Up Where We Belong

Chapter 12

Act

"Am I doing the right thing?" tanong ko kay Joriel na nasa driver's seat habang nasa biyahe kami papuntang Manila. Saglit siyang tumingin sa akin at bahagyang tumawa. Nilipat nito ang tingin sa daan.

Mommy let me call him Joriel when we were kids dahil hindi naman nagkakalayo ang aming edad. He's now 28, working in the same firm with Gab.

"You will be fine, Tiff. One year lang ang usapan niyo, diba? It will pass by quickly and you won't even realize it," sagot naman nito. Mukhang nahimigan nito ang pag-aalala sa boses ko.

Sure, I will be fine. Merong prenuptial agreement at safe ang assets namin pareho. Why am I asking him that silly question while looking worried? I clearly told myself I made the best decision so far.

He is taking me to a bridal shop na napili ko para kuhanan ng wedding dress para sa kasal. Nagulat nalang ako na nagawi siya sa bahay kagabi. Akala ko pa naman si Gab ang makakasama ko ngayon. Hindi raw nito ako masasamahan dahil may importante itong gagawin kaya si Joriel na muna ang nagsundo sa akin. I warned him to keep mum about this matter especially around Mommy and Tita Julia and when Kuya Terron just shows up in surprise.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at napasandal sa backrest ng upuan. Apat na oras na biyahe. Mabuti naman at maaga kaming umalis ng bahay kaya bago pa man mag-aalas nuwebe ay nasa Manila na kami unless we'd get caught in a traffic jam which is an everyday scenario in that congested city. May bago ba?

"Hey, bakit nakabusangot ka? Are you not happy to see me, dearest cousin? Matagal din tayong hindi nagkita," puna niya na may himig pagtatampo.

"Tigilan mo ako, Joriel. Hindi pa nga tayo nagkikita, binugaw mo na ako," asik ko at humalukiphip.

Siya pa ang may ganang magtampo gayong pinamimigay niya ako sa iba. Am I not a family to him?

"I only suggested it to him so he will stop pestering me. Ilang buwan din siyang naghanap at walang babaeng pasok sa qualifications niya at papayag sa mga kondisyon niya. Kaya kinwento kita sa kanya. It was foolish, I know, Tiff. I'm sorry. I should not have told him about you," aniya at binaling ang tingin sa akin. "Nagulat nga ako na nag-file siya ng indefinite leave. 'Yon pala at binisita niya ang bahay ng lolo at lola niya at 'yon nga at nagkita kayo. You are his last resort and you need diversion from the roughest period of your life."

It didn't sound right but I don't care anymore.

My brows furrowed. "Thank you ha?" I said sarcastically.

"You should have said no if you didn't want his proposition," he said it like it wasn't a big deal.

Totoo naman. Pwede ko rin namang panindigan ang sinabi kong ayaw kong umoo sa inaalok ni Gab.

But then...things just happened.

"I only agreed because I want to buy the Hacienda Ramirez," walang emosyong sabi ko.

He burst out laughing and tried to hold it by biting his lower lip. I looked away thinking that he saw me as a rotten girl who needed someone to get back on her feet. Iyon lamang ang tanging alam niya, na magpapakasal ako kay Gab para makalimot sa masalimuot kong karanasan sa pag-ibig.

"You know what, I should have punched that scumbag when I saw him last time in the mall with that woman," nanggigigil na sabi ni Joriel. Si Aldrin ang tinutukoy nito. "Kaso nakita ko buntis pala yung babae kaya nakaramdam ako ng awa kung bigla-bigla ko nalang sapakin ang gagong kasama niya."

"Mukha mo. You wouldn't go savage as that just to avenge me. I know you. You wouldn't put your career on line for just a mere-" napatigil ako at bumaling sa kanya.