What's this Between Us?

XXXXVII

STORME LAVIER

"My daughter told me about what happened. Are you okay?" Tanong nang tatay ni Autumn habang magka tapat kaming nakaupo sa sofa.

Hindi ko maiwasang kabahan dahil kaming dalawa lang ngayon dito at seryoso lang sya. Halos magmakaawa na nga ako kay Autumn na isama nya nalang ako. Lumabas kase silang dalawa ni Raven para bumili nang miryenda.

"Y-yes po tito." Sagot ko sakanya.

"You know, though Autumn isn't my own. I treated her like mine." Sabi nya "But as a greedy human being, I did a decision that make her suffer. Araw-araw kong pinagsisisihan yon." Nakita ko ang lungkot sa mga mata nya

"I hated Henry pero mas pinairal ko ang pera. Kinailangan kong isalba lahat. Ayokong maghirap ang pamilya ko pero dahil sa ginawa ko ay nasasaktan si Autumn and I hated myself for that."

Hindi ako sumagot at taimtim lang na nakikinig "I'm not against you and your relationship." Sabi nya kaya nakahinga ako nang maluwag "But I want to know if you deserve the chance. Because my daughter deserves to be happy.  Alam kong sainyong dalawa, ikaw ang sinaktan nya. Pero wala ang sakit na dinanas mo sa nararanasan nya hanggang ngayon."

Napatango ako sa sinabi nya "Alam ko po yun tito." Sagot ko sakanya

"So I want to know if kaya mo pa ba. Kaya mo pa bang ipaglaban sya? Kaya mo bang masaktan para sakanya nang paulitulit? Dahil sa isang relasyon, hindi maiiwasang magkasakitan. Pero ang tanong ay, Are you willing to stay despite your differences?"

"Because relationship isn't all about the sparks and butterflies. It needs trust, patience and understanding. Tiwala na kahit anong mangyari ay walang bibitaw. Can you do that? Maipapangako mo bang hindi ka bibitaw?"

Huminga ako nang malalim bago nagsalita "Tito, I know I will hurt her sometimes. But I can promise you that I will never hurt her intentionally. Pero kapag ako ang sinaktan nya, I will always forgive her like I always do. I've been waiting and dreaming of her for years now, hindi ako tanga para itapon iyon."

"I really love your daughter. I really do love her. At kahit kailan ay hindi ako bibitaw, unless she really wants me to. If she beg me to to give up, I might consider. Dahil ang mahalaga sakin ay ang kasiyahan nya. My top priority is her."

Tito smiled at me before he tapped my shoulder "I'm amazed by your love. You're ready to fight and never dodged a bullet— literally, for her. But you always consider her feelings more than anything else. That's a one selfless love, child." He smiled "Call me Papa." Dagdag nya na nagpangiti sakin.

—

"Don't worry. I'm here." Sabi ko bago hinawakan ang kamay nya at marahang pinisil.

I know she have traumatic experience with Henry. But I want her to start fresh. I want us to start in a clean sheet.

Nandito kami ngayon kung saan nakakulong ang hayop na si Henry. Nahuli sya nang mga pulis bago nanaman sya makatakas. Hindi sya tinulungan nang mga magulang nya kaya bagsak sya sa kulungan.

Mabilis ang kaso because of my parents. Ngayon lang talaga ako humingi nang tulong kila Mama, and i'm glad I did. Now, Autumn is officially single and soon to be mine.

Nakaupo na kami at hinihintay nalang si Henry. Hindi pumasa sa korte ang pagiging wala sa katinuan nya kaya sa kulungan ang bagsak nya at hindi sa mental hospital. The medical report says that he still have the ability to think straight. He really just got jealous and lost his sanity sa isiping mawawala sakanya si Autumn. But for me, he's just a psycho.