Blessing

TWO YEARS LATER...

Lemuel's

"ARE you sure?"

Lia sounded so worried. Kagabi niya pa ako kinakausap tungkol sa bagay na itinatanong niya sa akin ngayon. But I have made up my mind. I won't run for office again. I'd rather be in a peaceful life, than be in the limelight again. Pangarap kong makapagsilbi sa tao, isang bagay na hindi naman nabago kahit kailan, at maaari ko pa rin namang gawin iyon kahit hindi na ako ang mayor ng bayang ito. Lia looked at me with those puppy eyes of hers. We were inside the walk in closet, I was getting ready for the flag ceremony, I faced her and held onto her arms.

"It's not like I'm sad about it, Love." Hinagkan ko siya sa noon. "I did my two terms already. Masaya na ako sa kung anong nagawa ko para sa bayang ito. Palagay ko panahon naman na para sarili ko naman ang unahin ko. Isa pa, the Vice Mayor is as capable as I am. Magaling siya, iisa ang vision naming dalawa. Sana nga lang manalo siya sa election." I chuckled. Niyakap ko pa si Lia. I'll be announcing later in the flag ceremony that I won't be running as mayor or any other public positions this coming election.

"Are you really super sure about it? If this is because of me..."

"Lia... look at me..." Malumanay na wika ko, tumingin naman si Lia sa akin. She's on the verge of crying again. Kagabi pa niya ako iniiyakan nang sabihin ko sa kanya na hindi na ako tutuloy sa huling termino ko. "You know that I will always choose you, right? But it's not all because of you." Sabi ko na lang sa kanya. "I feel like I have done enough for the city, it's time to be a private citizen. Maayos naman na ang lahat. I'll be helping my father in our family business; the most important thing is that he seemed so thrilled about it when I mentioned that I am interested in working for him. So, don't worry, okay?" Lia buried her face on my chest. Niyakap ko lang naman siya ng mahigpit. I kept on kissing the top of her head while whispering sweet nothings on her ear. I want her to be at ease, I want her to know that this is really okay.

After losing her job as a noon time show host two years ago, nag – desisyon si Lia na mag-aral muli. She's taking up Bachelor of Advertising and public relations and so far, she's doing a great job in her school. Sa katunayan, isa siya sa mga President's lister nitong sem na ito. I am so proud of her.

"You better go na." Sabi niya sa akin and then she kissed my cheek. "Male-late ka sa flag ceremony mo."

"Okay, Love. Gusto mo bang sunduin kita mamaya sa school?" Lia shook her head. Dalawang tao na siyang nag-aaral sa La Salle, pero hanggang ngayon hindi niya pa rin akong pinapayagan na sunduin ko siya.

Ang nakakalungkot lang, kahit na dumaan na ang panahon at dalawang taon nang tahimik si Lia at wala sa showbiz, tuwing makikita kaming magkasamang dalawa ay kung ano – ano pa rin ang sinasabi tungkol sa kanya. Sa naging issue naming dalawa, si Lia ang mas apektad. Kahit sinabi ko na sa lahat na ako ang may kasalanan ng lahat ng ito, they still blame Lia for all of it, samantalang ako, I came out of it without a scar.

I kissed her again before leaving the house. Sumakay ako ng kotse at nagsabi sa driver kung saan kami pupunta – which is sa city hall. Habang nasa kotse ay nag-check ako ng social media. Lia is extra sad today, I hope she didn't read anything bad today. She's not supposed to see anything, dapat nga ay hindi na niya pakialam ang mga bagay na iyon, kaya nga lang, hindi ko hawak ang isip ni Lia, all I can do for her is to assure her that I will never leave her side no matter what happens.

Nasa proseso pa rin ang annulment namin dalawa. We don't talk about it, wala naman kasi kaming problema tungkol doon. We just want a clean slate, iyon ang hindi naiintindihan ng ibang tao sa paligid namin. They want us to have a hard time, gusto nilang maging malungkot kami ni Lia, gusto nilang mahirapan kaming ma-process ang annulment naming dalawa, isang bagay na hindi ko maintindihan. Bakit ba sila galit na galit sa amin? Our families have forgiven us, but these people are so angry that they want so many bad things to happen to us.

Lia has fallen into deep sadness. Napakadali niyang maapektuhan ng mga bagay na sinasabi tungkol sa amin. One incident was when there's a hashtag going on twitter - #FREEMAYOR, parang ako pa iyong nakulong sa relasyon na mayroon kaming dalawa. They make it seem like I don't have any choices but to stick with her. So I posted something about that I told everyone that whatever I have with Lia is special and that we want to keep it within ourselves – na ikinagalit naman ng marami kasi buong buhay raw namin ay nakapailalim kaming dalawa sa mata ng mga tagahanga, bakit daw biglang gusto namin ng privacy.

It's different now. I want to protect Lia from pain.

Lahat ng issues tungkol sa amin noon ay inayos ko na, but these people, napakahirap nilang magpatawad.

"There's an interview, Sir." Biglang nagsalita si Michael – my driver. I looked at him. "An ambush interview with your mom." Agad kong hinanap ang video na iyon. Nakita ko naman agad, sa video, kalalabas lang ni Mama ng Wilf Flour, kasama ang Mama ni Yves, Mcbeth at Paolo, with Tita Nadia. They seemed to be just going along with their day when my mom was asked by some reporters.

"What about my son and Lia?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya.

"Is it okay with you that your son is staying with a woman who used him?" Napakuyom ang mga palad ko. My mother – being the diva that she is – took off her sunglasses and then she looked at the reporter from head to toe saka siya sumagot.

"Look who's talking. Aren't you one of those reporters spreading false rumors about my son and my daughter-in-law? Sa inyong dalawa ni Lia, sino ngayon ang manggagamit?" And then, Mom walked away. Napangiti ako pero ngayon ko naiisip ang epekto noon kay Lia. I sighed. Hindi siya manggagamit, hindi niya ako ginamit kahit kailan. Bakit ba hindi maintindihan ng mga tao iyon.

It's been two years pero hanggang ngayon hindi nabago ang tingin nila kay Lia. It's so sad.

"Mayor, nandito na po tayo." Sabi sa akin ni Michael. Kaagad naman akong bumaba. The people greeted me. I smiled at them, pero sa kabila ng mga ngiting iyon ay inaalala ko si Lia. I hope school goes okay today. Kung minsan kasi masaya siyang aalis sa bahay pero uuwi siyang malungkot, at base sa mga report sa akin ng bodyguards ni Lia, kung minsan raw ay nakakarinig ang asawa ko ng masasakit na salita galing sa mga kaklase niya, one reason why she never wants me to pick her up at school.

Lia is still Lia whenever we are inside our home and when we're with our family, but when we're out in public, nakapataas ng guard niya. Ni ayaw niya akong makasabay sa paglalakad – it affects me too, pero iniintindi ko siya. It's partly my fault why we're like this.

I did my morning routine, I greeted everyone, and I attended the flag ceremony in which I announced about my next plan. Marami sa kanila ang mukhang disappointed sa desisyon ko, pero mas marami rin ang nagpakita ng suporta. Wala naman kaso sa akin kung anuman ang reaksyon na matanggap ko mula sa kanila. I want a life – a peaceful life with Lia and I feel like we will only achieve that kung pati ako ay mawawala sa spotlight. Kung gugustuhin ng ani Lia, pwedeng – pwede kaming lumipat sa ibang bansa o umuwi sa Nueva Ecija kung nasaan ang mga magulang niya. I am willing to do everything for her. I love her so much.

I went on my day. I was kind of busy, masyadong maraming meetings at mga papel na kailang i-review. Ieven did an ocular inspection para sa bagong pabahay project para sa City namin. Despite of all these schedule, hindi ko nakakalimutang i-text at tawagan si Lia, but the thing is she's not replying at all. She went to school this morning, inisip ko na lang na busy siya, baka may exam o kung anuman, I just jope she is okay today. I want her to feel okay. I always want Lia to be happy.

That was why when I suddenly received a call from one of her guards, agad akong napatayo ay nagsabing uuwi.

Umiiyak raw si Lia at nagpauwi ito kaagad sa bahay. Nagkuyom ang mga palad ko sa kaalaman na may posibilidad na may narinig siya o baka kung ano na naman ang sinabi sa kanya at naapektuhan siya masyado kaya siya nag – iiyak. I am trying my best not to make her cry, or hurt her, I want to protect her with all my life, pero heto ang mga tao sa paligid namin, palaging gumagawa ng paraan para masaktan siya and I don't like that.

Dali – dali akong nagpauwi sa bahay. I was greeted by such silence – and I don't like it. Usually sinasalubong ako ni Lia ng yakap at halik, then she'll ask about my day and then we'll have dinner. That Lia is a happy Lia. What the hell happened to my happy Lia.

I went to our room – ginawa na naming silid ang guest room na palagi naming tinutulugan noon. I had it renovated and Lia was the one who thought of everything inside it. Nang makapasok ako ay wala siya sa kama, but I can hear her sobs and whimpers, nanggagaling iyon sa loob ng walk in closet. I went there and I found her sitting on the floor, beside all our wooden closet.

Agad ko naman siyang pinuntahan. I kneeled in front of her, held her shoulders and slowly made her look at me.

"Love, baby, my love what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Pigil na pigil ang mga hagugol ni Lia.

"Plea...se... please hold me... please..." And I did. Kahit hindi niya sabihin ay niyakap ko siya. I made her sit on my lap. I sat on the floor and I enclosed her in my embrace. She kept on crying in my arms. I wanted her to tell me what's happening, what hurt her and why is she crying like this, but instead of bombarding her with questions, I stayed silent and let her cry. Kapag tapos na siyang umiyak at kapag maayos na ang pakiramdam niya ay saka ko siya tatanungin.

After for what it seemed like an eternity, she slowly calmed down. Lumuwag din ang yakap niya sa akin. I stayed still and waited for her.

"Baby..." I called her. "You have to tell me things like this. I want to know why you're crying like that. I am so worried. What happened? Did you hear something?"

Lia looked at me, she's pouting, parang nagtataka pa siya habang nakatingin sa akin, and then she sighed.

"I..." She sobbed... "went to the doctor." Napakunot ang noo ko. "And she told me that..."

"What?!" Napasigaw ako. Nagulat pa si Lia. "I'm so sorry, Lia. Sorry..."

"Pregnant..." Napakahina ng boses ni Lia. Hindi ko siya maintindihan. Noon ko lang napansin na may hawak siyang maliit na retrato. She showed me the picture and my heart stopped beating for a while, I feel like my soul left my body and all I could do is stare at the picture Lia was showing me.

Noon naging malinaw sa akin ang sinasabi ni Lia. PREGNANT. That was what she said. She is pregnant. Bigla ko na naman siyang nayakap nang mahigpit. She cried again, but this time, I cried with her. Dalawa na kaming naghahahagulgol doon sa loob ng walk – in closet na iyon. I am overwhelmed with so much happiness. I realized that Lia wasn't crying because of negativities. She was crying because like me, she is happy.

We weren't trying to get pregnant, but this gift that was given to us, we'll take care of it, we will nurture it with love.

"Hindi ka pwedeng magpagod." I whispered to her. "Also we'll go to another doctor tomorrow, okay? I will make sure that you have everything you need, Love. I'll take care of you more now. I love you so much. Thank you, thank you, Lia." Pinugpog ko siya ng halik.

Lia smiled at me.

"I love you so much, Lemuel."

I hugged her again. I have on my hand the picture of her sonogram and Lia was in my arms, crying because of so much happiness. I realized one thing at this moment, I have everything I need right now and I will never exchange this for anything else...

****

Lia Oracion and Mayor Lemuel Arandia are pregnant! See more...

Baby M: Ang bobo naman ng caption, silang dalawa buntis? Hoy Inquirer, ayusin ninyo naman iyan!

IyoB: Hahahaha! Buntis din si Mayor? Tatanga – tanga naman!

Sweetchilip: Oh my! Congratualations, Lia and Mayor! Finally!

Trudis: Is it another one of their fiasco? Sobrang tahimik na nila nitong nakaraang taon, tapos may paganito na naman? Buntis ba talaga o kasama na naman sa script?

Liahater: Diba nag-annul na sila tapos nabuntis? Nilandi na naman ni Lia si Mayor. Jusko, hindi pa ba sila tapos maggamitan?

TherealIdo: @Liahater- alam mong putang ina ka, kung wala kang masabing maganda sa buhay ng ibang tao, umuwi ka sa inyo at magsaing! Baka mabigla ako ipahanap kita tapos sampalin kita ng pera! Putang ina mo rin @Trudis, nananahimik na nga sila kasi ayaw ng gulo, tapos ikaw kung ano – ano pang sinasabi mo! Baka mabura lahat ng apleyido ng pamilya mo sa Pilipinas!

TherealIdo: Congrats Lia and Lemuel! I'm so happy for you guys! Hayaan ninyo lahat ng haters! Hahanapin ko sila isa – isa! Ang saya ko! Magkaka-apo na ako sa inyo!

KingDavid: @TherealIdo iyong totoo mong apo nandito sa bahay hindi mo naman pinapansin tapos aampon ka pa ng apo ng iba.

TherealIdo: @KingDavid ULOL! Pwede bang di ko pansinin ang mga apo ko! Kapag nagpunta ako dyan at nakita ako ng mga iyan hindi ka na naman papansinin niya tapos magrereklamo ka at ako ang papagalitan ng anak ko! Tarantado ka pala! Hintayin mo ako diyan ay iuuwi ko sa amin iyang mga apo ko!

AzulSimoun: @TherealIdo @KingDavid napakaingay ninyo, nakakahiya kayo!

TherealIdo: @AzulSimou labs, siya naman ang nauna.

RicardoIII: @TherealIdo, matagal ko na pong nababasa ang mga comments ninyo, Sir, curious lang ako, what's the real score between you and @AzulSimoun?

TherealIdo: @RicardoIII sino ka naman?

AzulSimoun: @RicardoIII ako ang first love niya.

TherealIdo: @AzulSimoun @RicardoIII putang ina! Mas nakakakilig pa rin ang labs ko kaysa kay Lemuel at Lia!

xx ALPHA xx