Chapter 47

Nakangiti kong tiningnan si Lola habang pinapakain siya ni Yves. She's now finally discharged but she still needs to be on her wheelchair. She's still not that strong enough to walk and move alone. Kailangang naka-alalay kaming dalawa ni Yves.

I have no complains about it though. I'm happy that I'm taking care of her.

Umupo naman ako sa tabi ni Yves. "Eat now. Ako na ang magpapakain kay Lola.."

"Are you sure?" nangingiti namang niyang tanong. Lola is also smiling weakly while looking at us.

Tumango naman ako at kinuha ang pagkain ni Lola kay Yves. Lola's smile became much wider because of what I did. I know that she's still weak.. well, at least slightly weak but at the same time - her smile is strong enough to make me feel better and happy despite of the thought that Mom may find me here. Makikita niya ako rito at baka madamay pa sina Lola sa galit niya.

I don't want that to happen.

"Masaya ka ba ngayon, hija?"

Napatingin naman ako kay Lola dahil sa tanong niya. Wala na sa tabi ko si Yves dahil nasa kusina.

I smiled and nodded. "Yes, Lola. Bakit niyo naman po naitanong?"

"Masaya ako na masaya ka kasama ng apo ko." Mahina siyang ngumiti sa akin. "Pwede bang sa labas na lang tayo? Gusto kong magpahangjn.."

"Sige po..."

Dinala ko siya sa labas paharap sa dalampasigan. She's still on her wheelchair while I'm sitting on a big rock beside her. We're both smiling while looking at the sea.

It's already noon but the sunlight isn't that strong. Payapa lang din ang dagat at hindi masyadong maalon.

"Gusto mo bang malaman kung bakit noon ay ayaw sa iyo ng mga tao rito?"

I looked at Lola immediately after that. "A-Ano po bang reason?"

Because of what she said, I remembered what happened a few years ago. I remembered that I almost got drowned before and no one bothered to help me because according to them - I'm the illegitimate child of Alesso Rivera. Kung hindi dahil kay Yves.. nalunod na ako at wala na ako rito.

"Ilang taon na ang nakararaan nang makilala ni Alesso Rivera si Minerva, ang iyong ina. Noong mga panahong iyon, nakatakda na ang ama mong ikasal kay Sandra Lope de Vega na buntis na sa kanilang kambal na anak. Aksidente niyang nabuntis si Sandra, hija. Pero kahit aksidente lang iyon, kailangan niya pa ring panindigan si Sandra.."

She stopped for a moment. She's maybe trying to remember what happened. Napaisip naman ako sa sinabi niya. I know nothing about it not until today.

"Pinilit ding ipakasal ang dalawa hindi lang dahil buntis si Sandra kundi dahil na rin sa negosyo ng dalawang pamilya. At noong mga panahong iyon ay namamahala pa ang mga Rivera sa buong Liraya kaya ginusto talaga ng mga Lope de Vega na pag-isahin ang iyong ama at si Sandra. Pero hindi pumayag ang iyong ama dahil napamahal na siya kay Minerva. Si Minerva ay gano'n din pero naging tuso ang iyong ina.. hindi ko alam kung ano ang tunay na ginawa niya kay Sandra at pinili nitong umalis ng isla kasama ng mga anak niya.

Makalipas ang ilang araw, nabalitaan ng lahat ng tao sa isla na namatay si Sandra kasama ng mga anak niya. Lumubog ang sinasakyan nilang bangka, hija. Dahil sa nangyari, nagalit ang mga tao sa iyong ina dahil kinagigiliwan nila si Sandra. Mabait, mapagmahal at napakaganda ni Sandra noong araw kaya gustong-gusto siya ng mga tao rito. Pero nang dahil sa ginawa ni Minerva, siya ay nasawi.."

My mouth slightly opened because of that. I can't really process everything in my mind right now. Hindi ko maisip na ganoon si Mom! Kahit hindi ko pa naman alam kung ano ang ginawa niya sa Sandra na 'yon!

"H-How did you know about this, Lola?" tanong ko naman.

Lumingon naman siya sa akin at ngumiti nang kaunti. "Dati akong naninilbihan sa mga Rivera.."

"Ano po sa tingin niyo ang ginawa ni Mom kay Sandra kaya siya umalis? At kung si Mom nga ang reason, pinakulong ba siya ng family ni Sandra?"

"Hindi ako.. sigurado kung ano ba talaga ang ginawa ni Minerva. Wala ring sapat na ebidensya na siya nga ang dahilan ng pag-alis ni Sandra kaya hindi siya napakulong ng mga Lope de Vega."

I looked at her. It seems like she wants to say something more about it but she's hesitant.

"K-Kaya rin kita pinalayo noon kay Marcus ay dahil natatakot akong baka may gawin din siya sa apo ko, hija. Patawad at ngayon ko lang nasabi sa 'yo.."

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa sinabi ni Lola kahit magkasama na kami ni Yves ngayon. I'm really eager to know what happened before between Sandra Lope de Vega and my mother. I want to know what she did to Sandra that's why she left before.

And because of that.. she died and her children.

Ano nga ba talaga ang totoong ginawa ni Mom sa kanila? I'm really curious!

I really want to know but I just can't go to Mom right now just to ask her about this and I'm sure she won't even tell the truth! I know her!

"Alindra.."

I almost jumped when Yves called me out. I realized that we're now riding on a horse. Hindi ko alam kung saan kami papunta.

"Are you okay? Kanina pa kita tinatawag," sabi niya pa at kaunting lumingon sa akin.

Kumapit naman ako nang mahigpit sa kaniya. "Y-Yeah. May iniisip lang ako."

"Ano 'yon?"

Inalalayan niya akong bumaba sa kabayo nang tumigil siya sa pagpapatakbo nito. Napansin ko naman kaagad ang malinaw na tubig ng talon malapit sa amin. I can almost see my reflection because of the clarity of the water.

"I just wanna ask.. where are your parents? Bakit si Lola lang ang kasama mo? Pwede bang malaman?" I asked carefully when I looked at him again.

"Bata pa lang ako iniwan na ako ng mga magulang ko kay Lola," sagot niya habang malayo ang tingin. "The only thing that I know about my parents is that.. my father is a pilot. While my mother was a sex worker before she died. Sinabi ni Lola dati sa akin na hindi raw kami matanggap ng taong nakabuntis kay Mama. He believed that I'm not his son because of my Mom's work before. He didn't accept me.. kahit hanggang sa mamatay si Mama nang ipinanganak ako.."

I stopped for a while because of what he just told me. I didn't know that his own father neglected them. Especially him! Ngayon ko lang 'to nalaman!

"Did you even meet him?"

Umiling naman kaagad siya. "I didn't even have a chance to see him. Kahit picture, wala. I only know his name.. Gregory."

Nalungkot naman ako sa ikinuwento niya. Si Lola lang pala talaga ang nag-alaga at kasama niya dati pa lang. Because of that, I admire his Lola more. She's just so kind and loving. She's strong and even brave. Kinaya niyang palakihin si Yves nang mag-isa - nang walang hinihinging suporta galing sa iba.

"You didn't tell me about this before," nagtatampong sabi ko sa kaniya. I even sighed.

Lumapit naman siya sa akin at niyakap ako sa likuran nang lumayo ako. "I'm sorry. Hindi ko lang alam kung paano ko sisimulan and I don't really want to talk about it anymore.."

Hinarap ko naman siya habang yakap niya pa rin ako. Not so tight but I can still feel his warmth.

"So why did you still tell me if you don't want to talk about it? Huh?"

"Ayaw kong magtago sa 'yo, Alindra. Ngayong tinanong mo na.. sino ako para hindi ka sagutin?" nakangiti niyang tanong sa akin.

He's sticking our nose together. Umiwas naman kaagad ako at baka mahalikan ko pa siya rito. I still can't get over about what happened to us last night.

Para naman akong namula nang maalala ko ulit 'yon.

"Yves! Let's go home! Baka nag-aalala na si Lola sa atin!" sabi ko na lang para mawala sa isip ko ang naalala.

I screamed when he suddenly jumped to the water after I sat down on one of the rocks. Tumili pa ulit ako nang bigla niyang hawakan ang paa ko nang umahon siya. I was shocked even more when he kissed me on my lips and after that, I felt a cold thing on my finger. My finger quivered not because of the coldness of his hands but because I saw a ring on my left hand.

Kumikintab ang maliliit na batong nakapalibot sa singsing dahil nasisinagan ng araw. The ring is just simple but I love it. Siguro ay may naka-engrave pang letters sa loob nito. I looked at the ring again before I look at Yves. When I saw his face - I noticed that his eyes are full of hope and happiness even when if he's not really smiling right now. He's just looking at me while he's still on the water.

Basang-basa na siya dahil sa malakas na pag-agos ng tubig sa talon. Pero parang wala siyang pakialam kahit sobrang lakas no'n.

Binalik ko ulit ang tingin sa singsing dahil hindi ako makapaniwala. I'm just too stunned to say anything or even move. I just really can't believe it!

After many minutes, I managed to say, "I-I don't want to assume but.. is this an engagement ring?"

Gusto kong magtakip ng bibig nang ngumiti siya at pagkatapos ay tumango. Tears formed in my eyes immediately after that. My heart is beating so loud and fast right now that it became painful. Pero sa pagtingin ko sa mga mata ni Yves at paghalik niya sa kamay ko - malakas pa rin ang tibok ng puso ko pero mas naging kalmado.

"I don't.. really know what to say," biglang sabi ni Yves. Tumingin naman ulit ako sa singsing na sinuot niya sa akin. "But I just want you to know that I want to marry you. Alindra, kahit saang simbahan.. pakakasalan kita. Pumayag ka lang na pakasalan ako, mamahalin kita hangga't gusto mo. Hangga't nabubuhay ako.."

Doon na tumulo ang luha ko sa sinabi niya. I don't know what to say, too. My feelings are just so overwhelming right now. Para akong nasusuka. Naiiyak. Natutuwa. This is so indescribable!

"Oo.. pumapayag ako. I want to marry you, too, Yves. Mahal kita.."

Naluha ulit ako dahil sa sinabi ko. Yves didn't utter a word when he rushed to hug me even if he almost didn't reach me dahil nasa tubig pa rin siya habang ako, nakaupo pa rin sa bato.

"Tomorrow, we'll go back to Manila. I'll face your parents. Kakausapin ko sila. Sasama ka ba sa akin?" sabi niya sa akin habang diretsong nakatingin sa mata ko.

Tumango naman ako at niyakap siya ulit.

"Mahal na mahal kita, Alindra. Pakakasalan kita.."

Wala na akong pakialam kung may makakita sa amin dito. I just kissed him with full of love even if our lips are not moving. Payapa na kahit papaano ang agos ng tubig na kanina ay malakas. Payapa rin ang tibok ng puso ko na sumasabay na sa pag-ihip ng hangin at huni ng ibon.

I'm sticking our foreheads together when I saw him smiled. Habang ako naman, naluha.

While I'm looking directly at his eyes - I realized that I wasn't wrong before when I knew that he made me changed for the better. Siya at ang pag-ibig niya mismo ang nagpabago sa akin.

Before, I didn't really believe in love. I believed that it was just a phase. A bullshit. Just a waste of time. Wala akong mapapala. That's why I've dated a lot of men before. I had a lot of boyfriends before but I didn't really love them.

The relationships that I had with them before were never serious. I knew for myself that time that I was just playing with them. I knew that we were just using each other.

Kahit kailan.. hindi ako nagkagusto sa lalaki.

Kay Yves lang. Siya lang talaga.

Because of him, my perspective in love changed.

I distanced myself few inches away from him just to.glance at the ring again and admire it. Tuwang-tuwa ako sa nakikita ko at nangyayari ngayon. My happiness with him is just so priceless and the memories that I have with him will be treasured forever.

Hinding-hindi na yata masisira ang kasiyahan ko dahil sa kaniya.

. . .

"Saan mo gustong ikasal?"

Napatingin naman ako kay Yves nang bigla siyang magtanong. We're holding our hands together while we're walking on our way home. Isinauli na namin ang hiniram niyang kabayo sa isang rancho.

I smiled at his question. "Anywhere.. basta ikaw ang groom."

Tumango naman siya sa sagot ko. I smiled even more when I saw his face turned red for a moment. "Ako.. gusto ko sana rito. Doon mismo sa bagong simbahan sa Sentro."

"Alright. If that's what you want," I replied as we both looked at each other and smiled.

Sabay naman kaming napatingin sa bahay nina Yves na maraming tao sa harapan. We hurriedly went closer to their house because of that. There are a lot of nosy people around. I don't know yet what they're talking about and why they're here.

I'm about to ask them when Yves said, "Ate Sinang, anong nangyayari?"

Napatingin naman sa akin ang babae. She has a tanned skin, as usual. She's not familiar and it looks like she's hesitating whether she'll say something or not.

Walang nagsasalita sa kanila nang magtanong pa ulit si Yves kaya pumasok na kami sa loob ng bahay. When we finally got inside their house, my heart almost jumped and stopped from beating when I saw Lola lying on the floor. I also saw an old woman checking her pulse but she just shook her head.

"Lola? Anong nangyari kay Lola?!"

Yves panicked when he saw his grandmother. He immediately went closer to her. I'm still confused on what's happening but I have a bad feeling about this.

"A-Ano pong nangyari kay Lola? Please, sabihin niyo po," I begged the old woman to speak.

"Napadaan kami ng mga kasama ko nang makita namin siyang hawak ang dibdib niya. Tinanong ko siya kung anong nangyari pero hindi niya sinabi sa akin. Ikaw ba ang nobya ng kaniyang apo?" sabi naman niya at tumango ako kahit naguguluhan pa rin. "Sinabi niyang kung pwede ay bumalik ka na lamang sa iyong pinanggalingan. Gusto niyang mag-ingat ka.. kayo ng apo niya. Sinabi niya 'yon bago siya bawian ng buhay.."

"Bawian ng buhay?" I asked her, unbelievably.

"Lola! Lola, gumising ka!"

Napatingin naman ako kay Yves nang paulit-ulit niyang tawagin si Lola pero kahit isang beses, hindi ito gumalaw o nagsalita man lang. I covered my mouth when I realized what just happened.

She probably had a heart attack again! But it became worse this time!

"Dapat hindi na lang natin iniwan si Lola rito.."

"Oras na niya, hija. Hindi na natin mababago 'yon..."

I didn't know what to say when the old woman spoke again. Marami pa ring tao ang nakapaligid sa amin but none of them even bothered to help.

"Yves Marcus, wala na ang Lola mo," someone announced. Yves repeatedly shook his head after that.

He's not crying. Tulala lang siyang nakatingin kay Lola na ngayon ay mabuti naman at binubuhat na. I'm caressing his back while I'm now crying and watching them carry the body of Lola. Tulala pa rin naman si Yves nang sumunod sa kanila kaya sumunod na lang din ako. Lutang din ako habang naglalakad palapit sa kanila.

I really can't process everything and I don't want to accept that Yves' grandmother is now dead.

Hindi ako makapaniwala. Parang kanina lang.. kausap ko pa siya. Kasama pa namin siya. Is this really happening?

Yves is hurting! Ayaw kong nakikita siyang nasasaktan!

"Sabi na nga ba dito lang kita makikita.."

I heard a voice behind me all of a sudden. Because of that, I stopped from walking and watching Yves. Malayo na siya akin. I slowly turned around only to see my cousin - Adam.

Kaagad namang nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita siya. "A-Adam? What are you doing here?"

"Sumama ka sa akin. You need to go back to Manila," he told me directly. He looks very serious at mukhang nagmamadali pa siya.

I panicked when I saw some of their bodyguards. Naguluhan naman ako sa nangyayari. I'm about to call Yves but then I saw that he's already far away from us.

Ayaw ko na ring dumagdag pa sa problema niya ngayon.

"Wait! S-Si Yves! He needs me!" sigaw ko nang lumapit na sa akin ang tatlong bodyguards. "Hindi ako sasama sa inyo! Adam, ano ba? Hayaan niyo na lang ako!"

I even almost kicked the bodyguards because they're now holding me tightly. Their grip is so strong that I can't even loosen it! Kailangan kong makawala! Kailangan ako ni Yves!

Mom probably told them to follow me here and do this to me! I really hate her!

"Let go of me! Hindi nga sabi ako sasama---"

"Hindj ka pa rin sasama kahit malaman mong kritikal ang kalagayan ni Tito Alesso?" pagputol ni Adam sa akin.

Tumigil naman ako sa paghila sa kamay ko at tiningnan siya nang hindi makapaniwala. "W-What are you saying?"

"Your Dad is really not fine right now. He had a car accident. Lasing siya nang mag-drive pauwi sa mansion---"

"No!" I cut him off as I disagreed even if there's a part of me broke apart when I heard the news. I don't want to believe him. "Sinasabi mo lang 'yan para sumama ako sa inyo! To tell you honestly, I won't obey our grandmother! I won't marry that El Vierro! Si Yves lang ang pakakasalan ko! Tell it to her!"

I even showed him the ring on my left finger but he didn't even react. Instead, he showed me his phone and I saw a picture of Dad. My eyes widened when I saw him lying on the hospital bed! There are a lot of equipments beside him!

"If you really care for your Dad, you'll come with us and you'll visit him. Kailangan ka rin ni Tita Minerva.."

"T-This isn't true. I don't want to believe you! Adam, sabihin mong hindi 'to totoo at gawa-gawa niyo lang 'to para sumunod ako sa inyo!" sabi ko pero umiling lang siya.

Doon na ako tuluyang nanghina.

... ... ...