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Kabanata 19

We were invited to the anniversary celebration of Lalaine's mom and dad. Her dad's a Filipino and her mom's the foreigner. Her family has lived abroad for many years and she was born in the U.S., too. And now her parents decided to retire here in the Philippines. At nagkataon na umuwi sila rito ay mag-c-celebrate din ng kanilang wedding anniversary ang parents niya.

Nanatili ang tingin ni Joaquin sa akin habang naghahanda na kami sa pag-alis papunta sa venue ng anniversary. Pinakita ko sa kaniya ang suot ko. It's just a classic A-line dress. "Is this okay?" I asked him.

Ngumiti naman siya at lumapit sa akin. He's handsome and breathtaking in his evening suit. "You're beautiful." He complimented me and kissed my forehead. As he gently held me close to him.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at ngumiti sa kaniya. "Thank you. You're very handsome in your tux, too."

He smiled. And then after that we're off to the venue of the party.

"There's Mama..." sabi ko kay Joaquin nang makarating kami sa venue at agad ko rin nakita ang mama niya.

"Let's go to her first..."

Sumama lang naman ako kay Joaquin.

"Mama,"

Lumingon sa amin si mama na nakikipagkuwentuhan pa sa isang babae... "Joaquin, hijo, hija..." Tumingin din siya sa akin.

"Joaquin!"

Agad kaming lumingon sa tumawag. It was a tall man and beside him was Lalaine. It's probably her dad. At kasama na rin nila ang mommy niya. Joaquin smiled and greet them. "Tito..." At nag-usap sila ng parents ni Lalaine. "This is my wife, Angelica." pakilala niya na rin sa akin.

Ngumiti naman ako at bumati rin. Nakita ko ang bahagyang pag-iling ng daddy ni Lalaine. From me he turned to Joaquin. "I couldn't believe it when Susanna told me that you were getting married."

"Yes, tito. We couldn't invite you because you were abroad and we got married in the province..."

"And it was a rush wedding?" Lalaine's dad smirked while talking to Joaquin.

Nanatili lang naman akong tahimik sa tabi ni Joaquin pagkatapos bumati. And Lalaine was the same beside her dad.

Bahagya na lang din tumawa saglit si Joaquin. "Yes..."

Lalaine's dad shook his head. "I can't believe Stefano... And of course being his good son, ay pumayag ka rin naman?" Umiling-iling siyang muli. "If only I knew, nireto ko na lang din sana ang anak ko."

"Dad..." saway naman ni Lalaine sa papa niya.

Saglit itong bumaling sa anak at tumawa na lang na parang nagbibiro. Umiling lang din si Joaquin.

Pagkatapos ay sumama na kami sa isang mesa na pinangunahan ng parehong mama nina Lalaine at Joaquin. And then we started eating with them.

"I didn't know that Joaquin will have to get married early, Susanna?" Lalaine's dad. "Did you and Stefano talked about this beforehand?" he asked mama.

Umiling naman si mama sa tanong sa kaniya. Pagkatapos ay saglit pa siyang tumingin sa akin. "Not much..."

"Or not really?" Nagtaas ng kilay ang daddy ni Lalaine.

Mama sighed a little. "Sila na lang ni Joaquin ang nag-usap... At pumayag naman si Joaquin sa gusto ng Papa niya."

And then Joaquin nodded at what his mom said. "And I really wanted to marry my wife now, tito." Joaquin smiled and turned to look at me with his gentle eyes.

Ngumiti na rin ako sa asawa ko.

"Hmm." Muling nabalik ang atensyon namin sa dad ni Lalaine. "Akala ko pa naman, you and Lalaine will just eventually be together..."

"Daddy..." mahinang tawag ni Lalaine sa papa niya.

Magsasalita na sana muli si Joaquin at si mama nang maunahan sila nito sa pagsasalitang muli. "You see, I and your Mama had a past...and I thought that you and Lalaine can continue that." He smiled.

Napatingin naman ako sa mommy ni Lalaine na nakangiti lang naman sa asawa niya.

Ngumiti lang si Joaquin at umiling. Wala nang dumugtong kaya natapos na rin ang usapan. At bahagya rin tumingin sa akin ang dad ni Lalaine at tumahimik na...

"She's the daughter of Stefano's business partners..." ani mama na tinutukoy ako.

"Oh."

"Layla and Angelito Ossorio senior."

"Kaya pala... Magkakatabi lang ang mga lupa nila sa Negros, hindi ba?"

Mama nodded.

"Sana talaga ay kinausap ko si Stefano tungkol sa mga anak namin." aniya pa at ngumisi na tumingin din sa akin.

"May lupa din po ba kayo at asukarera sa Negros?" I spoke.

Mukha siyang natigilan at hindi agad nakasagot. He smiled a little uncomfortably this time...

Base sa napag-uusapan nila kanina pa at nakikinig lang ako ay tagarito lang sa Manila ang papa ni Lalaine. At sandali rin itong naging ex-boyfriend noon ng mama ni Joaquin...

Ngumiti ako. "Wala po siguro kayong lupa sa amin, kaya hindi na naisipan ng Papa..." Tinutukoy ko ang papa ni Joaquin. I said it like I was just kidding...

I guess I just can't stay silent... Kanina ko pa naisip na...maybe he can be a little considerate and sensitive with his words talking about his daughter and Joaquin while I am here and I've been married to Joaquin for more than a year now... Or maybe I was just being too sensitive again...

Natahimik sila at bahagya na lang tumawa. Ngumiti lang din ako. And then we continued to just enjoy the food we're served. Nalingunan ko pa si Lalaine na nakatingin na sa akin pero agad din nagbaba ng tingin sa pagkain niya nang makita akong nakatingin na rin pabalik sa kaniya.

"Are you all right?" Joaquin asked me. Nakauwi na kami ngayon galing sa party at kabababa lang ng sasakyan sa parking ng penthouse.

I pouted to my husband. "My feet hurts." I was wearing a high heeled sandals.

And then Joaquin carried me up in his arms in a bridal style without second thoughts. Ngumiti lang naman ako at kumapit sa leeg niya. He carried me to the lift and up to our penthouse.

"So, you grew up in the States with Lalaine's Dad, na parang naging Dad mo na rin? Or like a father figure for you while you were growing up and Papa couldn't be there for you all the time...?"

Tumango si Joaquin sa sinabi ko. "Yeah..." He smiled.

And that explains his obvious closeness with Lalaine's Dad kahit kanina sa party.

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya. He lowered his head to kiss my lips when we were already inside. At bago niya ako nilapag sa sahig ng penthouse. Muli lang akong ngumiti.