Of all people, si Mama ang huling taong maiisip ko na titingnan ako bilang mahina at kailangang protektahan. Siguro kung si Papa maiintindihan ko pa, e. Pero si Mama? As if she didn't raise me at all?

Coco needed my help now more than ever. Kung iniisip ni Mama na wala akong magagawa to change everything, then she was wrong.

If that wedding cost a lot, then so be it.

Kung pinipigilan 'yon ng lahat, then I'll prove to everyone na deserve namin ni Coco kung ano ang mga dapat matagal na naming nakuha?

Merger? Business deals? We'll get it.

Eight years of rest was enough. Kung gusto nila ng proof na kaya ko, let's see.

All eyes were watching us. One wrong move, and it was over.

Hindi lang daw display si Coco. He worked so hard to prove himself every day to everyone. Good for him. It was time for me to take over this time.

Three in the afternoon, bumukas ang pinto ng hotel room at bumungad agad sa amin ni Chanak ang daddy at tito niya.

"Popsie!" sigaw ni Chanak. "Nagsasakay kami ni Tita Ram kay Gaius kanina!"

Cali looked at me with dismay. I totally understood his annoyance. Magpasalamat na lang siguro ako na ayaw niyang sumisigaw kapag nagagalit siya lalo kapag kaharap niya ang mga anak niya.

Nakangiti lang niyang sinalubong si Chanak at saka kinarga. "Charley, sabi ni Popsie, di ba, 'wag kayo lalayo ni Tita Ram?" mahinahong sermon niya sa panganay niya.

"Opo!" masayang sagot ni Chanak. "Di ako lalayo kay Tita Ram!"

Pinigilan kong matawa, pero nakatakas pa rin ang mahinang tawa ko. Mukhang hindi sila nagkaintindihang dalawa.

Nakatikim na naman ako ng sama ng tingin ni Cali dahil mukhang tuwang-tuwa pa ang anak niya sa tour namin sakay ng kabayo.

Nauna nang lumabas ang mag-ama dahil mukhang kakausapin ni Cali nang masinsinan ang anak niyang iba yata ang pagkakaintindi sa huwag kaming lalayo.

Pag-alis nila, naiwan si Coco sa likuran ng nakasarang pinto at isa ring dismayado ang tingin sa akin. Hindi ko na dedepensahan ang ginawa ko dahil alam kong delikado at mali. Aakuin ko na 'yon. I even put Charley's life at risk.

Ang tagal ng pagtitig ni Coco sa akin. Obviously, masama ang timpla niya—na parang halos araw-araw naman yata mula nang makauwi ako.

"Aware akong mali ang ginawa kong pagtangay rito kay Chanak at pagpunta nang walang proper announcement," pagbasag ko sa katahimikan naming dalawa.

"I know you know you're doing wrong things, and that's the problem, Ram. Your awareness. And I know you'll never be sorry for doing it."

"I want answers from my mother."

"Are you satisfied with what you got?"

I shook my head to say no. "I'm disappointed. So much. And everyone supported that disappointment. Kasi all this time, mahina pala ang tingin n'yo sa 'kin."

Coco avoided my gaze. I didn't want him to feed my disappointment, but he was doing it.

"I want us to decide right now, Connor," I firmly said. "Running away from our problems won't help us anymore. Gusto kong ngayon pa lang, magdesisyon na tayong dalawa sa kung anong tamang gawin."

Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa akin, at nakikita kong desidido siyang makinig.

"I know how hard you worked for everything you have, and I respect that," I went on. "But the wedding will take place this year. I won't allow impediments, delays, or any excuse for it not to continue."

"Ram . . ."

"Let's stop this bullshit, can we?" I pleaded. "Mapagod naman kayo sa pagsalo ng problema."

"Are you sure you want it now?"

"I am sure. I just want to make it happen, Connor . . ." With a strict voice, I commanded, "And I want you to make it happen."