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Chapter 26: Pasts
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Alexa's gaze swiveled towards Alexander and she handed the phone to him. He looked baffled but took the phone.
"It's Dad." She mouthed and he nodded his head.
"Good evening po, Atty. Carbonel." He formally greeted and heard a sigh.
"Alexander, what have you done?" He heard Alexa's father say. "Haven't we talked about this? Bakit ang anak ko pa? You could have gotten any woman you want but why my Alexa?"
"Sir..."
"I am disappointed in you, Alex. Alexa is an innocent girl, hindi nya kakayanin ang mga laro mo. She's very fragile and she won't be able to withstand the heartbreak when you finally get tired of her. Hindi si Alexa ang tipo ng babaeng iiwanan mo, Alex matapos mong pagsawaan tulad ng mga ginawa mo sa iba mong babae. You should have just spared my daughter."
"Mahal ko po sya, Atty. Carbonel." He uttered as he stood up and went to stand near the windows. "And no matter what you say, nothing will change what I feel towards Alexa."
"Alex, matanda na ako at wala akong ibang hangad kundi ang sumaya ang mga anak ko. I remember you promising me that you will not lay a hand on Alexa. I remember you saying that you'll steer clear of her path. And now she's pregnant. How do you expect me to feel?"
"Sir, I did not expect to fall for Alexa. It was never a part of my plan. It just happened. Yes, she's pregnant with my baby and I already asked her to marry me. She said yes and I hope you'll give us your blessings."
"Alex--"
"Sir, seryoso po ako sa anak ninyo. Mahal ko po sya at balak ko po syang pakasalan. Sana naman po wag nyong pagdudahan yung intentions ko sa kanya. I know my youth was filled with folly but I'm a grown man now and I'm madly in love with your daughter."
"Mag-usap tayo when I get there, Alex. I'm too old and too tired to get angry but I want to talk to you in person, man-to-man. I've known you since you were in diapers, Alex at alam ko ang karakas mo pagdating sa babae. Sana totoong mahal mo ang anak ko kasi kung hindi at naglalaro ka lang, yun na ang pagkakataong maghihiwalay ng landas ang mga pamilya natin. I already told your father about this and he advised me to talk to you and hold my judgment until then."
"I will wait for you to return, Sir." Alexander replied and stopped when Atty. Carbonel started wheezing. "Sir? Are you okay?" He asked and waited for Atty. Carbonel to reply.
"Tell Alexa that I'll call again." He said and Alexander furrowed his brows in worry. Hindi pa ba sya magaling? He asked himself but pasted a smile on his face when he turned to face Alexa.
"What happened?" She asked looking eagerly at him and taking the phone from his hand. "Hello, Dad?" She asked putting the phone against her ear.
"Tatawag na lang daw sya ulit." Alexander replied smiling at her as he pulled her into his embrace.
"Hindi man lang kami nakapag-usap." Alexa murmured as her shoulders drooped and Alexander tightened his hug around her. "Bakit sya nagmamadali? May sinabi ba sya? If he's coming home that means he's getting well, right?"
"Maybe." Alexander replied. "Nagmadali sya kasi bawal nga yata syang tumawag, narinig ko someone was telling him to end the call, might be his doctor. Alam mo naman kapag ganyang under strict medical regimen pati yung activities nila monitored din." He lied and he felt uneasy.
"Ano ba naman kasing klase yang mga doctors nya, di ba nila inisip that he has a family who looks forward to every call that he makes?"
"Bayaan mo na, Love." He murmured against her hair. "He's coming home, right? Makakasama mo na sya." He said and she nodded her head. He pulled her towards the bed to lie down and he immediately wrapped his arms around her. He had a feeling that Atty. Leandro Carbonel is still very sick and he's worried how it would affect Alexa. "Love."
