Chapter 26 | New

"Naiinis na ako r'yan sa putanginang 'yan, ha," kuya Trojan ranted.

"Trojan, ama pa rin natin siya," banta ni kuya Marcus.

Tumayo si kuya Trojan at muling nagsalita.

"Para sa 'yo... dahil tinulungan ka niya sa buhay mo at may posisyon sa kompanya. Hindi sa naiinggit ako, alam mong hindi ko kailanman kaiinggitan ang mga ganyan pero he's being inconsiderate," ani kuya Trojan.

"Alam kong malaki ang sama ng loob mo kay papa pero tangina Trojan hindi ka na bata," si kuya Marcus.

"Oo, malaki ang galit ko sa kanya lalo na ngayo't si Minah naman ang pinagdidiskitahan niya. Palibhasa sa 'yo, ayos lang kasi kahit pa-paano'y nagkakasundo kayo... pero kay Minah? Sa anak niyang wala siyang ginawa kung hindi hayaan?" kuya Trojan tried to make a point.

For a while, my brothers stared at each other hanggang sa kuya Trojan na lamang ang unang umiwas at umalis.

Kuya Marcus let out a deep sigh as the door closed. I knew they weren't going to fight or go to something physical. Kuya Marcus was always the patient and calm among us.

A week passed and father didn't accept my final answer. He wanted me to pursue it. Of course, I refused and fought for my right. Obviously, he wasn't thinking straight and I was the one who he saw.

"How about I talk first to the family?" I suggested father once we were in a call.

"I will first see if it would work out... but, as soon as I said no again, that would be the final," I offered once again.

Father sighed from the other side, "Okay. I'll schedule a place and date for the first meet up."

Meet up, akala mo negosyo lang ang pinag-uusapan.

"I am not accepting the marriage, okay? All I can offer for now is to know first the family and the guy," pagpapa-intindi ko.

"Okay pero Minah, sana ikonsidera mo rin ito," ani papa at pinutol ang linya.

"Minah," tawag sa akin ni kuya Marua.

"Hm?" I looked up on him, ignoring my thoughts.

"Mamaya mo na mami-meet ang family ng fiancé mo, hindi ba?" he asked.

I replied with a nod.

"Hindi ka ba aatras?" he asked.

"I would be just seeing and know them, kuya. Hindi pa naman 'to ang literal na pagp-plano at hinding hindi iyon darating," sagot ko.

"Dad's an ass for deciding things like this. I get Trojan's point but knowing that you immediately declined somehow made me light," kuya Marcus said.

"I know you're in the right age to do things on your own and this is included. I am trying my best to save all of our companies. Mom's teaching and helping me too," he explained.

"Why can't kuya Trojan join you? Father underestimates kuya's ability too much," I said.

"I know and I'm trying to convince him to let Trojan in," kuya Marcus said.

I looked at my oldest brother and I silently felt grateful because he never left our side even when he had the chance to do so. He was open to every people and understand such heavy situations.

"I don't want you planting hatred for our father, Minah," kuya Marcus said after a couple of minutes.

"I know he's annoying and a bastard at most aspects but we never knew his explanations, right?" ani kuya.

I nodded.

He sighed, "Good. Don't plant hatred, Minah, kahit sa ibang tao. Trojan wouldn't get this dahil siya mismo ay may sakahan na ng sama ng loob."

I chuckled because I knew. Kuya Trojan was more broke than I was.

"Thank you, kuya," the only thing I said.

"It's nothing. Dial me if something happened later," bilin nito at nagpaalam na rin sa pag-alis.

Kuya Marcus' words got stuck in my head like a prayer. Dala ang aming mga pinag-usapan, dumating ako sa isang sikat na pasyalan sa Quezon City. Sa Eastwood City Walk ang itinakdang lugar n gaming pagkikita.

I entered the right buffet restaurant and immediately scanned the place to search for my father. My eyes got distracted of the decorations, the place was well-organized and clean. Maraming mamahaling paintings ang nakapalibot sa lugar.

A group of people got my attention from the designs, they were enjoying the chocolate fountain. I secretly smiled because of their teases.

I was unconsciously walking when someone woke me up from my day dreams. I looked at the man who was sitting not far from where I was standing. Father waved at my direction after a call of my name. I sighed and went to his table.

"Kumain ka ba ng dinner?" he surprisingly asked me as I sat.

"No and it's none of your business," I said dismissing him.

"Let's wait for them a little while before eating," father said.

I only nodded and again, distracted my mind into something else. I got bored watching people so my eyes darted at the foods. I felt my stomach rumble because of hunger. 

I got shocked when my father stood up and smile at someone from afar. I stayed on my seat at ang ulo lamang ang ginalaw upang tignan ang binati ng aking ama. My knees wobbled like jelly as I scan the nearing people. They were four and of course, I knew who they were.

I stayed at their place before.

"Molin, I'm glad you all came," father greeted tita Molin.

Father looked at me, sign that I should stand up. I forced myself to put my feet on the ground and composed myself. I looked at their stunned eyes and smiled.

"This is my daughter, Minah-"

"We know her, Kyer. Who would forget such beauty!" si tita Molin.

"She grew up, my goodness!" puri pa nito sa akin.

I didn't know how to react so I only smiled at her. Sa kanyang gilid ay ang grandfather ni Math noon. He only nodded his head to me and I bowed a bit to show respect.

Sa kanilang likuran, isang lalaki ang nag-aabang na aking pansinin.

"You know Siñon, right?" tita Molin asked me.

"Of course," I answered.

Siñon smiled at my answer. He didn't look like he aged yet his built became bulkier. Siya ba ang mapapangasawa ko, if ever? I knew him yet not that much plus his age was too far from mine!

Father offered them to sit kaya umupo na rinkami pagkatapos ng pagpapakilala.

"You grew up beautiful and smart, Lierre," tita Molin couldn't stop praising me.

"You grew taller, Lierre," Siñon complimented.

"Oh? You can, uh, call me Minah instead of Lierre. My first name is a struggle," I said jokingly.

"You didn't visit the restaurant again, Minah," bigong tono ng kanilang lolo.

"I'm sorry, po. I became busy with my stuffs," I said.

And of course, why would I come back to places that remind me of him? I was glad he wasn't here with them but I didn't like the idea of Siñon as my husband. I was so sure before that I got over this family yet here they were, in front of me.

"Ganoon ba? Sana ngayon ay magpunta ka naman. Lalo na't ma-e-engage ka na sa apo ko," aniya.

I wanted to vomit and laugh my ass out. This old man thought way too advance. I was quite surprised that Siñon wasn't married. If my calculation was correct, he was now in his 30s.

Nagtawanan sila habang pinag-uusapan ang tungkol sa amin ni Siñon, I stayed silent and Siñon was only smiling, hanggang sa naisipan nilang kumuha na ng pagkain.

Pinuntahan ko ang pagkaing kanina ko pa gustong tikman but sadly, naubos na ito sa aking pagdating.

"Ah, miss, excuse me. Kailan ito mare-refill-an?" I asked sa naka-unipormeng nags-serve.

"Next 15 minutes pa, ho," she answered.

Nilagpasan ko na lang iyon at kumuha ng ibang pwedeng makain. Pagbalik ko sa aming lamesa, laking gulat ko na niluluto ni Siñon ang pagkaing gusto ko... at marami iyon.

"Kaya mo 'yang ubusin?" tukso ko.

Tinaasan niya ako ng tingin nang nakangiti. "Ikaw, kaya mo ba? Gusto mo 'to, di ba? Pansin ko lang kanina," he said.

I arched my brows yet at the end, I only nodded. This kind of move would get my heart but that was before. Plus, I knew Siñon.

"Kinilig ka naman," tukso niya.

I chuckled, "I'm disgusted."

He looked at me, stunned. "So serious. Where's the care-free old Lierre?"

I looked at him, "Tingin mo ba ay hindi ako lalaki? Of course, time changed me," I pointed out.

"Alright, I was just kidding," pagsuko niya.

"Siguraduhin mong luto 'yan, ha," banta ko.

"Opo. Ito namang asawa ko," he said.

Pinitik ko ang kanyang noo gamit ang aking daliri.

"Aray naman!" he reacted kahit nakangiti naman.

"Asawa? Ni-hindi nga tayo close," sabi ko.

"Oh, we will be," he said maliciously.

I made a face and ignored him. Tahimik ko lamang pinanood ang kanyang mga kilos at napansin niya iyon.

"I'm just making things light for the both of us. You look tensed, irritated and bored at the same time," he reasoned.

"I don't want this marriage," I said, straight to the point.

"Comeon. Give me a chance?" he asked.

The oldies came back with their foods. They interviewed me, kung ano ang mga nangyari sa nakalipas na taon. I didn't tell all of the details, I just said those important events that happened. The conversation turned to Siñon yet I wasn't impressed by anything. I barely listened.

The talk went to politics then to business. Ngayon ko lamang nalamang mayaman nga ang pamilyang ito at halos lahat ng profession ay mayroon sa kanilang pamilya. Hindi na ako nagtaka mula nang nalaman iyon but my decision remained the same.

"Gusto mo ng dessert? Tara sa dessert section," yaya ni Siñon maya-maya.

Agad akong tumango upang maka-alis sa walang kwentang usapan.

Nang nakalayo kami ay nagsalita siya. "Out of place ba?" he asked with humor.

"Yeah. Not interested with the talk," I said.

Natawa siya kahit wala namang nakatatawa sa aking sinabi. Sabay kaming kumuha ng small cup sa side at ng spoon para sa ice cream.

May iba't ibang flavors dito. Pink, para sa strawberry flavor. Violet, sa ube. White, for vanilla. Brown, for chocolate. Green, for what?

Kumuha ako ng maraming strawberry ice cream. As in, puno ang lalagyan ko dahil do'n.

"Hindi ka naman mahilig sa strawberry?" puna ni Siñon.

Umiling na lamang ako habang nakangisi. Nakita ko siyang kumuha nung kulay green na ice cream.

"Anong flavor niyan?" I asked.

Wala talaga akong ideya kung anong flavor no'n. Wala pang nakasulat dito na pangalan nito.

"Try it," sabi niya.

Kumuha siya ng isang kutsura galing sa kanyang cup. Nilahad niya iyon sa aking bunganga na agad kong tinanggap. Halos masuka ako sa lasa. Napapikit ako sa hindi malamang lasa ng ice cream na ito.

Tawa nang tawa si Siñon sa aking harapan habang ako ay nakakunot ang buong mukha.

"Ano ba 'yan? Kubo ice cream?" I ranted.

"Bakit mo naman nasabing lasang kubo? Nakakain ka na ba ng kubo, ha?" maloko niyang tanong.

"Aba'y s'yempre sa naaamoy? Connected ang sense ng nose sa panlasa," anong pinagsasabi ko?

Baka bigwasan ako ng mga dati kong science teacher nito.

"Ano?" tawa pa rin siya nang tawa.

"Basta! Lasang kubo 'yan. Parang 'yong walis tambo, gano'n?" sabi ko.

Tinalikuran ko siya at kinain na lamang ang aking ice cream. Siñon was still teasing me because of his weird ice cream.

Pabalik kami sa table nang may namukhaan akong lalaking nakatayo sa mismong harap ng aming lamesa. Mukha siyang bagong dating. Pina-upo siya ni papa sa kanyang tabi kaya nakita ko ang kabuoan ng kanyang mukha.

"Minah, tara-"

"Siñon, gusto ko mamasyal sa mall. Tara, samahan mo ako? Ikaw na lang magpaalam sa kanila. Please?" I immediately asked him.

Mukha namang nagulat si Siñon sa aking inasta.

"Sige," sagot niya.

"Alright. Hintayin kita rito," sabi ko.

Dali-dali siyang naglakad patungo sa aming lamesa.

I immediately dropped my cup of ice cream on the near counter table. I knew it was a bad move but I needed to go out of this place.

Nang nakalabas ay pasimple akong lumingon sa aming lamesa at dahil transparent ang glass window, nakita ko ang pagturo sa akin ni Siñon habang siya'y nagsasalita.

They all looked at me, including him.

Hindi ako umiwas ng tingin at gano'n din siya. I imagined na baka ibang bagay ang tinitigan niya at hindi ako iyon. His stare didn't leave me kahit pa tapos na si Siñon magpaalam.

His looks changed which was something expected yet I couldn't help to be amazed by it. He wasn't the same old Math I knew.

I used to think that if we met again our memories would return but I was wrong. Nothing came back... it only felt like the start of something new.