They say, 'Love conquers all.'
But can love really conquers these two people which are far way compatible?

~

"So, the news about your son and daughter is really true?"

"I guess so. It's just that, they don't want to admit it yet. May daughter Yasha keeps on telling us that it's just a fake news."

"Hahaha. That's what my son Axis told me, too."

"Let's just understand them and have enough patience to wait them until they say so. You know, generation nowadays."

"Hahaha. I think so, too. Well, they look really good as a couple."

"Absolutely they are. I am really glad that my son's fiancee is the daughter of my college friends. Could it be a small world for them?"

"Hahaha. Maybe? Or it's just what their fate wants for them. That their fate wants them to be together."

Napapikit ako ng mariin upang pigilan ang inis na namumuo sa buong sistema ko.

Why? Nagpa-live interview lang naman sina Mommy at Daddy! Ang nakakainis pa, kasama lang naman nila sina Tita Ally at Tito Fordee, ang parents ni Axis.

"WHY DO THEY NEED TO SHOW UP ON TV?!" Inis kong sinipa yung empty bottle na nakakalat sa harap ko. Ang sarap manapak! Letche!

"Relax Yash." Pagpapagaan ni Aishi sa akin.

"How can I relax myself?! We're about to clean the mess, but why do they need to meddle with it?!" Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga. Hindi ko talaga mapigilan ang inis na nararamdaman ko.

Mommy, Daddy! Argh!

"IKAW!" Nilingon ko si Axis. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" He's the only one I could blame for this.

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I FVCKIN' TELL YOU THAT I HAVE NO FREAKING IDEA ABOUT THAT NEWS?!"

"Yash, Axis! Would you please calm down guys?!" Aishi interfered with us. Napatingin na lang ako sa ibang direksyon at nagpakawala muli ng malalim na hininga. Nakakainis!

"Listen up. I know this may sounds stupid, but I guess you need to go with the flow." Aishi suggested so I definitely turn my gaze to her. I narrowed my eyes on her.

"Don't tell me---"

"Yes. You need to pretend as a couple."

"HELL NO!/FUCK NO!" Sabay naming kontra ni Axis.

"Seriously Aishi?! What kind of suggestion is that?! Are you out of your mind?!" Magpapanggap kaming couple? Hell no!

"Look. I understand your part guys." She said and she look at me. "Yash, you're a celebrity and you're a supermodel." Then she turned to Axis. "And you Axis, you're one of the youngest bachelors." She paused then tinignan niya kaming dalawa ni Axis.

"I know why you are both acting this way. It's because ayaw niyong masira ang image niyo. This would be hard on your part guys but I guess that's the only choice you have. Act as a couple just for publicity. For sure lilipas din naman 'tong issue sa inyong dalawa after a month or so. Dahil kapag tinuloy niyo ang live interview tomorrow, there's a big possibility na mas lalong masisira ang image niyo especially now that both of your parents talked already."

I've been sitting at my couch for almost an hour already. I was here inside my condo and locked up myself in here. After what Aishi suggested, I left them there. Hindi ko alam kung nababaliw na ba si Aishi at yun talaga ang naisuggest niya.

Is there no any other choice?

Napabuga ako ng malalim na hininga. I don't know if I should take what Aishi has suggested. Argh! Mababaliw ako. Okay na naman sana e. Maaayos na sana namin ang lahat bukas. Para tuloy kaming sumali sa runs na kung saan hindi pa man kami nakakatapak sa starting line, may sumira na kaagad sa plano namin.

Ano ba kasing naisip nina Mommy at Daddy at kinailangan pa nilang magpa-interview?

Haays. Napatingin ako sa cellphone kong nakapatong sa center table nang biglang tumunog iyon.

"Oh?" Walang kagana-gana kong sagot.

[Is that how you greet your Mom, Yasha?] Nilayo ko ang phone sa tenga ko at tinignan kung si Mommy ba talaga yung tumawag.

"I'm sorry Mom. I answered my phone without knowing who the caller is." Pagpapaliwanag ko.

[Meet us at the Cherry's later.] Nangunot ang noo ko.

"Bakit sa Cherry's pa? Mom, I have my own restaurant!"

[I know but we already have the reservation there.]

"Fine."

[Later at 6:30pm. We'll be having a family dinner, okay? See you there sweetie.] Then she hang up the phone.

Napahilamos na lang ako ng mukha. What's with the sudden family dinner? At sa ibang restaurant pa talaga ha? Pwede namang sa resto ko mismo, ah!

Nagsuot lang ako ng simpleng damit. The one I usually wear. Matapos kong i-lock ang unit ko ay dumiretso na ako sa elevator. Pagkababa ko sa basement, I went inside my car at tumungo sa Cherry's.

Pagkarating ko roon ay mabilis kong ipinark ang kotse ko. I took my phone and my wallet bago ako dumiretso sa loob ng Cherry's. Nasa may front door na ako nang may makasabayan akong lalaki. Nang tinignan ko kung sino ito, nag-aalab na naman sa inis ang kaloob-looban ko.

What the heck?

Huminto ako sa paglalakad at hinarap siya.

"Are you following me stupid idiot?" Straight forward kong tanong sa kanya.

Nakita ko ang pagsalubong ng kilay niya. Napailing pa muna siya bago ako talikuran at nagtuluy-tuloy sa paglalakad. Bastos!

Nang makapasok kami sa loob ng Cherry's ay sinalubong kami ng isang babae.

"Any reservation Mister?" Tanong nito kay Axis. Tapos kung makangiti naman itong babae.

Gosh! 'Pag sa akin yan nagtatrabaho, I swear, mawawalan kaagad 'to ng trabaho. Work is work!

"Dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Averion." Sagot nito.

"Alright Sir. How about you Ma'am?" That girl asked me too.

So, may family dinner din pala sila? At talagang dito rin ha? Wow lang! Masyadong maliit ba ang mundo para sa aming dalawa?

"Uhm, excuse me Ma'am---"

"Mr. and Mrs. Heuson." Agad kong sagot.

"Oh great. Just follow me Ma'am and Sir." Naunang maglakad yung babae kaya naman sinundan namin siya pero nanliit ang mga mata ko.

Bakit parang pareho lang kami ng pinupuntahan ni Axis?

"Just go straight to this area Ma'am and Sir. Enjoy your dinner." Ngumiti ang babae sa akin pero ngumiti siya ng pagkatamis-tamis kay Axis.

Napatikhim ako at ako na ang unang naglakad papunta roon sa direksyon na tinuro nung babae. Iwinalang bahala ko na lang na nasa likod ko si Axis. Coincidence lang naman siguro 'to, diba?

Naaninag ko na sila Mommy at Daddy sa kinapupwestuhan nila pero nangunot ang noo ko. Sino yung dalawa nilang kasama?

Don't tell me... Napailing na lang ako nang may marealize ako. Axis is here. May dalawang taong kasama ang parents ko. Ghad! Ano na naman ba 'to? Ano na naman bang balak nila?

"Sweetie!" Mom waved her left hand to get my attention.

Napabuga ako ng malalim na hininga bago ako magtungo roon at hindi nga ako nagkamali sa kung sino ang kasama nila.

"So, you went here together sweetie, huh?" Mom's voice sounded like she's teasing me. Lihim akong napairap ng mata.

Kasama lang naman nila ang parents ni Axis. Gosh! Then they call it as a family dinner?

Padabog akong umupo sa tabi ni Mommy. At hindi ko alam kung sinadya ba talaga nilang anim lang ang upuan kung kaya ay katabi ko si Axis.

"I thought we'll be having a family dinner?" Mahina kong tanong kay Mommy.

"Yeah. Family dinner together with your fiance's family. Isn't that fun?" Malakas kong naibagsak ang cellphone ko sa table which could get their attentions. I closed my eyes before I started talking.

"Mom, Dad, Tita Ally and Tito Fordee, I am glad you are all here so please give me this privilege to tell you the truth. Wala po kaming relasyon ni Axis and definitely we're not engaged." I told them na siyang ikinatahimik nilang lahat.

"She's right Mom, Dad." Panimula ni Axis pagkatapos ay tinignan ang parents ko. "Your daughter is right Ma'am and Sir. We are not in a relationship." Napahinga ako ng maluwag. Muli silang tumahimik at tinignan kami ng mariin.

Nagkatitigan kami ni Axis. I hope this time, they would believe---

Bigla akong nakarinig ng malalakas na tawa. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa parents ko at sa parents ni Axis. What the? After telling the truth, pagtatawanan lang nila kami?

"Are you trying to joke around young man and you young lady?" Naningkit ulit ang mata ko kay Daddy.

"Dad, we're both telling the truth!" Pagpipilit ko kay Daddy.

"Son, you've got to be kidding us." Sabi ni Tito Fordee kay Axis. Muli na naman silang nagtawanan na apat.

What the heck is happening?

"Why don't we start our dinner? I guess this couple are already hungry kaya kung anu-ano na ang sinasabi nila." Tita Ally stated then I heard them laugh again.

Literal na bumagsak ang panga ko. Tell me, this isn't a joke, right? This isn't a joke? Napayuko ako at napahilamos na lang ako ng mukha. Nakita kong napailing din si Axis sa kinauupuan niya.

Argh! Bakit ba ayaw nilang maniwala sa amin? Gosh! Suko na ako! Damn!

Axis and I ate silently while our parents were talking and laughing while they were eating. Family dinner, huh? Mas maigi siguro kung sinabi na lang sana nilang reunion nilang apat 'to since they once said that they were colleagues and they are business partners.

Argh!

Pagkatapos naming kumain, patuloy pa rin na nagkekwentuhan silang apat. Para nga lang kaming bula ni Axis dito e. Sabay kaming tumayo ni Axis at doon pa lang namin nakuha ang atensyon nilang apat. Gosh!

"You're going already?" They asked us.

"Yeah." Walang kagana-ganang tugon ni Axis.

"Baka kasi maistorbo pa namin kayo." Bulong ko at tumingin sa ibang direksyon.

"You're saying something, sweetie?" Tanong din ni Mommy sa akin at peke akong tumawa.

"No Mom." I fake a smile, too. "But I have to go. I'm sleepy already." I answered and took my things on the table.

"Why not take your fiancee with you Axis?" Awtomatiko akong natigilan. Seriously?!

"Bring her home safe son. She's your responsibility now." Tito Fordee said and he smiled at me. Ramdam ko tuloy ang pagkailang.

"There's no need na po. I have my car with me. Thanks for the dinner anyway. I'm going." Lumapit ako sa parents ko upang halikan sila sa pisngi pati na rin kina Tita at Tito. Ganun din naman ang ginawa ni Axis.

"Drive safely." Sabi pa nila bago kami sabay na lumabas ni Axis.

Sabay pa kaming bumuntong-hininga. Walang nagsasalita sa aming dalawa. Nung makarating kami pareho sa parking lot ay tsaka lamang siya kumibo.

"Yasha Reese." Napahinto ako at tamad akong lumingon sa kanya.

"Oh?" I waited for his response pero wala itong sinabi. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin. Bigla tuloy akong nailang.

"Nothing." Then he went inside his car.

Napangiwi ako. Wala naman palang sasabihin. Tss. Pumasok na rin ako sa kotse ko at pinaandar yun paalis.

Pagkapark ko ng kotse ko sa basement ng condo ay pumasok na ako sa loob at sumakay ng elevator. The elevator is about to close pero may sumingit na isang paa sa baba nun kung kaya hindi iyon sumara. Bumukas ulit ang elevator at nanlaki ang dalawa kong mata nang malaman kung sino iyon.

Gusto ko sanang magsalita pero pinili ko na lamang na itikom ang bibig ko. The elevator stopped at the 16th floor kaya lumabas na ako kaso napansin kong pati siya ay nakasunod rin sa akin.

What the?

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong lingunin siya. Bahagya siyang natigilan at tinignan ako ng walang kabuhay-buhay.

"Hey, stupid idiot. Are you following me?" Nakataas ang kilay at dire-diretso kong tanong sa kanya.

"No." He said tapos tuluy-tuloy siyang naglakad pero kaagad ko siyang pinigilan sa braso niya.

"So, why are you here? What are you doing here?" Tanong ko rito. I saw him opened his mouth to talk pero inunahan ko ulit siya.

"Don't tell me you're stalking me?" Nakita ko siyang ngumisi.

"I'm too handsome to become your stalker woman." He responded. Ang kapal!

"E bakit ka kasi nandito kung hindi naman pala kita stalker?"

"Stop assuming things woman. This is my condo building and my unit was five doors away from yours." He answered at tuluy-tuloy na siyang naglakad.

Napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko. What did he say? He owns the Sweet Havens? At nasa parehong floor lang kami?

Noon lamang nagsink-in sa isip ko ang sinabi niya. Waaaah! I felt a little bit ashamed for myself. Argh! This is so not happening! This is frustrating!

Why did the gorgeous earth let this things happened to me? Geez!