Chapter Seventeen

Tell Me The Truth

I knew she was disappointed when I left, but there was nothing else she could do. My sister needed me. Kahit yata bumaha o bumagyo ay pupuntahan ko't isasalba ang kapatid ko sa kung ano man.

I'm glad it was not that serious. Saryna just got drunk and got into a fight but it was already done when I got there. Hindi rin naman nasaktan ang kapatid ko kaya nakauwi rin kami kaagad.

We talked to my parents and it lasted for about thirty minutes. Napagalitan din ako ni daddy pero dahil hindi ko naman talaga kasalanan ay agad din akong pinaalis.

Nang tuluyang makapasok sa aking silid ay saka ko lang ulit naisip si Imara. Then the guilt started kicking in. I tried called her but she was not answering her phone. It was already past midnight so instead of continuously calling and hoping that she would answer, I just opted for a text.

Ako:

Sorry if I had to leave. My sister got into a fight and she needed me. I'm sorry.

I didn't get a response. Dahil sa pagod ay nakatulugan ko na rin 'yon. I was still worried that Imara was mad at me but I woke up with a text from her saying it was okay. Napangiti kaagad ako. I guess she was in a much better mood today and that brighten up mine, too.

I was about to ask her for lunch but then I got swamped with work. Kaliwa't kanan din ang mga meetings ko at mga appointment sa pag-aayos ng aming kasal kaya halos hindi ko siya nakausap buong araw. Mabuti na lang at naiintindihan niya naman ang trabaho ko. Sinabi niya ring medyo na-busy din siya kaya hindi na niya naisip ang oras.

We didn't see each other the whole day. Hindi na rin kami nakapag-usap ng matagal sa aking pag-uwi at pagtawag sa kanya dahil parehas kaming pagod kaya ipinagpabukas na lang namin ang lahat.

I got to my office two hours early the next day to finish some of my work. Bago magtanghalian ay natapos na rin ang meeting ko sa mga agent na nakausap ko tungkol sa lupa at lokasyon ng ipatatayo kong bahay para sa amin ni Imara. I wanted the house to be finish before our wedding. Dahil biglaan din ang desisyon niyang ayusin namin 'yon ay kinailangan kong magmadali.

I sent Imara the available location for our house to be built along with the numbers of the best architects and engineers I know in the country. I waited for her response but I didn't get one until dawn.

Imara:

Let's talk and meet in my place. I'll wait for you.

Nawala ang pagod ko sa nabasa. Dahil tapos naman na ang trabaho ko at alam kong marami pa kaming dapat pag-usapan lalo na sa nangyari kahapon ay doon kaagad ako dumiretso pagkatapos ng huli kong meeting.

I bought her flowers and gifts. Ako naman ang mas natuwa dahil sinalubong niya ako ng halik at mainit na yakap. I was surprised when she told me that she cooked for us tonight so there's no need for me to buy us food outside.

"You really cooked this?" I asked after she presented the beef bourguignon and kale pasta. Sa amoy pa lang ay nagutom na ako kaagad!

"Yup! Para makatipid ka naman."

That made me laugh. "Well that's funny."

She giggled. "I'm serious though. Kapag kasal na tayo, ayaw kong gumastos ka palagi sa akin. I want us to save and be wise with our money."

"I'm sorry, but I think there's no need for that. I'm already wise with my money that's why I'm one of the youngest billionaire in this country. Just saying."

Nailing at natawa lang ito.

"Isa pa, alam naman nating hindi ko kayang huwag kang gastusan. Money should be spent and I will spend my every dime for you, baby. Walang problema do'n so don't ever worry about that."

Shs pinched my cheeks and couldn't resist to kiss my lips. Mabuti na lang at talagang nagutom din ako sa pagkaing inihain niya dahil kung hindi ay siya ang nauna kong kinain.

We talked about how our day went as we dig the food that she prepared for us. Kung nasaan na siya sa ginagawang preparasyon para sa aming kasal and vice versa.

"Don't you like a rose gold themed wedding? Pink's our favorite color and I'm totally fine with it."

She blushes at that, but then she said she wanted us to have a neutral color. We then decided to go for an ivory themed wedding. Doon nag-focus ang pag-uusap namin sa halos isang oras. We exchange and complimented, each other's ideas. Marami kaagad kaming natapos at napagkasunduan.

I told her my best man would be Damien since he was my closest cousin and friend. She told me hers will be her sister Lala.

"So this is why you don't want to invite many people? It's because you don't really have a lot of friends?"

"Let's just say that I got fed up with trusting people so I stopped friending strangers."

"I can't blame you."

She just shook her head and smiled at that. Marami pa kaming naging usapan tungkol sa bagay na 'yon. I told her about my friends and how I wanted her to meet them. Pumayag naman siya.

"I'm happy you're wearing the engangement ring tonight." I said, now looking at it as she happily flaunt it tonight.

"Of course. I wear it all the time kaya please stop saying na papalitan ang design. I really love this one so enough with that topic. Gusto ko na 'tong napili mo."

I swallowed hard and nodded.

"I remember your mom talking about your sisters not being with us during our first dinner together?"

Natigil siya sa pagnguya, sa unang pagkakatoan ay hindi nakapagsalita.

"How come we don't talk about them?"

She chuckled and wiped her lips before answering me. "Wala namang dapat pag-usapan tungkol do'n."

"Really?"

"Why? Is there something wrong? I mean, we can set up another gathering if you want to meet them. Wala namang problema. Gusto ko rin talagang makilala mo sila. It's just that, they're always busy. Kahit kami kasi halos hindi na rin magkita minsan."

I nodded and asked her more about them. May pag-aalinlangan siya noong una pero nagkwento pa rin naman. She said she has two sisters, but her closest was her youngest sibling. She was still in senior high. Medyo malayo ang agwat ng edad nila kaya baby nila ito kung ituring.

"How about your other sister? What is she like?"

"O-oh... Lala? I mean, Imogen?"

I nodded. Naiiwas niya ang mga mata sa akin at bahagyang bumagal ang pagnguya.

"I don't know... I really can't tell a good story about her. She's boring you know..."

"Huh..."

"And there's nothing really interesting about that sister of mine. Hindi rin kami gano'n ka-close so let's not talk about her."

I wanted to ask more questions about that one, but I stopped myself from asking because I could see how hard it is for her to even talk about that. Mukhang totoo ang lahat ng sinasabi tungkol sa kapatid.

I let her changed the subject. Tinulungan ko siyang mag-ayos ng kinainan namin nang matapos kami. She was happy about it. And I love seeing her like this. Kaunting bagay ay masaya na kaagad. This is the side that I fell in love with... dito lang ako masaya.

We had wine while watching the city lights. Napag-usapan ulit namin ang tungkol sa bahay at ang dinner kasama na ang kanyang mga kapati. I told her how surprised I am that she wanted us to live big now. She continued apologizing for that.

"Are you sure you want us to live here in the city?" Tanong ko, ang mga mata ay hindi na nawala sa kanya.

"Where else do you have in mind? Ayaw mo ba rito?"

"Ikaw. It's up to you, really. Kahit naman saan tayo pwede tayong makapunta kaagad dito anytime. We can use the private jet and helicopters if you wanted us to live far away from here."

"But that would be expensive and lavish. I don't think I'd want to spend our money for that kind of lifestyle."

"Don't be silly, baby..." agad ko siyang niyakap galing sa likuran. Sumiksik naman siya sa akin. "You will never worry about money once you become my wife. We have a lot of that even for countless generations to come, so please..."

"I know, Eux..." pumihit siya paharap sa akin.

Kinuha ko ang basong hawak niya at ibinalik sa lamesa. Inayos ko ang mga kamay sa kanyang bewang. She did the same. Maingat kong inayos ang takas ng buhok sa kanyang mukha. Hinawi ko maging ang nasa kanyang leeg. Marahas akong napalunok matapos mapatitig do'n.

"Tingin ko hindi ko pa rin kayang gumastos ng gano'n araw-araw. Besides, my father needs me here. I don't think he'd allow me to live far away from here."

"You don't want to live in El Nido? In the Villa? Pwede rin naman kitang patayuan ng bahay na gusto mo do'n. Wherever you want. Kung saan ka mas komportable at magiging masaya."

Bahagyang humigpit ang kapit niya sa aking balikat. Nagtangis ang aking bagang nang makita ang sobrang kagustuhan niya sa suhestiyon ko ngunit nananaig pa rin ang pagpipigil.

"How about our honeymoon? Where do you want us to go?"

Tuluyan na niyang iniwas sa akin ang mga mata. Humigpit ang kapit ko sa kanyang bewang pero hindi na siya nakasagot pa.

"Imara..."

She bravely forced herself to lock eyes with me again, but the sadness I saw in them finally lose all my patience.

"Mahal mo ba talaga ako?" Hindi ko na napigilang itanong, unti-unti nang nararamdaman ang galit sa kaibuturan ng aking puso.

Her jaw dropped at that. Mabilis na kumalat ang pag-aalala sa kanyang kabuuan.

"What kind of question is that? Of course I love you, Eux... I love you so much."

Wala sa sariling nabitiwan ko na siya't umatras ako upang hindi niya mahawakan. Dama ko ang kanyang panghihina sa biglaang pagbabago ng aking ekspresyon pero hindi ko na kaya pang pigilan ang lahat. I hate being bad at lying and even pretending because I just can't fucking do it.

"Then why do you keep lying to me, Imara?"

"W-what are you talking about? Eux, I'm sorry pero gusto ko lang na ikaw ang mag-decide kung ilang araw mo gusto at kung saan. It's all up to you, please don't be mad."

I scoffed sarcastically at that. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya natitinag. I can't fucking believe it.

"Eux..."

Umatras ulit ako. Halos tumulo na ang mga luha niya sa biglaan kong pagbabago.

"Mahal mo ba talaga ako? I want you to tell me the truth and be honest with me for once, Imara."

"Euxerre—"

"Or should I say Lala? Imogen Lauv? Your real name? Tama ba?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

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