My Sunshine

CHAPTER 49

Ngayong marami-rami na ang nangyayari sa paligid ko, I sometimes feel pressured.

Time flies very passed and so many things happened not just in my life but also to everyone around me.

Sa mga kaibigan ko, parang kailan lang noong na-engaged si Angela but look at her now. Happily married and living her life with her husband James and their baby. Few months after she gave birth to their daughter ay nagpakasal na kaagad sila. Si Crystal, inlove sa boyfriend niya na kasama rin niya sa trabaho. Si Precious, she went back to Bicol para sa isang tao. At ako, unti-unti na akong nagiging open sa mga sinasabi ng tao sa paligid ko. And to Stell, we sometimes talk about the marriage thing out of nowhere.

Hindi ko alam kung talagang naghihintay sa amin ang mga parents ko para sa susunod naming gagawin ni Stell. It's like their waiting for something to happen.

Just like now. Nandito kami sa bahay ni Tita Emi, we're having lunch, at kasama ko si Stell. Hindi naman siya busy kaya sinama ko na.

I'm just quietly eating with Stell beside me when Dad suddenly cleared his throat before speaking.

"Azie." I stopped when Dad called me.

Dahan-dahan akong nag-angat ng tingin sakaniya at naghintay sa susunod niyang sasabihin.

"Gusto na namin ng apo."

I almost choke on my food when I heared what Dad said. Stell immediately handed me a glass of water na agad ko namang ininom.

Anong sabi ni Dad? Apo raw?! Sinasabi ko na nga ba eh. Kung hindi kasal, apo naman ang pag-uusapan.

Narinig kong mahinang tumawa si Kuya kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Daddy naman." sabi ko.

Mahina ring tinapik ni Mommy si Daddy sa kamay.

"Masyado pa palang maaga para doon. What I mean is, kayong dalawa ni Stell, are you already talking about marriage?" Dad asked again. "Pareho naman kayong nasa edad na, you're both stable. I can see you Stell being a good partner for my daughter." binalingan ni Daddy si Stell na nasa tabi ko. Stell just smiled. "Matagal na rin kayo, three years, not bad."

Hindi na ako nakatiis at ako naman ang nagsalita.

"Stell and I are talking about it sometimes Dad."

"Tsaka po Tito, nirerespeto ko po yung mga desisyon ni Azie. Hindi naman po ako nagmamadali, hihintayin ko po siya hanggang sa ready na siya talaga." Stell said nicely.

I lowered my head and smiled a little.

Stell never failed to prove himself to me and my family. He respects my decisions in life. He's really proving himself that he's the right guy for me, which is true.

"Don't worry, we will get there very soon." I said as I continued eating.

We stayed at the house for a while.

While Stell is on the bathroom taking a shower ay lumabas muna ako ng kwarto. Hinanap ko si Mommy at nakita ko siya na pinapakain yung isda sa maliit na aquarium na nandito sa bahay ni Tita Emi.

I approached her and cling on her arm kaya napalingon siya sa akin.

"Can we talk Mom?" I asked her.

"Sure, wait a minute."

I waited for her for a few more seconds until she finished feeding the fishes in the aquarium. Pumasok kami sa kwarto nila ni Daddy, wala si Dad ngayon, umalis.

"Anong pag-uusapan natin?" nakangiti niyang sambit.

I lowered my head and played with her hands na hawak ko. Medyo nahihiya ako eh, baka hindi lang maganda ang marinig ko kaya medyo nag-aalangan ako.

But a few minutes ay bumuga ako ng hangin tsaka si Mommy tinignan.

"I accidentally heared you and Tito talking over the phone yesterday." paninimula ko. "O-Okay na po ba kayo o ganun pa rin po ba nung dati?" I carefully asked.

Mommy is just smiling at me kaya umaasa ako na okay na. It took her a while before she speaks.

"Just like you and your brother, magkaayos na kayo diba. Kami rin ng Tito mo." that made me stare at her for a while. "Wala lang magandang mangyayari kung hindi pa kami magkakaayos. He just accepted everything, at nagkapatawaran na rin kami sa mga nangyari noon. And Azie, your Tito is very sorry to you too. We all know, kahit hindi mo sinabi sa amin ng malinaw noon yung pag-alis mo sa bahay. We know na naapektuhan ka noon. And we are very sorry for that. Away namin 'yon pero hindi namin masyadong napapansin na naapektuhan ka na pala dahil sa mga naririnig mo." my eyes started to tear up pero pinipigilan ko. "But it's a very good decision when you came here in Manila. You just chose yourself that time, you chose what's best for you."

I immediately hugged Mom as I sobbed a little.

I don't know what to feel. But one thing is for sure, magaan sa pakiramdam 'to. Nabawasan ang bigat na nararamdaman ko noon pa tungkol dito.

I'm free from it.

"Ano?! Sigurado ka na ba diyan?" gulat na tanong ni Angela.

I visited her at their house today. Wala ngayon si James dito at nasa office raw kaya siya at ang baby nila at ang ilang kasambahay lang ang nandito sa bahay nila.

I'm carrying her baby right now. Nakita ko na medyo nagulat din yung bata dahil sa pagkakatanong ng Mommy niya sa akin.

"Sigurado na." pagsasalita ko.

"Azie hindi biro ang pagpapakasal ah." sabi pa niya.

We are actually talking about marriage. She's the first person to know in my circle of friends that I want to be married na. I already know now in myself that I'm ready for that thing.

"I know." I uttered. "But I'm ready na."

"Okay, sabihin na nating ready ka na nga. Paano si Stell?"

"He's just actually waiting for me. Hinihintay niya lang hanggang sa maging ready na ako. At tatapusin ko na yung paghihintay niya, I will marry him." desidido kong saad.