"Silver? Ba't gising ka pa?"

Dali-dali kong pinunasan ang luha ko bago lumingon kay Tita. Itinaas ko ang baso ng ice cream. "Nag-crave lang po bigla."

Ngumiti si Tita, bakas ang antok sa mukha. Sa kabila nito, binuksan niya ang ref at kinuha ang malaking lalagyan ng ice cream. Dala rin ang isang kutsara, tinabihan niya ako sa mesa. 

"Anong problema?" tanong niya kaya naman napakurap-kurap ako.

"W-wala po."

"Ang boyfriend mo ba?" 

"Po?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat.

Tumawa si Tita at nagsimulang kumain mula sa mismong lalagyan. "Si Reika ang source ko. 'Wag mo nang ikaila."

"A-alam niyang kami na?" I felt bad all of a sudden. 

She nodded with a smile. "Hindi kayo magaling magtago. Reika figured it out months ago. She's just waiting for you to confirm it."

Napabuntong-hininga ako at isinalampak ang likod ko sa sandalan ng upuan. "I feel bad for not telling her. She's my best friend..."

"But?" Tita smiled knowingly.

"I don't know... I'm scared." Napatitig ako sa hinlalaki at hintuturo kong nagsimulang maglikot.

"Scared of what?" 

"For Slade to find out..." I sighed, my heart beginning to hammer inside my chest.

Tita chuckled. "Sa pagkaka-kwento ni Reika, close naman kayo ni Slade? Bakit natatakot kang malaman ng kakambal mo? He doesn't seem like the strict type."

My pointing finger began to move, picking on the skin on the side of my thumb. "H-he can be strict but it's not really the problem.."

"Then what's the problem, Silver?" Tita asked. "Come on, sweetie. You can always tell me."

"I'm scared for my parents to find out..." I looked at Tita weakly. 

"You don't have to be scared of them. You're under our care, we won't let them hurt you again," Tita said, grabbing ahold of my hand. I can see nothing but love and sympathy in her eyes. 

"I know this will sound weird," I paused and closed my eyes shut, "pero iniisip ko pa lang na alam na nila, parang nababawasan na ang saya ko."

"Do you really think they won't like Jethro?" tanong ni Tita.

Umiling ako. "My parents will love Jethro and his family."

"Wait, your parents will love him. What's wrong with that?" She smiled in confusion as she scratched the end of the tip of her eyebrow. 

"That's the problem, Tita. My parents will love him and his family, so much that they will want to be involved with them. I can already imagine my parents trying to use the Filimons for the sole purpose of enriching their empire. I can already imagine them using Jethro's kindness for their own gain. And if our relationship fails, they will crucify me for letting go of a Filimon. Relationships are unpredictable! Hindi porke't mahal namin ang isa't isa, kami na talaga hanggang sa huli. B-but my parents won't understand that! They will hate me again! I will disappoint everyone--"

Nahinto ako sa pagsasalita nang tumayo si Tita at niyakap ako nang mahigpit, ang isa niyang kamay ay pinaghiwalay ang hintuturo mula sa hinlalaki kong nagdurugo na. "Oh sweetie, you poor thing," she said and I could tell from the sound of her voice that she's crying.

Doon ko lang napansin na nanginginig na ako habang umiiyak. Pumapatak pa ang dugo mula sa gilid ng hintuturo ko. Para akong nawalan ng lakas sa buong katawan at ibinaon na lamang ang mukha sa tiyan ni Tita. In her warmth, I gave in to my tears.

"That won't happen, Silver. Your parents love you. Don't let your mind scare you."

Umiling-iling ako kasabay ng paghikbi ko. "No, it will happen, Tita! I know my parents! Nothing I do will ever be enough for them! I've tried, Tita! I've been trying to prove them my worth, to make them proud, but nothing I'll do will ever be enough! They love me, but in their eyes, I'll always be a disappointment!"

Binitiwan ako ni Tita at lumuhod siya sa harapan ko, pinupunasan ang mga luha ko. "That's not true. You're not a disappointment. If your parents had done anything to make you feel that way, forgive them for how wrong they are but don't stop loving them.  Parents make mistakes, the way their children do, but that doesn't mean the love should be any less. Now, if your parents will do anything to interfere with your relationship with Jethro, the first thing you will do is let me know."

"Po?" Napahikbi ako.

Tita smirked as she continued to wipe my tears. "I don't know if you're just overthinking things, but just in case you're right, if your parents do interfere with your relationship in any way, sabihin mo agad sa akin at kakausapin ko ang mga magulang mo."

"P-po?" pag-uulit ko sa sobrang gulat.

"Basta, ako na ang bahala. All you have to do is enjoy the present. And please, Silver. Please, don't think about break-ups yet. 'Wag masyadong advance. You're right, relationships are unpredictable, coming from a failed relationship myself, but please enjoy whatever it is that you have with Jethro right now. If you keep thinking about the end, what's the point of continuing your relationship?" she asked.

I nodded, pressing my lips together.

Naalala ko bigla si Slade at ang mga pinagsasabi ko tungkol sa mga magulang namin. Puchangama baka mamaya sobrang sama na ng tingin ni Tita sa mga magulang namin at ayawan si Slade. "T-Tita paano ho kung kayo ang nasa sitwasyon ng mga magulang ni Jethro?"

Humalakhak siya. "As long as Slade will treat Reika right, walang problema. I'll deal with your parents in my own way."

I gaped. "A-alam n'yo po ang tungkol sa kanila?"

"Sa lakas ng boses mo sa tuwing inaasar si Reika, alam ko na. I'm just waiting for Reika to tell me." She sighed. "By the way, kailan ba balak ng kapatid mo na manligaw nang pormal kay Reika? Inaantay ko ang reaksyon ni Rico. Tiyak magugulat 'yon."

Teka, akala ko ba not in good terms sila ni Tito Rico?

***

"Hey," Jethro greeted me like a lost little puppy and opened the car door, as usual.

Nang maupo, hindi ako agad nag seat-belt. Hinintay ko siyang makapasok at maupo sa driver's seat.

"Sorry, Stoney." I reached up to his face and planted a kiss on his cheek, much to his surprise. Ikinabit ko naman ang seat-belt ko.

"You don't have to apologize," aniya pero tipid lang akong ngumiti at umayos ng upo.

"What happened to your fingers?" tanong niya kaya dumako ang tingin ko sa dalawa kong daliri na may bandaid. 

"Wala 'to." I shrugged and chuckled. "Paso lang."

"Your eyes?" he asked, pertaining to my swollen eyes from crying last night.

"Sore eyes?" biro ko na lang.

"I'm sorry for making you cry," aniya at hinawakan ang kamay kong nakapatong sa ibabaw ng hita ko.

"Hindi ah!" taas-noo kong pag-amin. Kung tutuusin, hindi naman talaga siya ang dahilan ng pag-iyak ko. Hinawakan ko na lang pabalik ang kamay niyang malamig at pinagbigkis ang mga daliri namin. "Malalaman naman 'yan kapag ikaw ang nagpaiyak sa'kin... kapag sinugod ka na ni Reika."

He chuckled. "That would be terrifying."

Natawa rin ako.

My heart felt light at the sight of his smile. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang mapatitig ulit sa mukha niya. "My parents are overbearing, Jethro. Mabait sila pero minsan ay kakaiba sila kung mag-isip. Sana mapagpasensyahan mo sila."

"My parents are overbearing, too." He lifted our united hands and planted a kiss at the back of my hand. "And I think I'm just like them, sometimes."

"On the other hand, I'm kinda stubborn," biro ko dahilan para humalakhak siya.

"Elemento ka," biro niya sabay pabirong simangot sa akin. Cute.

"Bato ka naman," ganti ko at mas hinigpitan ang hawak sa kamay niya.

"Bato ka rin," aniya.

Natawa ako. "Nga pala, I think I'm ready to meet your parents. I mean, I already met your Mom so siguro Dad mo na lang."

"You met my mom?" Nakunot ang noo niya.

"Yeah. After your accident. She thanked me profusely. Ilang buwan din siyang nagpapadala ng kung ano-anong pagkain sa bahay, si Reika naman tanggap ng tanggap dahil blessing daw," paliwanag ko.

Marahan siyang tumawa. "Once she finds out we're dating, expect food every week."

"Sana pala matagal na lang kitang jinowa para hindi na kami nag-instant food ni Reika ng halos dalawang taon," pabiro kong reklamo.

He chuckled and then looked at me with tender eyes. "Thank you for agreeing to meet them. I hope you won't love me any less once you get to know them."

"Same case with my parents." I smiled. "My parents are a handful."

"Does that mean you'll be my date at the gala?" tanong niya.

I took a deep breath and swallowed hard, nodding with a smile. "Okay."

He grinned. "I'll introduce you to them at the event."

Finals week passed by until the day of the event came. Magbibihis na sana ako nang bigla na lamang akong nakatanggap ng message mula sa isang kakilala mula sa ospital, humihiling ng volunteer dahil short-staffed sila at dagsa ang mga trauma patients mula sa isang vehicular accident na nagresulta ng higit limampung taong sugatan.

"Stoney, I'm really really sorry. The hospital is short-staffed, they need every help they can get. Hindi pa ako pwedeng umalis," pabulong kong paliwanag kay Jethro nang magkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makatawag sa kanya. Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko at namumuo ang luha sa mga mata ko, may bahid pa ng dugo ng pasyente sa uniform ko. Mula sa pinagtataguan kong haligi ay rinig ko ang iyakan at sigawan ng mga pasyente.

"It's okay, I understand. Ilan na raw ang casualty?" tanong ni Jethro, may pangamba sa tono ng pananalita.

"Hindi ko alam, pero nadadagdagan nang nadadagdagan. Nakakapanlumo, I can help more if only may license ako," pilit kong tinatagan ang sarili ko habang nagsasalita. Ayokong mag-alala siya.

"The fact that you're there to help is enough. Just don't stress too much," aniya kaya tumango-tango ako.

Alas nuebe nang sabihan ako na pwede na akong umuwi. Habang nagbibihis ng t-shirt at jeans sa quarters, napansin ko ang isang mensahe mula kay Ronie.

Ronie:

Pssst

nandito si reika at ang jowa mo sa event

saan ka?

SIlver:

Ha?

Ronie:

How are u related to Neil Villafranca?

Silver:

My dad

why?

Ronie:

I'm at an event hosted by them. Bakit wala ka rito?

Silver:

What event??? yung business summit ???

Ronie:

Yas

btw ganda ng mom mo, anyare sayo? hahahaha

pero ba't siya naka-wheel chair?

may sakit ba siya?

so bored here, punta ka pls?

katakot dad ni riley

"What?!" Napasinghap ako sa gulat at kalituhan. I don't know why Mom would be wearing a wheel chair, natakot ako bigla kaya naman dali-dali na akong umalis at pumara ng taxi.

Habang nasa byahe, nagsimulang bumuhos ang ulan. Palakas nang palakas ang kaba ko sa bawat sandali, iniisip kung ano ang nangyari kay Mommy.

"Ma'am, private vehicles na lang raw po ang pwedeng makapasok mula rito," sabi ng driver kaya naman agad akong nagbayad. Hindi ko na ininda pa ang ulan, dali-dali akong lumabas ng taxi at nagtatakbo patungo sa direksyon ng hotel. 

"Ma'am hindi ka pwedeng pumasok!" sigaw ng guwardya sa pinto pero nilagpasan ko siya at mas binilisan ang pagtakbo.

Namalayan ko na lamang na nasa loob na ako ng isang magarbo at may kalakihang silid. Halo-halo ang tawanan, kalansing ng mga kubyertos, at classical music sa paligid. Lahat ay nakasuot ng magarang kasuotan mula business suit hanggang cocktail dress. Samantalang ako ay luhaan at basa dahil sa ulan.

"Miss, sabing bawal ka rito!" bulalas ng guard at mabilis na hinigit ang kamay ko.

Nagpumiglas ako at pilit kumawala. Ramdam kong pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga tao sa paligid.

"Let go of her. She's with me." 

Mabilis akong binitiwan ng guard at nang lumingon naman ako ay nakita ko si Jethro. Mabilis niyang tinanggal ang coat at ipinatong sa magkabila kong balikat. 

"M-my Mom, I need to see her," mangiyak-ngiyak kong sambit.

"I wanted to tell you but I didn't want you to worry." Bumuntong-hininga siya at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "She's over there."

Hawak-kamay kaming naglakad ni Jethro. Pinagtitinginan kami ng lahat pero wala akong pakialam sa kanila dahil ang nasa isip ko lamang ay ang Mommy ko. Natatakot ako at nag-aalala sa kung ano mang nangyari sa kanya. She had been trying to call me these past few months but I kept ignoring her, knowing she'll just try to convince me to apologize to Dad. I should've answered her!

I quickly let go of Jethro's hand and broke to a sprint at the sight of my mother sitting in a wheelchair. Gulat na gulat siya nang makita ako pero mas nagulat ako nang mapansin ko ang pananamlay sa mukha niya at bahagyang pagkatabingi ng labi niya.

"M-mom I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Iyak ko habang nakaluhod sa harapan niya at hawak siya sa braso.

"My baby," she cried, her hands trembling as she held me by the cheek. "Don't cry, please. Don't cry. It's our fault. It was never yours."

I wanted to embrace her but I'm still soaking wet from the rain. All I could do was cry while looking at her eyes, apologizing profusely for my shortcomings. 

"Silver?" 

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at mabilis akong napatayo nang makita si Daddy. I swallowed hard. When I saw him raised his hand, I flinched and quickly closed my eyes shut, expecting to feel thunderous pain on my cheek.

"I'm sorry..." 

Mas lalo akong naiyak nang imbes na sampal ay isang mahigpit na yakap ng natanggap ko mula kay Daddy. He enveloped me in a warm embrace, planting soft kisses above my head while whispering his apologies. 

I hugged him back, holding on his arms tightly while burying my face on his chest. 

Napabitiw lamang ako nang makita kong inaalalayan na ni Slade na makatayo ang umiiyak na si Mommy. Dad pulled Mom and Slade in our embrace. Nawala na sa isip ko na basang basa ako sa ulan, niyakap ko na silang lahat dala ng pangungulila.

"Thank God umuwi na si Reika, she'll roast me to ashes for how cheesy we're being," komento ni Slade kaya sabay-sabay kaming napatingin sa kanya. Slade's trying to joke it out but I can see tears brimming in his eyes.

"Reika doesn't like you, stop dreaming." I joked nonchalantly.

"'Yon ang akala mo." Slade grinned and chuckled maniacally.

"She has taste," giit ko.

"Kung ganoon bakit magkaibigan kayo?"

"'Wag mag-aaway," pabirong sita sa amin ni Daddy nang magpalitan kami ni Slade ng matalim na tingin sa isa't isa. Si Mommy naman ay natawa lang.

While we're wiping our tears and joking around, someone suddenly cleared his throat. Napalingon ako at napakurap-kurap ako sa gulat nang makita si Jethro kasama ang mga magulang niya. Her Mom waved and smiled at us with her usual bright demeanor while his Dad, dressed in complete four-star police uniform with badges and all, had a serious and cold look up his face.

"Good evening po," Jethro greeted both Mom and Dad with a courteous bow and firm posture. Ngayon ko lang napansin na nakasuot siya ng tuxedo at hindi na niya suot ang makapal na salamin. He exudes confidence and authority from the looks down to his voice.

"My name is Jethro Filimon and these are my parents, Janice and Ivan," pakilala niya.

Jethro looked at me and smiled. Despite of my horrid state, it felt like the right moment. I took a deep breath and smiled. I turned to look at my parents. "Mom, Dad, boyfriend ko po si Jethro."

"Wow." Dad chuckled awkwardly, so did Mom. Si Slade naman ay naririnig ko sa isang tabi na nagpipigil ng tawa kahit wala namang nakakatawa.

"Mom, Dad, this is Silver, my girlfriend," pakilala naman sa akin ni Jethro sa mga magulang niya.

"Lovely girl!" Tita Janice beamed and turned to her husband. "Siya ang sinasabi kong nagligtas sa anak natin!"

Jethro's Dad smiled. "Magaling pumili 'tong anak natin."

"Welcome to the family, hija," sabi pa ni Tita kaya muli akong napakurap-kurap sa gulat. Puchangama. 

While our parents are conversing, nagkatinginan kami ni Jethro at hinila niya ako sa isang tabi. Gamit ang cuff ng polo niya, pinunasan niya ang mukha kong may bahid pa ng luha. 

"Looks like everything's working out well," he chuckled.

"You forgot one thing," sabi ko sabay turo kay Slade na nakatayo sa isang tabi, tinitingnan kami gamit ang mga matang naniningkit.

While looking at Jethro, Slade made a gesture of cutting his throat.

Jethro could only gulp.

| End of 53 - Thank you! |