"Let's go home. Sigurado akong hinahanap ka na ng mom and dad mo, Jenna," wika ni Yves. Narito pa rin kami sa sementeryo. Masyadong napatagal ang paglalambingan naming dalawa at hindi namin namalayan ang oras. Binuhat niya ako patayo papunta sa kotse niya. Para akong koala na nakayakap sa kaniya at sa baywang niya.

"Ihahatid mo ako?" tanong ko.

"Yeah."

"You should, dahil ayokong mapagalitang mag-isa. Siguradong nagulat sila sa akin kanina. Mabuti na lang at wala akong phone, kaya hindi nila ako matatawagan at mabubungangaan."

"You're still as hard-headed as ever," komento niya habang tumatawa. Sinimulan niya nang paandarin ang sasakyan.

"Hindi ka ba kinakabahan?" tanong ko.

"Kinakabahan. Kaya hawakan mo ang kamay ko, para makakuha ako ng lakas. I need you, Jenna."

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. I even intertwined our fingers before I kissed the back of his hand. "I love you, Yves."

Nang makarating kami sa mansion, I immediately see my parents outside lurking around and seeming worried about where I am.

"Mom," pagtawag ko nang makababa ako sa kotse ni Yves nang pagbuksan niya ako ng pinto.

"Jenna! Where the hell—" Naputol ang tanong ni mom nang makita si Yves sa tabi ko.

"I'm here, mom. Dad," pagtawag ko rin kay dad na hindi makapaniwalang nasa harap niya ako kasama ang lalaking matagal ko nang ipinaglalaban sa kaniya.

"Hon, get me my shotgun," utos ni dad kay mommy.

"No! Dad! Please no!"

Akmang lalapit ako kay dad nang makita ko si Yves na lumuhod sa lupa sa harap ng mga magulang ko na ngayo'y nasa hagdan sa main entrance.

He's kneeling again. Like the other day when I saw him approach my dad. And it makes me cry rivers.

"Mr. Levanier, Mrs. Levanier, I know I'm not as rich as your family is, but I'm willing to give my all so you can give your blessings to us. I want to give your daughter a church wedding she wants. I want her to be happy, so please help me to make her happy."

Dad scoffed in disappointment. "You're telling me that now, after you married her without my permission?! All you did was work behind my back!"

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm really sorry, sir. I just love your daughter so much that I don't want to waste that chance to marry her. I'm sorry for being greedy."

"If you really are sorry, then get inside my office," dad stated before turning back on us.

"What?! No! Dad, please, no!"

Hinabol ko siya at hinawakan ang braso niya. "Dad, no!"

"I still don't forget what you did early this morning, Jenna. You make me look stupid. Kasal ka na pala, pero kami ng mama mo ay walang alam."

"I'm sorry, dad. Alam kong hindi ka papayag kaya niyaya ko siyang magpakasal sa akin secretly. We got married at the city hall. I'm sorry. I just love him that much."

He shook his head in grimace. "I can't fathom how you did not see me as your father to disrespect me this way. And for that guy?"

"Dad, I still respect you! You're my father! Kaya nga sumunod akong magpakasal kay Zeus kahit na labag sa kalooban ko! And look, even Yves respects you! Kaya nga siya narito, dahil kung hindi, baka nagtanan na kami, dad!"

Napabuga siya. "And you're proud of that? Kasal ka na kaya malakas ang loob mong magpakasal sa iba, dahil alam mong wala naman 'yong bisa. I don't know who taught you to be this cunning."

Natahimik ako. Isn't it in our blood? Siya rin naman. Hindi niya tinupad ang pangako niya kay Yves. At naaawa ako sa asawa ko dahil siya ang pinakanagdusa sa aming lahat.

"Let's see how your husband can fight for you until the end. Roize, come inside my office!"

"No!"

Napatingin ako kay Yves. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya tsaka ako umiling habang nagsusumamo na huwag sundin si Dad. He just smiled and touched my cheek. "I love you too, Jenna. Don't worry too much. Even death can't make me back down. Wait for me."

Mabigat ang paghinga ko habang nakatingin sa kaniyang likod na pumapasok sa office ni Dad. God, why do we have to suffer like this?

Nanghina ako nang tuluyan at lalong nabalisa. Thank God, Mom was there to carry me to my room.

"Don't worry, Jenna. Everything will be fine," wika ni mom habang nakaupo sa tabi ko. I am on my bed, still crying in fear.

Umiling ako. "I know how much Dad hates him. Nagpakasal lang naman ako dahil alam kong ipipilit ni dad na magpakasal ako kay Zeus for their businesses. But look, kung natuloy ang kasal namin, saan na tayo pupulutin? In fact, Yves helped us. I heard Yves and Mael conspired to save us. Hindi dapat magalit nang ganito si dad."

Ngumiti si mom at hinaplos ang buhok ko. "Calm down, anak. I know your father well enough. He won't harm anyone."

"But he was asking for his shotgun! What does he mean by that?"

Tumawa naman si mom. This is not the right time to laugh. Sumasama ang loob ko. Naiiyak ako lalo.

"Intindihin mo na lang ang dad mo. Look, masama lang ang loob niya dahil sumalisi kayo ng kasal. Para niyo kaming tinanggalan ng karapatan na samahan kayo."

"Because I know you will oppose it, just like that time when I told you that I don't want to marry Zeus anymore. Dad still insists on it. He hates the idea of me being with Yves. Ano bang ginawa ni Yves para makatanggap ng ganitong treatment? Sinusunod naman niya si dad."

"Maybe because it took so long for him to face your dad? I don't know. Your dad has been waiting for it, and he's pushing all the buttons to make Yves run towards you. Hindi ko alam. It's just my observation, anak. Hindi ko alam ang tumatakbo sa mga utak ng lalaki."

"Because Yves doesn't want to face dad empty-handed."

"Then it must be true. He's really in love with you, Jenna, to be that patient enough to prepare himself first before asking for your hand. I'm glad you married him."

My eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean, mom? Hindi ba't kakampi kayo ni dad? Kay Zeus niyo rin ako gustong ipakasal."

"Who told you that? Nandoon lang naman ako sa kung saan ka masaya. You told us you love Zeus, and that's why I believed you really loved him. But I couldn't believe that he could abduct you, and his family is planning to do some dirty tricks on us. I'm really disappointed. I trusted them." She held my hand. "Honestly, I'm glad na naisip mong pakasalan si Yves, bago ka bumalik sa amin. I'm thankful that you did that. You see, I've been waiting for that also."

Lalong kumunot ang noo ko.

"To be really honest, I was expecting something before, when I let you sleep in his house."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "What? Mom? Are you for real?"

"I'm not putting you into the den. It was just because I trust Yves that he will not do something to take advantage of you, and I'm proud that he really did nothing."

Agad akong namula nang maalala ko ang gabing iyon. Kung alam lang ni mom, muntikan na rin kayang may mangyari.

"How about now? Did you finally do it with him?"

Lalong nag-init ang pisngi ko. "How dare you ask me that, mom?!"

Tumawa siya. "Wala, pinagagaan ko lang ang loob mo. Hindi mo naman kailangang sagutin kasi madali ka namang mabasa."

"Umalis na nga po kayo rito, mom! Hindi ko na alam ang dapat kong maramdaman dahil sa inyo!"

Humalakhak pa siya at iniba ang paraan ng pagtingin sa akin. Tila ba nanunudyo. She even pressed her lips. God, I want to cry. Hindi ko na talaga alam. Nag-aalala ako kay Yves, pero at the same time, natatawa dahil naaalala ko ang mga ginawa namin ni Yves nang gabing magpakasal kami.

"I'm glad you are finally together now," nakangiting sambit ni mom, bago tuluyang lumabas sa kwarto.

Muli namang bumukas ang pinto at napatayo ako nang makita si Yves. "Yves! What happened?"