Yvonne Alvarez's Point Of View

"KUMALMA ka, Yvonne. Mga kabataan nga naman, hindi lang na-replyan agad magdadabog na. Kami nga noon kailangan pang maghintay ng ilang linggo para lang makuha ang sulat na source of connection namin noon," napailing si Mama.

I squinted my eyes. I can't clearly see Mama from where I am sitting. Nakaupo kasi ito malapit sa bintana na sinisinagan ng araw.

"Technology makes our life easier. Elliana's not answering my calls and not replying to my messages. For a week," I frustratedly  screamed.

Nabuhayan ang loob ko ng tumunog ang cellphone ko. I immediately stood up in excitement but later on answered the phone call with a long face.

"Ate Yel, do you know what's up with Elli? It's been a week. Out of reach ang phone niya."

"Yvonne! Si Elli. Hindi ko rin matawagan. Nagpunta ako sa bahay nila kanina, hindi ako pinapasok ng mga guards."

"What do you mean?"

"Nakausap ko 'yong isa sa mga kasama nila sa bahay. Dinala si Elli sa overseas ng parents niya! A week ago, after she returned home from our house. Nalaman na nilang may girlfriend si Elli, at ikaw 'yon!"

My lips parted in worry. Elli. Goodness gracious.

"At this point, alam mo na na tutol ang parents ni Elli sa relasyon niyong dalawa. It's either you hold on... or let go. Elli is getting married according to the information I got, it's in you if you'll make a move or not."

"Hindi ko pinangakuan ng kasal si Elliana para isuko. I'll be there."

"Anong gagawin mo?! Pag-isipan mo muna ng mabuti, Yvo—"

"Ate, si Elliana ang pinag-uusapan  dito. I'm willing to risk my all for that woman."

Ibinaba ko ang tawag at patakbong pumanhik sa kwarto. I opened my cabinet and took my lagugae and clothes.

Aside from being judged by the society, one of the challenges of loving the same sex is wanting to have the support of parents, relatives or friends. Walang magulang ang gustong sirain ang kanilang anak. As my girlfriends case, she's just being protected. And that's understandable.  Her parents wants a secure future for her... a future where she can be surely happy with a family of her own. But no, I'm so sorry but I won't. Hindi kakayanin ng puso ko na makitang naglalakad si Elliana palapit sa altar pero hindi sa 'kin. It'll hurt so bad. My heart can take the pain for a couple of years, but my sanity couldn't. So no, I am not giving up on my partner.

"Bumalik ka sa 'min ng walang galos, Yvonne Alvarez. Malilintikan ka sa 'min ng Mama mo," bilin ni Papa nang ihatid nila ako sa airport.

"I will, Pa. At pagbalik ko, isasama ko na si Elliana," tango ko.

Wait for me, my adorable green-eyed sweetheart, I'm coming to get you.

"DON'T tell me susugod ka doon ng basta-basta?"

I shrugged. "Why not? I'm going to clarify things."

"Kailangan mong pag-isipan ito ng mabuti. Hindi mo kilala ang mga magulang ni Elli. They're powerful enough to kill you and cover it all up as an accident."

"Madadala naman siguro gn critical thinking," biro ko.

"Naku, tigil-tigilan mo ako Yvonne ha. Tatanda ako ng maaga sa inyo."

"Ate, everything will be okay. Problems aren't made without answers. At wala pa sa plano ko ang sumama kay Lord, okay?"

"Okay, fine, I trust you. Now, go."

I nodded and left with a smile. Wala akong ibang dala kung 'di cellphone at lakas loob lang. I didn't bother bringing anything with me. I'm not going there to impress them, I'm going there to get my world.

"Yvonne Alvarez, hi. I'm Elliana's girlfriend and I'm here to take her back."

Iyon ang paraan ng pagpapakilala ko sa kasama nilang mga tao sa malaking mansyon nila nang pagbuksan ako ng gate. They gasp in surprise.

"Ay naku, hija, hindi ka na sana pumunta dito. Galit na galit si ang tatay ng alaga ko sa iyo."

"Alam ko ho, kaya nga ako nandito. Nandiyan ba si Mr. Castley sa loob?"

"Oo, kakabalik lang nila kaninang madaling araw."

"Pwede ko ho ba siyang maka-usap?"

She was hesitant but opened the gate for me to enter.

"Ted, samahan mo ang bisita natin sa library," utos nito nang makapasok kami.

Iginala ko ang paningin sa kabuuan ng mansiyon. The luxurious chandelier that's hanging not from the ceiling, but it seems like it's floating in the air. An unusual chandelier that provides an infinite sophistication and superbly glamorous focus.

"This way, Miss."

I nodded and followed him to the grand staircase. Malawak ang espasyo ng living room nila, custom design at pang-kastilyo ang datingan.

"Sigńor, a visitor has arrived."

The man opened the door. He motioned his hands for me and I immediately got what he meant. I step inside the library.

"Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa. I don't want my daughter to end up with someone like you. Hindi mo maibibigay sa kaniya ang mga kailangan niya. She's too good for you. You don't deserve my daughter."

I hardly swallowed. I rub my hands against each other as it started getting cold.

"Sir, your daughter means the world to me."

"Okay? Hija, wala akong pakialam kung ano mo ang anak ko. Makakaalis ka na," he grinned.

I felt my knees weakened. I kneeled, no hesitation. I kneeled in front of him and begged to allow us to be together. I tried to explain but some guards pulled me away from there. I went home dumbfounded and mad.

"Babalik ako bukas. Walang susuko," wala sa sariling natawa ako. "Hindi kita susukuan, Elliana."

The routine went on and on and on. Hindi na rin ako pinapapasok sa gate nila. I inwardly chuckled. Umupo ako sa tabi ng kalsada at sumandal sa poste, nakaharap sa malaking bahay nila. This is an embarrassing thing to do, but who cares? This is for her.

"Kumain ka muna, Yvonne. Ang laki ng eyebags mo," puna ni ate.

"I'm full. Mawawala rin 'to kapag nakita ko na si Elliana," nakangiting sagot ko.

"Lips do lie but eyes can't. Come on, eat. You have to keep your stability to do well."

Umiling ako. Dadaan nalang ako sa may restau mamaya para doon na kumain.

"Ayokong dumating sa point na makita nalang kitang nakahandusay sa daan, Yvonne. Kumain ka dito!"

Everything is too much, it drains me. I'm tired and hopeless. I'm not sure if I'm doing okay.

"Bibili nalang ako mamaya, Ate Yel. I'm going, bye."

I bid her goodbye and left. Pagdating sa harap ng gate nila ay natagpuan ko si Manang na nasa labas at kausap ang mga aso na hawak.

"Nandito ho ba si Mr. Castley? Gusto ko siya makausap."

"Yvonne! Nandito ka na naman. Swerte ka dahil kakauwi lang nila galing ibang bansa. Pumasok ka na, ako na ang bahala sa mga gwardiya," she smiled. "Alam ko kung gaano kahirap ang pinagdadaanan niyo ngayon, ang payo ko lang ay ang magtiwala kayo sa isa't isa. Kilala ko ang alaga ko, maldita iyon pero hindi padalos-dalos sa pagd-desisyon. Pagkatapos ng lahat ng ito, makakapagpahinga rin kayong pareho."

"Salamat."

Without any words, I marched inside. Lakad-takbo ang ginagawa ko. I stopped on my tracks when I found them in the living room, talking.

"I'm fed up with you, you disgusting woman! Leave my daughter alone!" he shouted.

"My heart chose your daughter. I am deeply and madly in love with her. I get it, you want to give Elliana a stable and secured future. Kaya nga naka-takda siyang ikasal sa lalaki ngayon, hindi ba? But come to think of it, magiging masaya ba siya? Selfishness can ruin your relationship with her! Ginagawa niyo ang bagay na 'yon ng hindi iniisip ang nararamdaman ng anak niyo.

"Nothing's disgusting about same sex relationship. What's making it disgusting is the people, the people who thinks we are disgusting. Gender doesn't really matter because in the end, love wins. Love is not about sex. Love is about two people who found love with each other. I truly love your daughter, Ma'am, Sir. Mali sa mata ng iba pero hanggat wala kaming tinatapakang ibang tao ipaglalaban namin kung anong mayroon kami. Everyone is free to love, and we are not an exemption."

Elli's father cleared his throat. "You came here, telling me unimportant things and wasted my time."

"Yeah, that's how important she is to me. Hindi kita haharapin dito at sasayangin rin ang oras ko kung hahayaan ko lang ang anak niyo na mapunta sa iba. No, if I have to crash the wedding, oh I will. I will do everything I can to stop that wedding from happening. So, please, give her back to me. I'm tired. I want her presence. I need her. My heart... it's aching."

The man was about to say something when his wife stopped him by touching his wrist. My forehead knotted with that action. That's suspicious.

"Leave... and don't come back," the only thing Elliana's mother said.

Walang imik na tumalikod ako at lumabas. Nkahinga ako ng maluwag paglabas ng gate. Natagpuan ko pa si Manang sa tabi, kinakausap pa rin iyong mga aso.

"—lingid sa kanilang kaalaman ang kahirapan, hamon, at pagtutol na kanilang kahaharapin sa hinaharap. Oh, nandiyan ka na pala. Magpahinga ka, Yvonne, hindi magugustuhan ng alaga ko kapag nakita ka niyang ganiyan."

"Babalik ho ako rito bukas, Manang. I'm still trying my luck."

"Tiwala at pasensya. Magiging maayos rin ang lahat at aayon sa inyo ang tadhana, mga anak."

Umalis ako dala ang presiyo na sinabi ni Manang. Bagsak ako sa sala pagdating sa bahay ni Ate dahil nakalimutan kong kumain. Damn, lying my back against the floor feels good.

"Yvonne! Ayan na nga ba ang sinasabi ko eh." My sister sobbed. "Huwag mo naman kaming pag-alalahin ng malala."

"Why are you crying? I'm just resting, Ate. I'm so tired," pagod akong ngumiti.

"Magpahinga ka lang. Kukuha ako ng unan at kumot mo. Babalik ako agad."

I nodded and closed my eyes. Hindi ko namalayang nakatulog na pala ako. Nagising ako ng dahil sa ingay na naririnig. I opened my eyes and the light from the ceiling was the first thing I saw. Mahinang napadaing ako at dahan-dahan na umupo galing sa pagkakahiga.

"Guess who's back, love."

I stiffened. The person behind me snaked its arms around me.

"E-elli?"

"I miss you."

Umikot ako ng upo at hinawakan ang mukha nito. I gently slapped my face and held her cheeks again. Naglikot ang paningin ko sa magandang mukha nito. Sobrang ganda.

"Masakit... sa dibdib. Saan ka galing?" a lone tear escaped from my eyes.

I pulled her and hugged her tightly as I can. The sweet smile and the longing lingering from her green eyes made me cry even harder.

"I'll tell you some other time. For now, let's savour this moment and feel each other's heat."

"Don't leave. Sama ka nalang sa 'kin oh. Huwag ka ng bumalik sa inyo."

"Hindi na. Dito lang ako sa tabi mo. I missed you so bad."

Bumitaw ako sa pagkakayakap sa kaniya at hinawakan siya sa balikat. I scanned her face and body. Nakasuot ito ng jogger pants at tshirt ko.

"Soryy, I went through your stuff. Wala kasi akong damit, dumiretso kami agad dito paglapag ng eroplano."

"It's okay, you can go through them whenever you want. They really did took you out of the country."

She nodded. "Yes, they did. At ayoko ng mangyari pa ulit 'yon. I love you, Yvonne. Yelena told me everything you did for the past weeks. You don't have to do all that, love. Look at you, you looked worn out."

"I did that because I love you, too. I'm tired, drained, and completely lost, pero pinanghawakan ko ang pangakong hindi kita susukuan. I am insanely into you."

"Oh, love, I love love love you."

"Please, don't leave me again."

"Okay, lovebirds. Oras na para kumain. And you, Yvonne, you should start saving up for future expenses," Ate Yel interrupted.

"Oo nga pala. I'll tell you the complete details after dinner, mahal ko, but I just want to let you know that Papa and Mama disowned me and I have nothing left with me."

"Alright. I'll work hard to provide you with everything you want."

"Ako rin! I'll work for Yelena, it'll be fun."

"As you wish," I smiled.

I pulled he close again and sniffs her hair. Pinaglaruan ko ang singsing sa daliri nito at saglit na napaisip.

"Elli?"

"Hm?"

"I know you're in deep pain right now, and I'll always be here for you. No matter what. I can be your 'pahinga'," I whispered.

Humigpit ang kapit nito sa 'kin.

"I love Mama and Papa, I understand them, but it still stings."

"I know, baby. Cry, it'll make you feel better."

Hinagod ko ang likod nito. "Elliana?"

"Yes?" for the second time, she asked.

"Marry me?"

*****