CHAPTER 16 | BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Summer

Sabi nila hindi daw natatapos ang lahat sa kasal pero naniniwala ako sa mahikang dala noon sa taong gaya nila Lauren at Ritter. I know they're so happy by watching their faces while dancing in the middle of the crowd. When the dance went through, everyone went to the side to listen to Tito Chris' message to Lauren. It's touching, and while listening, I wondered if Dad would go this emotional too if my time had come.

The time when I decide to marry and have children.

"Everyone, listen. Can I have a word?" sigaw ko. Kinuha ko sa dibdib ko ang speech ko na dahilan ng pagtawa ng lahat. I glanced at them, particularly at Isaac, standing beside the first two men in my life. "Everyone here knows what's my role in Lauren's life. I'm not just her crazy god-sister, but a real sister even if there are times that I'm not reliable."

This message is just a bluff. Wala akong ideya kung seseryosohin ba ako ni Lauren o itong mensahe ko para sa kanila ni Ritter.

"If I were to describe Lauren, a word that comes first to my mind is stubborn. She knew that to herself too. She has been through a series of past misfortunes, and meeting Ritter was an escape for her. I'm happy they've found each other despite the mishaps. And you both know how much I love you. Congratulations, and please create more babies."

I love babies but still undecided if I will feel the the same when I'll carries inside me for nine months. Mahirap magsalita ng tapos at hindi ko pa ito nasasabi kay Isaac. Confuse pa ako at nakakabasa lang naman sa akin ay si Brooklyn. Pero hindi dahil kambal kami. Brooklyn has a way to know what's on my mind.

"What a cool message there, Sum," sambit ni Isaac sa akin nang makalapit ako sa kanya. Nilagay niya ang kanyang kamay sa baywang ko na hinawakan ko naman agad. "When did you write that?"

"Two minutes ago, while I listened to the previous message relayed by the others."

"That made me like you more, Summer."

Hindi nagkulang si Isaac sa pagsasabi na gusto niya ako halos araw-araw na magkasama kami dito sa Brooklyn. May media pa rin na sumusunod sa amin pero malayo sila at hindi na nagtatangka na lumapit pa. Kasama na sila sa buhay namin ni Isaac at takbuhan ko ay hindi pa rin akp makakaiwas. This is the life I chose and have to embrace. Magkaiba ang mundo namin ni Isaac at kahit siya ay alam iyon.

All we have to do is to make the best of both worlds.

"Can I get you some drinks?" tanong sa akin ni Isaac.

Inubos ko muna ang hawak na inumin saka binigay ang baso sa dumaan na waiter bago nagsalita. "No more drinks for you because it's getting late and you have a charity schedule tomorrow."

"Can I take back my words earlier?"

"That didn't change everything, Isaac. You need to go home and rest."

"Will your father allowed us to go home together just for tonight?" Nagkibit-balikat ako saka ngumiti sa kanya. Of course, hindi papayag si Daddy lalo't nakainom na si Isaac. Masuwerte at may driver siyang kasama ngayon kaya hindi ko na po-problemahin ang paghatid sa kanya. "I won't try it tonight. Maybe next time without alcohol in my system."

"That's better."

Pinatakan ni Isaac ng masuyong halik ang pisngi ko saka nagpaalam na sa akin ng tuluyan. I watched Isaac went inside his car and it drove away until I'm not seeing it.

"Summer..." tawag na agad nagpalingom sa akin. May malawak na ngiti ang sumilay sa labi ko ng makita si Lauren.

"A talk Mrs. McDowell?"

"My pleasure,"

***

AFTER the talk I had with Lauren before she and Ritter flew to The Bahamas last night, something in our conversation touches my heart. Sinabi ko na hindi lahat natatapos sa kasal. Sumang-ayon sa akin si Lauren dahil alam niyang magsisimula pa lang ang lahat sa kanila ni Ritter. This time she's not alone anymore and will never be.

Sobrang masaya ako para kay Lauren at ngayon naman kailangan ko na mag-focus sa sarili kong buhay. When I organized Lauren's wedding reception, right there I realized what I really want in my life. Tinawagan ko agad ang team ko at sinabi sa kanila ang aking plano. But I still have to create a business plan to have my Dad make an investements.

A business plan thing that I didn't take seriously back in college.

Ngayon nagsisi na ako bakit hindi ko sineryoso ang pag gawa nito. Hindi ako pwede humingi ng tulong kay Brooklyn dahil business ko ito. At hindi ko makukuha si Daddy kung may ibang gagawa para sa akin. In short, kailangan ko paghirapan ang lahat bago ko makuha ang aking gusto.

Hindi ba ako puwedeng mag call a friend?

Parang sasabog na ang utak ko dahil sa mga business terms na ni-research ko ngayon lang. Walang kabuhay-buhay akong sumandal sa swivel chair ko at dinampot ang aking cell phone. Nag-isip ako kung sino ang tatawagan pero inalis ko na si Lauren kasi nasa honeymoon siya. I don't want to interrupt what keeping them busy right now. Ayokong mainggit na hindi ko nagagawa ang ginagawa nila ngayon ni Ritter.

It's not that I want to experience the sex thing, but my mind is going there. It keeps going there over and over again.

"Hey, Sum, Isaac texted me, and he said you're not answering his call. What are you up to? And why he's texting me?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ni Brooklyn ng makapasok siya sa aking home office.

Tiningnan ko ang cell phone ko at wala namang tawag ni Isaac ang rumehistro. Doon ko naalala na may isa pala akong cell phone na ginagamit ko pang-tawag kay Isaac. Kinuha ko iyon sa drawer at tiningnan ang mga tawag ni Isaac.

"You have another phone? Are you both crazy?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong uli ni Brooklyn.

"This is exclusive for Isaac alone because the paparazzi got into my phone, and we think we've been tagged."

"And you didn't tell us?"

"Because I'm not a baby, Brooklyn. I can deal with it by myself, and if I fail, I'll ask for help."

Naniniwala ako na kung kaya ni Lauren, kaya ko rin maging independent. Just like Mom back in her early age, which she didn't want me to take. Hindi ko pa natatanong kung bakit ayaw ni Mommy na tahakin ko iyon. I wanted to asked, but my mother isn't the easiest person to talk to. Kung Daddy puwede pa kaya naiintindihan ko kung bakit medyo tutol ang nanay ko sa amin ni Isaac. She wanted me to find another guy to date and asked Isaac to come home.

"So, what are you up to?"

"I need an investment to open up my event organizing business. I am creating business plan to get Daddy's." Tumawa si Brooklyn na para bang hindi siya dumaan sa ganito noong magtayo ng sarili bar. "Dad invested in your business, right?"

"He did, but Dad doesn't need that. Gusto lang niya malaman kung seryoso ka sa naisip mo na negosyo."

Halos mapanganga ako matapos marinig ang sinabi ni Brooklyn sa akin. Pinahirapan ko pa ang sarili gayong ang kailangan ko lang pala gawin ay kausapin ang tatay ko. Pero paano ko siya kakausapin at sasabihin ang plano ko gawin ngayon?

***

"I DON'T know how I will go to talk to my father. I'm not a good presenter, Isaac. And if you are my investor, will you invest your dollar account in my business?"

Isaac chuckled before he seated right beside me. Inabutan niya ako ng isang baso ng wine na agad ko naman ininom.

"Easy on that, babe. You will face Mr. Lewis later and need to be at your best."

"Answer my question, Isaac. Will you invest your remaining money in me?"

"My answer is yes, but you know I have limited cash in my account. The royal house freezes some of it."

Hindi naman bankrupt si Isaac pero kailangan na niya gamitin ang natitirang pera sa makabuluhang bagay ngayon. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na lahat pala ng umalis sa posisyon ay magkakaroon lamang ng pera na hindi baba sa napagkasunduan. I don't know how much they're all talking about, but it seems like Isaac doesn't want it either. Basically, Isaac have to work, which he never done before just to earn, but he's willing.

See the difference he'd make the past few days. Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang ako lang ang nakakapansin ng mga ginagawa niya.

"Save your money for future needs. Don't worry; I will not ask you to buy me every expensive bag in the market. I ain't a crazy rich Asian guild member, but I am crazy."

"You're the craziest thing I want in my life, Summer, so please don't go away from me." Pilit ko tinago ang ngiti ko muling pinoblema kung paano kakausapin si Daddy. "Tell your Dad how passionate you are in this business. You have my support, Summer, even if you won't have my money."

"Why would I take it? It's yours, and whatever job you take, you have my hundred percent support too."

Binaba ni Isaac ang basong hawak at masuyong sinapo ang magkabila kong pisngi saka pinagdikit ang noo naming dalawa. Sapat na nababasa ko sa mga mata niya na lagi lang siyang nasa tabi ko kahit na anong mangyari.

Pagkatapos namin mag-usap, umuwi na ako sa amin at dire-diretsong lumakad papunta sa opisina ni Daddy. Alam ko na naroon pa siya ng ganitong oras kaso hindi ko inasahan na kasama niya si Mommy sa loob. She's not fan of my plan. Ewan ko ba pero alam ko naman na mahal na mahal ako ni Mommy. It's just that, she always think that I will never anything seriously.

"Hey Dad, Mom!" Bati ko sa kanilang dalawa. Kinakabahan ako at ngayon lang ito nangyari. Iniisip ko na kung paano i-ha-handle ang reaksyon nilang dalawa kapag sinabi ko na ang aking plano. "Can I talk to both of you?"

This is it, Summer. I have to show my parents that I'm taking both worlds and being the best out of it.