Chapter 25 | Plan

D E N I S E

"I have news," si kuya Trojan.

Umupo siya sa aking tabi. Sa harap namin ay si kuya Marcus. We were at a coffee shop, waiting for our mother to come to see us.

Seven years passed and it changed everyone of us. A lot of things happened that let us grow, realize stuffs deeply and made us think beyond the frame. The past years weren't hard and not too easy either yet looking back now, everything was worth the pain and struggle.

"Lagi ka na lang may balita. Konti na lang, iisipin ko ng news anchor ka na sa TV Patrol," sabi kong may halong biro.

I was currently in my third year college at kahit medyo mahirap ay nagawa ko pa ring mag-travel kung may oras. Minsan, kasama ko ang aking mga kapatid pero madalas ay si mama ang aking kasama.

As I said before, I could never reconcile with my mom but look at us now. We were so close and she understood my past issues. She even ended my supposed engagement with someone else. She didn't want to force me to the world I never liked.

Before, I thought I was the only one who could lift myself. I thought I didn't need a family.

"Tss. Guess what? Ikakasal na sina tita Snake este tita Fye kay papa sa susunod na buwan," kuya Trojan announced.

Halos mabugahan ko si kuya Marcus ng ininom kong kape.

Kung noon, pakiramdam ko'y open minded na ako, hindi pa pala. I got blinded in the dark because I was alone. Ngayon, wala man akong maraming kaibigan, may ina't mga kuya naman akong naiintindihan ako ng lubusan.

The past years taught me that being contented was the only way to achieve the happiness I wanted.

Oo, balik tambalan na si papa at iyong ahas na iyon pero hindi ko inaakalang push pala hanggang kasalan! Goodness.

Hindi kayo bagay magpakasal. Dasalan sa sementeryo, pwede pa.

"May imbitasyon ba tayo?" kuya Marcus asked.

Kuya Trojan laughed sarcastically. "Kung meron man tayong matatanggap galing sa mga iyon, iyon ay death note! Bugok ka ba? Papalayasin ba tayo noon kung okay sila sa atin? Obvious namang hindi! Wag ka ngang magtanong ng pang-gago," mahabang sagot ni kuya Trojan.

"E, paano mo nalaman?" I asked.

"Nakita ko sa post ni Kye sa Instagram," ani kuya Trojan.

"Sana masaya sila," I commented.

I wasn't the young Lierre Minah Zorron anymore. I was done with this long family drama since then.

Noong grade eleven ako, nagkaroon ng malupitang sagutan sa bahay. Gusto ko sanang i-announce sa hapag na nakapasa ako sa pinaka-mamahaling unibersidad at makakapag-aral ako roon ng libre dahil sa matataas na marka nang madatnan ko ang sagutan nila.

"Bakit ha? Bakit?" ngayon ko na lang nakita si mama na ganito kagalit.

She was not crying but I could feel the bitterness and pain in her voice. Sa harap niya ay sina papa, lola, tita Fye at si Kye.

"Don't worry, Olivia. May posisyon pa naman si Marcus sa kompanya ni Kyer-" mama stopped lola from barking shits.

"I don't give a damn! Ang tinatanong ko ay bakit kailangan nating humantong sa ganito? Your daughter, Minah, was depressed in her teenage years at wala kang ginawa para i-encourage ang bata. Instead, iba ang sinuportahan mo! And instead of recovering, you will break away from me and drive us away!" si mommy.

"May tatlo na tayong mga anak pero ganyan ka. Hindi pa ako patay nito, ipinagpalit mo na ako! Tangina ninyo!" mom was so livid.

She had always been the calm and proper kind of woman. Magalit man siya, matagal niya itong kinimkim bago ilabas. Maybe, this family had enough that made her burst. I was unconsciously crying while watching my mom fight alone.

"Hindi ninyo naman ako gusto, 'di ba? Kaya susulitin ko na 'tong oras ko," dagdag ni mama.

"You know? What you do is regrettable. You will never feel the love of our three children," mom told dad.

Irap lang ng irap si tita Fye habang nakatingin naman sa mga kuko si Kye. They found mom stupid because she was letting her emotions go. Ganoon naman, e.

When you speak, you look foolish especially when you are trying to assert your rights.

"Sana sumaya ka, ha," kalmadong sabi ni mama kay papa.

"At ikaw, gurang na mangkukulam. Gawan mo naman ako ng gayuma. 'Yong gayumang mamamatay ka at 'tong ahas na 'to. Sana sumaya ka rin dahil mai-ichepwera na kami rito. Makakasama mo na sa wakas ang mga inaalagaan mong ahas. Natuloy na rin ang gusto mong tambalan."

And that was the end of it. Pinalayas kami. Nagulat ako noon na may binili pa lang bahay si mama para sa aming apat, like she was prepared.

There I realized my mother's courage. That night, she defended us alone in front of the people who didn't want us.

Tunay ngang bayani ang ina. Wala akong masabi. Kung kaming mga anak niya ay nalungkot, paano pa kaya siya, hindi ba? Pero ni-isang araw, hindi niya pinakitang umiyak sa aming harapan.

Two years kaming walang komunikasyon sa mga gagong 'yon. We were living peacefully like nothing happened. Kuya Marcus had his own company and name, malayo sa aming ama. Kuya Marcus was focused on us and his own family, I felt his love and concern through his efforts.

Nagkaroon lamang kami ng komunikasyon sa kanila last five years. Si papa ang unang nakipag-usap sa amin dahil kinailangan niya si kuya Marcus bumalik sa kompanya dahil bumabagsak ito, kung hindi ba naman tanga ang pinili ni papa, 'di ba?

Umo-o nang walang kahirap-hirap si kuya. Ewan ko kung bakit. Kuya Marcus was contented now with his son and pregnant wife.

Dad married Fye the Snake and the news blasted like fireworks. Most of the people were happy yet some remained disgusted of it.

Two months passed and my life was normal as usual. Not until I got a call from my father.

Knowing him, he wouldn't call for a good reasom kaya kinabahan ako dulot ng kanyang hindi inaasahang tawag.

He said that he needed to talk to me privately about something important. Doon pa lang ay may natunugan na akong ka-iiba.

I felt like he had a plan for me, a bad plan, na hindi ko gugustuhing gawin. Nonetheless, I set a side my thoughts and accepted his call. He's my father after all.

I could just disagree or something if I wouldn't like his important matter.

"Ma'am, nandito na po tayo," anunsyo sa akin ng driver.

I inhaled deeply for I was about to meet my father after a long time. I only saw him on photos and televisions at madalas ko pang iiwas ang aking tingin dulot ng pagka-irita. Ito pa lang muli ang pagkikita namin sa personal.

Nag-door bell ako, tutal stranger ako rito. Agad naman akong pinagbuksan at ni-lead ang daan sa opisina ni papa.

Wala ang mag-ina, baka naghanap ng ibang pagka-aabalahan na lalaki para sa pera dahil balita ko'y malapit ng tumumba ang kompanya ni papa.

"Minah, hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa," si papa, pagpasok ko pa lamang.

"I want you to marry this certain man—"

I knew it. This was the common and most used reason from other companies. I only realized it now that it sucked this much.

"To save your company, am I right?" natatawa kong tanong.

He sighed, "Yes," halos bulong na iyon.

I laughed at that. Seeing my father happy when I married this man made my stomach bubble. Funny how he could give me to anyone like I was nothing but a prop.

"I'm sorry but not really—I will not do what you want. I am old enough to decide for myself. I am peacefully living the life you couldn't give me." I calmly said.

We looked at each other, eye to eye, like we were communicating through it yet minutes passed, I couldn't read any of my father's stares. It was like his eyes were empty and... dark.

"I... already said yes," he whispered.

I lost my cool from what he said. He already agreed without my permission, unbelievable!

"You're a Zorron, you can take back the words you said in any way... or let Kye be the bride instead. She's the perfect daughter, right?" I mocked.

"Hindi. Ikaw ang gusto ng lolo ng groom," he answered.

"Then, tell them I am not interested. Kung hindi mo kayang sabihin, then let me speak to them personally. This method of saving the company is too primitive," I pointed out.

"Besides, kuya Marcus risked himself to help you. Is he not enough to take over the company? He's trying his best and if only you allow kuya Trojan to rule, I bet the companies will be more than they are today," I reasoned.

Father stayed silent, listening—I hope—to my words.

"Just don't involve me into this business. I have my own dreams to reach, if you couldn't see it. I haven't been in a relationship for the past years just to be successful in my chosen field," I said.

"I don't want to marry anyone... eat my decision," I ended my talk and walked away.

I knew this would turn out bad, at least I got prepared. The driver opened the door for me at walang alinlangan akong pumasok doon.

His plan was plain ridiculous. I already planned my future after I graduated and wala roon ang magpakasal. I wanted to give back the efforts my mother and brothers lend me. I wanted to make it up to them by working hard.

My father's concern was out of my business.