XXI

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Iona's POV:

Nakarating na sila ni Sandro sa restaurant kung saan nagpareserve si Pops for their lunch. Imagine, his Pops could have just given his staff some money to eat somewhere else pero he invited them to join us for lunch. That is why most of the people in Ilocos would like to work under the Marianos they treat everyone fairly, considering them as part of the family or among their circle of friends, not just any employee, and have given them proper benefits and pay. That's why this family was protected and loved by their kailyans. People from Ilocos believed in them, something that my family is lacking to provide for the people. Minsan hindi niya maisip na galing siya sa ganoong klase ng pamilya, na ganung klase ng pamilya meron ang kanyang ama. Now that the truth is slowly surfacing, more and more people are starting to hate my father's family. I couldn't blame them maski nga ako naiinis sa kung ano ang mga nababalitaan kong katotohanan sa likod ng kwento ng mga Mariano at Arellano I mean our families had a long history after all. Pano pa kaya kapag nalaman ng mga tao na isa akong bastarda ng dating pangulong Ben Arellano Jr. People will hate me to death, mga Arellano nga ikinakahiya ako, malamang damay ako sa galit ng mga tao? They will surely bash me just like what is happening now to the Arellanos.

"Hey are you alright, Baby?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Sandro sa kanya. Will you still call me baby and look at me like that if in time you will know who I really am? Will you still hold me like this and show me you care once you find out? Will the Marianos still adore me if they will know the truth? That I came from a family that put their lives for almost 30 years in vain? Oh my god naiiyak na siya, nag-ooverthink na siya sa pwedeng mangyari. Itutuloy niya pa ba ang pakikipagrelasyon kay Sandro? Pinilit niyang ngumiti at sagutin si Sandro

"Yup, why?" maikling sagot niya. Mukhang naghahanap si Sandro ng sagot base sa ekspresyon nito pero nilapitan na sila ni Vinny.

"There you are kanina pa namin kayo hinihintay, let's go na food is already served Ate, Kuya" pag-anyaya sa kanila ng binata.

"Sure baby Vinny let's go" saad niya

"Psh don't call him baby anymore, ako lang dapat baby mo" sabay hawak ni Sandro sa kanyang kamay at hinila na siya pasunod kay Vinny.

"Sandro madaming tao, what if may makakita?" nag-aalangang tanong niya pagkat madaming tao sa restaurant ngayon since it's Sunday and this place is famous for serving local Ilocano dishes for tourist.

"So what? I don't mind at all, Okay na nga din para alam nilang taken na ako. I'm grateful that I'm gaining attention from people over social media sites but sometimes I feel uncomfortable lalo na kapag masiyadong private or simple lang kapag lalabas ako. There were cameras everywhere, I'm not entering showbiz, I'm joining politics I never expected to gain so much attention as a Mariano. Kung hindi ba ako isang Mariano tapos simpleng binata na first time papasok sa mundo ng pulitika would I still get the same approach? I don't think so, these are my thoughts ever since I went back here to the Philippines and have already gained this attention from the crowd. I want to thank and appreciate them for the support but I do hope they could also understand me if I feel uncomfortable sometimes" mahabang pahayag ng binata sa kanya.

"You're still the same humble Sandro I grew up with and I'm happy for that" masayang sagot niya sa binata.

"Well I'm still your Sandro, Iona nothing changed" nakangiti ding saad ng binata.

"But still Sandro, let's limit showing affection lalo na kapag nasa labas tayo or what, as much as possible I don't want to be involved in politics but what can I do I think I can't avoid that. So, at least I will still keep my privacy if ever, and Mr. Mariano hindi ka pa po taken asa ka naman. Whenever the time comes that you would be taken by me, just keep our relationship private and no need to mention my name when someone asks, okay" paninigurado niya kay Sandro ayaw din niya kasing malaman ng mga Arellano ang connection niya sa mga Mariano baka maging sanhi nanaman ito ng misunderstanding kahit walang pakialam ang mga Arellano sa kanya kilala pa din siya ng mga ito.

"But-" tutol pa sana ng binata.

"Just promise me okay?" Let's just keep everything about us in private were not going to deny or cover up it's just that we limit informations about or relationship and I think it would be for the best, Ayaw ko din namang awayin ako ng mga baliw na baliw sayo nhue ang dami kaya nila" pagbibiro niya na lang para sumang-ayon ang binata. aiy letche ha masiyado bang malaki ang restaurant at hindi pa sila nakakarating sa table nila? char joke lang tanaw na nila ang mga Mariano. Napansin ata ni Mami Lisa ang magkahawak naming kamay ni Sandro hindi na ito nakatiis at sinalubong na kami.

"Oh my god, tell me I'm seeing it correctly, mga anak" natutuwang saad ng Mami niya.

"Yes Mom, got my luck but we're not yet official hindi pa ako sinasagot" -sandro

"kasi Mami hindi pa siya formally nanliligaw"-Iona

"mamanhikan na kami anak, kelan?" nagulat naman siya sa biro ng ginang

"Wow mommy ha, advance ka" natatawang sagot niya

"Lisa-tot ano ba paupuin mo na nga muna ang mga bata" nanaway na suway ni Pops

"Bat ba ang tagal niyo nanaman ha, Sandro? Itinuloy niyo yung naudlot kanina?" panenermon ni Pops

"What the F-" -sandro

"SANDRO!!"- paninita niya sa binata

"Ituloy ang ano, Dad?" Vinny curiously asked

"Yang dalawang yan kasi gagawa ng milagro sa loob ng sasakyan"-pops

"What? Sandro are you out of your mind? Just ask me pwede naman kitang bigyan ng pang-hotel or pwede naman sa mansion. ano ka bang bata ka" panenermon ni Mami Lisa. Dyosko nawiwindang na lang siya sa takbo ng usapan

"W-what the, Mom!, It's not like that okay" at inumpisahang ipinaliwanag ni Sandro sa lahat ang nangyari, tawa ng tawa naman ang magkapatid na Simon at VInny. Samantalang pulang-pula na siya sa kanyang inuupuan, letcheng abs yan pahamak!!!!!!!

The President's Son #1 (Sandro's Home)Tahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon