"It is written in this document that in the event that something unfavorable occurs to Mr. Carpio, even if he has not yet passed away, Mr. Junix Carpio will take over management of the company," panimula ni Attorney Geroso.

Napasinghap ako at napatingin kay Jhon Rey. I had his hand in mine to comfort him. I can't help but feel disappointed.

"That is bullshit, attorney! Bakit ako? Bakit hindi niya ibigay sa totoo niyang anak?" desperadong sigaw ni Junix. 

"This is due to the fact that he now regards you as his true son and the firstborn child of this family."

Mas hinigpitan ko ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay ni Jhon Rey at pinisil-pisil ito. I am aware that, despite the fact that Junix is an illegitimate child, masaya ako na itinuturing siyang parang tunay na anak at may mga pribiliheyong naghihintay sa kaniya sa future. That love is wonderful, pero kung ang totoong anak ay nababalewala, gusto kong magprotesta tungkol sa karapatan ng fiance ko. Hindi ko mapigilan kung hindi ang manglumo sa kapakanan niya.

"No, hindi ako papayag. Bakit hindi si Jhon Rey? Ano bang iniisip ni Dad para gawin ito? Dahil ba ang tunay kong ama ay hindi ako tinuring na totoong anak? Hindi ba't ganoon na rin ang ginagawa niya sa totoo niyang anak? Hindi niya ba naisip na mas kailangan siya ng tunay niyang anak?"

Napansin kong lumuluha lang sa gilid ang mama ni Jhon Rey. Mukhan katulad namin ay wala rin siyang alam at hindi rin alam kung paano ang gagawin sa desisyong ginawa ng kaniyang asawa. Even for me, if I were put in the position of Jhon Rey's mother, particularly considering the fact that the lives of my two children rely on it, I do not know what choice I would make in such circumstances.

"I'm fine. You don't need to be concerned about me at all. I already told you. It's all good. It doesn't matter to me if Dad wants the company to be passed on to you or not. If the company fails as a direct result of your actions, it is not your responsibility but his. Simply comply with what he wants, as he wrote on the documents. And you don't have to repeat that you do not wish to accept because you believe I am deserving of more. Mas lalo akong naiinis."

Jhon Rey shifted his focus to look at the attorney. "Has anything been pointed out to me specifically? Kung wala, aalis na kami rito."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jhon Rey, but there was nothing that was indicated for you."

There, I felt a tightening in my chest.

Paano niya nagagawang tratuhin nang ganito ang anak niya? Na para bang si Jhon Rey pa ang hindi totoong anak? 

"However, there is something to be said regarding your upcoming child. A significant amount of the Carpio family's fortune, comprising their personal lands and estates," Attorney Geroso implied.

Napanganga ako. Tama ba ang narinig ko?

"Would you be able to tell me when that document was completed?" tanong pa ni Jhon Rey sa attorney. 

"Four months ago, Mr. Jhon Rey."

Tumango-tango si Jhon Rey. "I see." Nabigla ako nang makita ang pagtulo ng luha mula sa kaniyang mga mata maging ang pagluhod niya sa sahig na para bang nawalan ng lakas. I was so dumbfounded why he acted this way.

"J-Jhon Rey, b-bakit ka umiiyak?" nauutal na tanong ko kasabay na rin ng pagpunas sa mga luha niya sa pisngi. Maging ang mga luha ko'y hindi ko na rin napigilang bumagsak. Mabilis niya akong niyakap. 

"He finally agreed with us, Sheen May."

"H-huh?" I was confused. "Saan doon ang sinabing payag na siya sa atin? Hindi ko maintindihan, Jhon Rey."

"He made that document four months ago, meaning during the time that you were carrying a child. After everything transpired, when he learned that it was a fake marriage and our child was gone, he had the opportunity to alter things, but he chose not to. It indicates he still wants us to get married and is still planning to give our future child an inheritance from him," paliwanag niya.

Kinuwestiyon ko ang sarili kong utak dahil hindi ko kaagad naintindihan ang sinabi niya. Nakita kong ngumiti si Junix, ganoon rin ang mom ni Jhon Rey na pinupunasan ang mga luha niya. 

"Am I right, Attorney Geroso?' Jhon Rey asked for confirmation.

"That was right, Mr. Jhon Rey. After what happened, I purposely asked him if he considered changing this, but he never did."

Hindi ko na rin napigilang mapahagulgol.

"That's enough for me. I think I have all the things I need in the world now," Jhon Rey said. "I can't wait for the wedding and for our child, Sheen May."

Hindi ako makapaniwala.

Hindi ako makapaniwalang nangyayari ito.

Dahil sa paraan ng pagtrato ni Mr. Carpio kay Jhon Rey, nagkaroon ako ng inis sa kaniya at hinusgahan siya bilang masamang ama, pero katulad din pala siya ni dad, tahimik na inaalagaan kami. Pakiramdam ko kailangan kong humingi ng tawad kay Mr. Carpio.

Pagkatapo nh ilang oras ng pananatili sa hospital, napagdesisyunan naming umuwi na ni Jhon Rey. Nagpaalam na kami sa mama niya pati na rin kay Junix at kay Mr. Carpio.

"What if you stayed here to look after your dad instead of going home? Tatawagan ko na si Derrick na sunduin ako rito at ihatid sa bahay," suhestiyon ko at muling naalala na may itatanong nga pala ako kay Derrick tungkol kay Jhon Rey.

"Why would I let you be with another man?" Napakamot ako sa tanong niya. Heto na naman siya sa pagiging seloso.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "Fine, fine, let's go home together."

"I'll visit my father again once your parents come back. I will keep my word and look after you while they are gone; that's what I promised them."

I was stunned. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti lalo pa't pinatutunayan niyang ako na talaga ang priority niya ngayon, but at the same time, I feel s twinge of remorse, dahil mas makabubuti kung nasa tabi muna siya ng papa niya. 

"My father would literally tell me the same if he was awake. He'll probably tell me to take care of you," giit pa ni Jhon Rey na para bang sinusubukan niyang alisin sa akin ang pag-aalala.

The only thing I did was get in the car because he insisted I do so. No one can defeat him anyway. Natawa naman ako nang muling mapansin ang pink sweatpants na suot niya. 

"Why are you laughing?" tanong niya habang isinusuot sa akin ang seatbelt ko.

"Wala. Nakukyutan lang ako sa sweatpants na suot mo. Iyan din ang suot mo kanina sa airport."

Natawa naman siya nang makita ang pambabae niyang suot na ipinahiram ko sa kaniya. After some time ng pagtatawanan, napag-isipi-isip naming dumaan muna sa drive-thru para bumili ng pagkain para pagdating namin sa bahay ay makapagpapahinga na kami. We stopped for the night somewhere down the road to eat our dinner meal.

While we were eating together, he put on some light music by turning on the radio.

"Woah, paborito kong kanta 'yan, ah," bulalas ko. Napakganda naman talaga ng timing! Simpleng hapunan dito sa may kotse niya, habang may mabagal na kanta.

"Really? I know that song. I've heard it before," he remarked as he moved his body in time with the beat and subtly joined the singer.

"And out of all these things I've done, I think I love you better now."

Napatigil ako sa pagkain at napaunok nang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

"Hindi ko alam na kumakanta ka pala, Jhon Rey," namamangha kong bigkas. "Ang ganda ng boses mo."

Natawa naman siya at napansin ko ang pamumula ng kaniyang pisngi. Iniiwas niya pa ang tingin niya sa akin na para bang nahihiya siya.

The force of my heart beating in my chest turns up and is getting crazier. I had no idea that simply listening to him sing would lead me to feel such a rush of excitement. Nakakakilig!

I almost cried while smiling nonstop, and he noticed it. "Bakit umiiyak ka na naman?"

"Because believe it or not, it was my dream. Noong bata pa ako, I used to joke to myself na kung sino ang kumanta ng paborito kong kanta sa harap ko siya ang pakakasalan ko. Hindi ko naisip na mangyayari pala talaga. Look, you can hear my heart beating so fast, Jhon Rey. That's how happy I am right now. I can't help but cry."

My tears were brushed away by him. "Your eyes were so precious just to cry, my love. Don't cry again, hmm?"

"Tsk. How can you say that when it was you the reason for my tears? Hinay-hinay lang kasi ang pagpapasaya sa puso ko, Jhon Rey."

"Iyon nga ang goal, Sheen May. Kaya patawarin mo ako kung hindi ko mapagbibigyan ang request mo. I'm going to make you the happiest person in the world just like what you are doing to me."

Hinalikan niya ang noo ko. Tinapos na namin ang pagkain namin at mayamaya lang ay umuwi na.