CHAPTER 8 T__T

"Catherine, thanks for coming" bati ni Joyca sa akin nang dumating ako sa restaurant na pinagdadausan ng reception ng binyag.

Iniabot ko sa kanya ang aking regalo at nakipagbeso sa kanya.

"Okay lang. Hindi naman kasi natuloy ang medical mission ko, eh. Pasensiya ka na kung mag-isa lang ako"

"Ano ka ba? Kanina pa nandiyan si Austin. Kausap niya sina Jessy at Kenneth. Tara, sasamahan kita sa table nila"

I froze. This couldn't be happening. Ang akala ko ay nagkaliwanagan na kami ni Austin pero bakit nagpunta pa siya roon? Talaga bang naghahanap ng sakit ng katawan ang totoy na iyon?

"Cathy? Okay ka lang?" tanong ni Joyca

"Ha? Yeah, I'm fine" pagkakaila ko

I was really mad but I couldn't let it show. Ayokong gumawa ng eskandalo roon dahil hindi iyon ang tamang lugar para sa komprontasyon namin ni Austin. Sisiguruhin kong sa susunod na kami lang ang maghaharap.

Isisiksik ko sa kukote niya na hindi ako interesadong makipag-date sa kanya. Wala akong balak na maging babysitter niya. I wanted to be taken cared of and not the other way around. But for now, I had to endure him for a few more hours.

Sumunod na lang ako kay Joyca. It was too late to back out. Nandoon na ako at wala na akong kawala. Pagdating sa table nina Kenneth at Jessy ay agad na tumayo si Austin.

"There you are, hon. Sorry at nauna na ako sa iyo" bati niya sa akin

He even had the guts to kiss me on cheek. I was frighten with what he did but I knew I had to be on my best behavior.

"I didn't know you were coming here, Austin"

I pinched his arm and I saw him wince in pain. But he immediately recovered.

"Alam mo naman, hon. I can't resist babies" pa-cute na sagot niya

He gently pulled me down to a chair beside him.

"Jessy, Kenneth, kumusta ang honeymoon ninyo?" bati ko sa mga bagong-kasal

Galing sila ng Palawan at tan na tan pa sila. And from the looks on thei faces, I could tell they had a wonderful time. Married life seemed to suit my friend well.

"We had a blast. Ngayon, kailangan na naming harapin ang tunay na buhay-mag-asawa and I can't wait" excited na sagot ni Jessy

"Yeah, living with Jessy will be full of surprises and I know there won't be a dull moment with my honey" wika ni Kenneth habang malambing na nakatingin kay Jessy

I looked longingly at them. Seeing them all lovey-dovey made me want to experience love like they did. But first I had to find a suitable partner. I turned and looked at Austin who was smiling at me sheepishly. He reached for my hand and squeezed it.

"What are you doing?"

I mouthed to him while I was trying to pull my hand away from his hold. But he wouldn't let me go.

"Naku, Cathy. I'm telling you. If you have any intention of getting married, make it fast. I'm telling you, you won't regret it" pahayag ni Jessy

I glared at her. I didn't like what she was saying. At alam kong masaya siya ngayon pero tama bang magpasaring siya sa harap pa mismo ni Austin? I knew what she was trying to say---that I should get married to Austin. At that moment, I desperately wanted to talk to Jessy and tell her the truth.

Hindi ko na yata kayang magpanggap at alam kong maiintindihan niya ako kapag sinabi ko sa kanya ang totoo. Because the longer I kept it from her, the harder it would be for her to understand me. But I knew this was not the place to do it. so for now, I just had to go along with the situation.

"Guys, I know you're happy but keep me out of it. I'm still enjoying my single status. At isa pa, I don't think I'm the marrying kind" pabirong sagot ko

"Hayaan ninyo, I'll try to change her mind about marriage" sabad ni Austin

Nagpumiglas na ako sa pagkakahawak niya sa aking kamay at sa pagkakataong iyon ay pinakawalan na niya ako. Marahil ay naramdaman na niyang nagagalit na ako at hindi ko na papalagpasin kung ano pa ang sasabihin niya.

Mabuti na lang at hindi napansin nina Jessy at Kenneth ang tensiyon na namamagitan sa amin ni Austin.

Jessy clapped her hand in joy.

"I hope so, too. Alam ko kasing kahit ayaw umamin ni Cathy, alam kong pangarap din niyang bumuo ng isang pamilya" pilyong makahulugang sabi

Tumingin ito kay Austin na may makahulugang ngiti.

"At sana, ikaw na ang magiging katuwang niya. I have a good feeling about you, Austin. I know you won't break her heart" Jessy said giggle

Ngumiti lang ako nang matipid. I didn't want to free from false belief of her, that all of this was just a joke. Hahayaan ko munang maging masaya siya para sa akin. I knew Jessy only wanted the best for me and she would be devastated if I told her the truth now.

Pinilit ko na ring magpakasaya habang kasama sina Jessy at Kenneth, pati rin si Austin.

At nang ipinakarga sa akin ni Joyca ang kanyang baby boy na si Jaspher, labis ang kasiyahang nadama ko. Dati pa naman kasi ay mahilig na ako sa mga bata pero hindi ko inisip na gusto ko rin ng anak.

Feeling ko kasi, wala akong maternal instinct. Pero habang karga ko ang sanggol at tinitingnan ko ang maamong mukha niya, hindi ko mapigilang maisip na sana baling-araw, magkaroon din ako ng anak.

Napatingin ako kay Austin at nakita kong nakangiti siya sa akin. Kinunan pa niya kami ng litrato ni Baby Jaspher. I was becoming too emotional so I handed the baby back to Joyca.

I excuse myself for a while to go to the ladies room. I needed to compose myself because I didn't know what was going on with me. Kailangan kong kalmahin ang sarili ko dahil hindi ko nagugustuhan ang panibagong emosyong nararamdaman ko.

Did I want to have what my friend had? A partner to help me build a family? Nag-iiba na ba ang isip ko at talagang hinahangad ko na rin ang magkapamilya dahil kay Austin? O baka pansamantala lang iyong nararamdaman ko at lilipas din sa susunod na mga araw?

Nang matapos ang kasiyahan ay nagpaalam na ako.I needed to get away from Austin. I didn't think I would be able to handle anyconfrontations with him today.

ABANGAN.....

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