CHAPTER 20 | DON'T ASK ME TO GO

Summer

MATAMA akong namimili ng wig na susuotin para sa Halloween party namin ng mga kaibigan ko. Daddy allow us to use one his lounge, all drinks and food are on the house of course. Kasama ko sina Lauren, Dakota at Tamika at pare-pareho kami nasa kalagitnaan ng pamimili ngayon ng susuotin. On the other hand, ako lang pala hindi pa nakakapili dahil may mas iniisip ako na iba. I'm still thinking about Isaac and his proposed exile in Paris.

Hiling iyon ng mga magulang niya para umiwas sa akin nang tuluyan. Gaya ng sabi ni Lauren kahapon, masakit nga sa mata makita na iyong prinsipe na dapat magmamana ng mas mataas pa na titulo ay narito kasama ko. I'm totally out of his league. It's not a royal thing to date an outsider like me. For them, Isaac has a better future in their country but then I came, I am a disaster he never expected.

“Bagay sa 'yo ang pink wig, Summer. Terno pa kayo ni Iona ng suot,” narinig ko na sabi ni Lauren pero wala rin doon ang atensyon ko. “New York to Summer, hello?” Tumingin ako sa kanya saka kinuha ang kulay pink na wig. “Stop thinking about your dilemma muna. You organized this Halloween party, right?”

“Yeah, but -”

“I won't let you ruin your own party. Bridal shower ko iyong huling beses na pinayagan tayo ni Tito Max gamitin ang isang lounge niya, Summer.”

“Oo na nga!”

“Great!”

Sinuot ko ang pink na wig at nagpalit na ng damit. It's an all girls night out and Lauren's kid are with her husband. May ibang lakad ang mga iyon at kami rin iba din ang pupuntahan na party.

Bago kami umalis, nagkaroon pa muna kami ng pictorial lahat. Elly takes all the shot including those picture I have with Iona who's wearing a Harlequin outfit and CJ, a giant baby bee. Si Ritter daw ang nakaisip noon na hindi na kinontra pa ni Lauren dahil baka 'di siya payagan na umalis bigla.

“Where is Isaac?” tanong sa akin ni Iona.

Nagkibit-balikat ako. Wala kasi talaga ako ideya kung nasaan siya. Hindi pa nga kami nag-uusap matapos niya sabihin sa akin ang pinagagawa ng pamilya niya. “You can call him to know where he is, Iona. Is that what he told you before?”

“Yeah, but he seemed sad last night,”

“Did he mention something to you?” Biglang umiling si Iona at sumenyas pa na naka-zipper ang kanyang bibig. “Your Dad will be mad if you won't tell me what Isaac told you.”

“Dad won't be mad, and I'm sure I asked him if I could keep Isaac's secrets.”

Literal na bumagsak ang mga balikat ko. Nakalimutan ko na matalinong bata nga pala si Iona at hinding-hindi maiisahan ninuman.

“You cannot fool that kid, Summer,” natatawang sabi ng tinig na nagmula sa aking likuran. Paglingon ko, nakita ko si Ritter na malawak ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. “Iona, tell your Mama Lauren we will be leaving in a minute.”

“Did you know what Isaac told your daughter?”

“I do, but I made a promise not to let tell any soul.”

“Even your wife?”

“That's not counted as a soul. We're married. We're one team.” My eyes rolled in defeat. “Ask him yourself.” Tinapik ni Ritter ang balikat ko saka iniwan na. Hinayon ko ang tingin sa tinukoy niya at nakita si Isaac na kausap na si Iona.

He's on his formal attire and I see his attaché with him. Ibig sabihin may formal event na naman siyang pupuntahan. Saan na naman kaya iyon ngayon?

“You're beautiful in pink hair,” komento ni Isaac nang makalapit siya sa akin. “Are you leaving too?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Can I talk to you?” Tumango ako saka nagpaalam kay Tamika at Dakota sandali. Abala naman si Lauren sa pamilya niya kaya puwede pa kami mag-usap dalawa. Lumayo lamang kami sa mga kasama ko pero tanaw pa rin naman nila kami. “Okay. I know that this is too sudden but I'll do it anyway because who knows what will happen to us next.”

“What are you doing, Isaac?”

Isaac refused to answer my question, instead he went down on his one knee in front of me. Agad ako tumingin sa mga kaibigan ko at lahat sila'y nababakasan ng gulat na ekspresyon sa mukha. Binalingan ko siya nang tingin pagkatapos tumingin sa mga kasama namin. Nakita ko na may nakaumang na sa akin na singsing na nasa loob ng maliit box nakulay itim.

“My family is adamant about putting me in exile. And I cannot let anyone or anything be a hindrance to us.”

“Must you have to do this?” tanong ko sa kanya.

“You don't want it?” Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at inalalayan na tumayo. “Why?”

“I'm in the middle of a life crisis, and you know that. Even if I have my own business, I'm still unsure if I'm doing the right thing.”

“I get it,” sambit ni Isaac. Sandali siyang yumuko na tila na naghahanap ng mahuhugutan ng lakas ng loob. Wala siya kasi mahuhugot sa akin dahil sa sitwasyon namin ngayon. “I'll give you time, but please, Summer, don't ask me to go.”

Umiling ako saka niyakap siya nang mahigpit. Hindi ko alam kung gaano kami katagal na magkayakap. It's like the time has stopped for us to cherish the moment. Like we don't have tomorrow to be with one another. Ito lang naman ang gusto at hindi ang ibang bagay.

Ito lang.

***

INALIS ko ang suot ko na wig saka kumuhanm ng tissue para burahin ang suot ko na lipsticks. Isaac told me he'd be busy on his foundation - a secret one after we had a stern talk a while ago. Ako lang, si Brooklyn at Daddy ang nakakaalam noon. My father is one of the sponsors, as well as my brother. Those two love helping children in need, and so do I, but I just discovered that recently.

Noong lumayas ako at makita ko iyong mga tao na nakatira sa Harlem, Queens at Bronx. Lahat nakita ko at naisip ko na hindi lahat kasing suwerte ko hanggang sa mahanap ko ang penthouse na aking nabili.

“Why did you reject his proposal, Summer?”

Napatingin ako kay Lauren pagkarinig sa tanong niya.

“Parang ambilis kasi ng mga pangyayari, Lauren. We met, we quarrel, we make up then -”

“You date him. You gave him a chance to be himself, to make his own choice and choose you over a royal title.”

“I didn't ask him to choose me,”

“But he did because you're the change in his game, Summer. Ritter is right after all,”

“Right about what?”

“About us sharing something in common.” Kumunot ang noo ko at pilit inintindi ang sinasabi nitong si Lauren. “Pareho tayong tanga na taboy ng taboy sa taong gusto naman natin makasama. Takbo tayo ng takbo palayo sa mga taong gusto naman natin na palaging katabi.”

Natigilan ako at napatingin sa kawalan habang iniisip ang mga sinabi ni Lauren sa akin. Our situation are different but yeah her husband was right. Pareho kaming takas ng takas, hanap ng hanap kung saan gayong nasa harap lang naman namin ang gusto namin makasama.

“Isaac made a bolder move already. Panahon na para ikaw naman ang kumilos upang umayon lahat sa inyo. Forget about his family, the royal exile, his previous title. Just think about you and Isaac in a normal way or should I say in a commoner's way.”

Tinapik ni Lauren ang balikat bago siya lumapit kina Tamika at Dakota. Naiwan ako na mas lalong nalugmok sa malalim na pag-iisip. Ano na ba ang dapat kong gawin?

***

“MAKE SURE to keep yourself warm especially at night guys,” narinig ko na bilin ni Isaac sa mga bata na nagkanya-kanya ng pulasan palabas pagkatapos. May mga nakakalat pa na bola sa sahig na pinulot ko nang makitang nagliligpit na rin siya. “Hey, stranger, how are you today?”

Inabot ko sa kanya ang dalawang bola na aking napulot saka ngumiti. “I guess I'm okay and enjoy my own Halloween party last night.”

“The all-girls Halloween party?”

“It was an all girls as per plan,” giit ko pa na dahilan ng pagtawa niya. “Did the kids enjoy your surprises last night?”

“They were, and looked for you.” Tumango-tango ako matapos narinig ang sinabi niya. “You don't have a work today?”

“I have, but I think I owe you an explanation.” Si Isaac naman ang tumango at pinaraan pa ang kamay sa batok. “Can I invite you out on a date? Not the usual morning date. Let's try something different.”

“Like how?” Inabot ko sa kanya ang dalawang ticket sa Santa's Workshop in North Pole, New York. “This indeed different, Summer.”

“I want to meet Santa with my Prince and make some wishes.”

“What's your wish?”

“You're not Santa, Isaac.”

“Can I hear it first?” Umiling ako saka lumapit sa kanya. Isaac wrapped his arms around my waist and slightly pulled me closer. “I want to make wishes too, but you already know what it will be.”

“What is it?” Umiling din siya gaya ng ginawa ko. Ang daya talaga nitong si Isaac. Kapag talaga lihiman, mas magaling pa rin siya at marami siyang kakutsaba kaysa sa akin. I searched this place online and ask Elly to scheduled us an early visit. My friend own the place and his father is this year's Santa Claus. “Just so know, Santa's offspring is my friend.”

“They still know what privacy means, Summer.”

“I hate you,”

“Too bad because I love you.” Bumaba ang tingin ni Isaac sa labi ko. Alam ko kung ano ang gagawin niya at hindi naman ako tututol pero may ibang pumigil sa balak ni Isaac. “Wrong timing?” he said, showing who the caller was.

“He cannot steal you from me, right?”

“Yeah, absolutely.” That's when I initiated the kiss by grabbing his collar and pull it down to met my lips. Naramdaman ko ang pagkagulat niya ngunit agad din naman nakabawi pero ako ang unang humiwalay. “Answer the call now.”

“Really? After you -”

“Let's continue later,” I said, winking at him.