si Papa dahil sa mga sinabi ni Zane. Sinalubong niya ang mga tingin ko at naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng kapit niya sa kamay ko. Tumingin ako sa kapatid ko na may maliit na ngisi ngayon sa kanyang labi at itinatago niya 'yon habang umiinom ng juice sa baso. Lumipat ang tingin ko kay Tita Lydia at binigyan niya ako ng mapaglarong kindat na ikinangiti ko nang bahagya.
"Fine..." napalingon kami nang marinig na magsalita si Papa. "But if my daughter cries because of you, I'll never hesistate to make your life suffer," he said seriously while looking at the eyes of my lover.
Zane nodded, staring at my father with the same intensity. "That won't happen, Sir. I give you my word," he said firmly, his gaze fixed on my father. Papa gave him a nod and walked out of the dining room, his face expressionless. What the hell is he upset about?
"He already found someone who's going to match with him, ayan, nag walk-out," sambit ni Kuya at tumawa pa ng bahagya. "Well, I must say I'm impressed with you. The way you talked to that bastard with all sincerity and genuineness, makes me remember the way you talked to me a few years ago. At that exact moment, I knew that you are not the type of guy who gives up without even trying to win a battle. And now, you made me realize that what I believed back then was right," Kuya Ian gave him a genuine smile. "You never failed me. Not once. You really become a man now. I'm beyond proud of you, Engineer,"
I heard Zane chuckled. "Matagal pa 'yan, Doc, pero, thank you. Proud din ako sa'yo kasi kahit gaano kabigat ang trabaho mo sa hospital dahil nga buhay ng mga tao ang nasa kamay mo, nagagawa mo pa ring magkaroon ng oras para kay Celine. Hindi biro ang mga ginagawa ninyo doon pero kahit ganoon, hindi mo kailanman pinaramdam kay Celine na mag-isa siya. Saludo ako sa'yo, Doc. Gonzaga," sambit niya at sumaludo kay Kuya dahilan para matawa naman kami. Kahit si Tita Lydia na nagliligpit ng mga pinagkainan ay natawa din nang bahagya dahil doon.
"Ah, it's sucks hearing that I'm sharing the same surname as that bastard but, I can't do anything about it. If given a chance to replace my surname, I'll replace it with our mother's surname. Servania is better than Gonzaga, anyway,"
After that stressful talk that we had back there, Zane already told us that he'll be heading home already. Him and my brother hugged each other in a manly way before he walked towards my father and shook his hand. Papa tapped his back before he went somewhere to answer a call. He also bid goodbye to my sister and Maureen even kissed my lover's cheeks which made Zane chuckled softly. When he finished bidding goodbye to everyone inside the house, he walked closer to me, held my waist and pulled me closer to him. He planted a soft kiss on the side of my head before we walked out together.
Nang nasa labas na kami ay mabilis niya akong kinulong sa mga bisig niya at paulit-ulit na pinatakan ng halik ang ulo ko. Nakasandal ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya at naririnig ko ang mga tibok ng puso niya. Hindi iyon katulad ng naririnig kong tibok ng puso niya na mabilis na para bang kakawala ito sa puso niya. Ngayon, ang bawat tibok ng puso niya ay kalmado lang. Parang bawat tibok ng puso niyang iyon ay ipinaparinig niya sa akin bilang tanda ng marahan ngunit siguradong pagmamahal niya para sa akin.
Ilang sandali ang lumipas ay pinakawalan namin ang isa't isa at nagtama ang aming mga paningin. Kung noong huli ko siyang nakita ay hindi ko mabatid kung anong emosyon ang nakita ko sa mga mata niya, ngayon ay iba na. Saya, pagkasabik at pagmamahal ang mga emosyon na nakita ko sa mga mata niyang nakatingin sa akin.
"Thank you..." I softly uttered. He raised his brows as if asking why. "Thank you for fighting for me. Thank you for always making me feel your love every single day. For all the efforts and sacrifices that you made for me in all those years, Thank you for loving me even though I still have no idea why, among all of the girls that are head over heels in love with you, I'm the one that you chose to pursue," I bit my lower lip and stifled a soft laugh.
"Oh baby, if you could only see yourself the way I see you, I don't think you'd ever ask that question again," he said as he played with my hair. "Anyway, after ng finals week namin this sem, date tayo. Susunduin kita dito tapos kapag nandito Papa mo, ipapaalam kita,"
I nodded and smiled a little. "Okay,"
He smiled and pulled me again for another hug. It's tighter than earlier. It was so tight as if he was afraid that I might run away or something. Few seconds after, I felt him kissed my head for quite a long time before whispering. "Oh god, I love you,"
I chuckled softly. "I love you,"
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