"Let's see how lucky I am," he said.

Bawat paghakbang niya palayo ay ang sobra kong pag-aalala na baka hindi na siya makabalik sa akin. Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. Dad will take this chance to take his revenge towards Carpio's family. After what they did to us, I'm sure hindi niya palalabasin ng buhay ang taong mahal ko.

Lalo na ngayong ang mga board of directors ay pumapabor sa paglalagay ng isang CEO sa Carpio-Velasco Corporation. Paniguradong mawawala ang apelyido namin sa korporasyong iyon kapag nagpatuloy ang dad ni Jhon Rey sa pagiging sakim.

"He'll be fine," sambit ni mom nang lapitan niya ako at punasan ang aking mga luha.

"I know exactly what Dad is planning. He did it to me last time," I said between my sobs.

Hawak ko ang puso ko nang tuluyan nang makapasok sa loob ng office ni dad si Jhon Rey.

"He doesn't have to do this, mom. Jhon Rey is sincere now. He loves me now. Kailangan niya pa bang patunayan 'yon? He's now here with me. Hindi pa ba sapat 'yon?" I can't seem to stop panicking. Why do I have to experience this heartache? I don't want to see Jhon Rey suffer!

Patuloy akong pinatatahan ni mom. It's delirious to see the person you love go to the pit of death.

"He needs to do this at least to gain your father's trust after all of what he did to you. I know you love him and you don't want him to be hurt but as your parents, kailangan naming makasiguro na seryoso siya sa 'yo at hindi ka basta-basta iiwan o lolokohin," paliwanag ni mom habang hinahagod ang likod ko.

"Are you still mad at him, Mom? Why are you letting Dad do this?"

"Because we love you, we're doing this for you."

Niyakap niya ako. At ilang sandali pa ay nakarinig kami ng malakas na putok ng baril. Halos mawalan ako ng hininga. What the hell happened?

Unlike before, I was lucky that I got the revolver with an empty cartridge, but now, because of that fucking gunshot, my mind appeared to be more anxious.

I didn't waste any time and dashed straight to my father's office, knocking and shouting, but no one seemed to care about my loud banging on the door of Dad's office.

Ano na bang nangyari? What the hell?

Lumalabo na ang paningin ko kakaiyak. Hindi ba sila lalabas?

Utang na loob!

Gusto kong matahimik.

"Jhon Rey, utang na loob lumabas ka d'yan!" sigaw ko at patuloy na kinakatok ang pinto, but just like a while ago, no one was coming out. Fuck! Fuck! Don't tell me? "Sumasakit na ang kamay ko! Nakikusap ako, come out of this fucking door! Isa!"

After hearing the doorknob click, I did not waste any time and opened the door. Dad's serious face welcomed me.

Sinamaan ko siya nang tingin. "What did you do to him? I swear, this will be my death if you do something bad to him."

Hindi ko alam kung saan ko nakuha ang tapang kong iyon pero pumasok ako sa loob ng office ni dad. Hindi ko na alintana ang takot na pumasok sa kwartong ito. Gusto ko lang makita ang asawa ko.

Napatingin ako sa sahig nang makita kong may dugo.

No.

No way.

This isn't real.

I looked all over to see if I could find Jhon Rey. Where the fuck is he?

"Are you looking for me, babe?"

I turned to the person sitting at the table, who was now smirking as if he knew I would barge in to see him. I immediately approached him and examined his body.

"Who owns that blood?" I asked with my forehead wrinkled. I almost died of a heart attack when I saw that.

"I almost killed your father," he said while breaking into a cold sweat.

Nagngitngit ang ngipin ko sa inis. Bakit ba kasi nila kailangang gawin ito? Halo-halo na ang nararamdaman ko. Pag-aalala sa kaniya, pagka-guilty dahil nasigawan ko si dad kanina na hindi ko man lang napansin na sa kaniya pala nanggaling ang dugong nakakalat sa sahig. Hindi ko alam kung anong uunahin kong gawin. I'm so stupid.

He pulled me between his laps. The strength of my heartbeat was increasing every time I got to be this close to him. Even though drops of sweat were trickling down the side of his forehead, his handsomeness did not diminish in my eyes.

"I thought I would never see you again," he murmured, and he softly touched my face. "My heart almost jumped out of my chest when I held that revolver. I was really nervous."

Pansin ko ngang nangangatog pa ang mga kamay niya. I know; that was what I felt before.

"Hindi mo naman kasi ito kailangang gawin. May ibang paraan para patunayan ang pagmamahal mo sa akin," I stated as I held his hands too.

Pinunasan niya ang mga luha ko. "Hindi ko alam, Sheen May. Pakiramdam ko, kulang pa kumpara sa mga nagawa mo para sa akin. Ngayon, napatunayan mo na naman kung gaano mo ako kamahal. Paano ako makakahabol sa 'yo?"

"Hindi mo kailangang humabol. Hindi ako tatakbo palayo. Nandito lang ako palagi."

Ngumiti siya. "Nandito ka palagi. Tama. Noon pa, nandito ka palagi."

Niyakap niya ako. "Nandito ka palagi," paulit-ulit niyang sinabi ang mga katagang iyon.

"Ako rin, simula ngayon Sheen May, nandito lang ako palagi sa tabi mo. Hinding-hindi na kita iiwan o itutulak palayo. Pangako kong iibigin kita hanggang sa kamatayan ko."

Balewala ang pagpunas niya ng mga luha ko kanina kung sasambitin niya ang mga katagang iyon.

"Aalagaan kita nang buong puso ko. At tanging paiiyakin sa araw ng kasal natin, at sa araw ng pagsilang mo sa anak natin. Hindi ka iiyak sa oras na mamatay ako dahil babaunan kita ng masasayang alaala. Pangako ko 'yan sa iyo."

Nakakatawa dahil hindi niya raw ako paiiyakin maliban sa mga sinabi niya pero ngayon, pumapalahaw na ako sa iyak. Naalala ko ang araw na mag-propose siya sa akin, walang pangapangako pero ngayon, kaakibat ng pangako niya ang sumpang hanggang kamatayan niya ay iibigin niya ako.

"Huwag ka nang umiyak, sinisira mo ang pangako ko sa 'yong iyakin ka."

Pinunasan niya ang mga luha ko.

"Shush, don't cry, my baby," dagdag pa niya.

Paano ba naman kasing hindi ako mag-aalala eh nakita ko siyang bugbog sarado kagabi tapos ngayon naman hinarap niya pa ang tatay kong willing pumatay ng tao.

"I won't make you worry about me anymore. Shhhh, stop crying, my love. You're making me cry too." He pinched my cheeks and kissed them both, even the tip of my nose.

"Halikan mo ako sa labi para hindi na ako makaiyak," sambit ko na nagpatawa sa kaniya. Ginawa naman niya iyon.

He leaned in close and gave me a deep kiss. I feel like it was the first time our lips met. The feeling was so brand new, and it brought me to the universe, where all of the stars and planets are around us, witnessing how we solely love each other.

Bawat paghalik niya ay parang tinatanggal niya lahat ng rason para umiyak ako. Napahawak ako sa dibdib niya. He seized hold of my hips as if he were going to force me to sit on his lap.

"Jhon Rey! Nasa office ko kayo! Tigilan niyo 'yan!"

Narinig ko ang sigaw ni dad na nanggagaling sa ibaba. He must be thinking that we're now actually doing something since we suddenly became silent. Natawa naman ako at napabitaw kay Jhon Rey.

He licked his lower lip, and we couldn't stop laughing at how well my father knew us.

Bumaba na kaming dalawa habang magkahawak ng kamay. Nakita ko si dad na binebendahan ni mom sa braso nito. Mukhang doon siya nadaplisan ni Jhon Rey.

"Sheen May, make sure to be a good wife to him."

Napanganga ako sa sinabi ni dad. Does it mean pumapayag siya? Does he give us their blessings for our marriage?

"Oh, huwag ka nang umiyak," bulong sa akin ni Jhon Rey na nagpaatras ng luha ko. Siniko ko nga siya.

"Thanks, Dad." I hugged him, but he flinched for a moment when I hit his arm. Mom even scolded me for that. I just hugged her too.

"I'm leaving now, Mr. Velasco," paalam ni Jhon Rey. Agad naman akong tumayo para sundan siya pero nagulat ako nang tawagin ako ni dad.

"Where are you going, Sheen May?"

"Uuwi na." Tumingin ako kay Jhon Rey. "Uuwi na tayo 'di ba?" 

"Uuwi na ako. Ako lang, Sheen May," he stated, making me frown.

"Huh? Bakit? Pumayag na sila dad 'di ba?"

"Pumayag na maging mag-asawa, pero hindi pa tayo mag-asawa kaya hindi pa tayo pwedeng tumira sa iisang bahay."