I feel cold. I'm trembling uncontrollably while staring at the woman in front of me.
We're at the nearest cafe, by the way.
"I want to know the truth."
"Ma'am Celine.. "
"I need words Gwen. Stop beating around the bush."- she said sternly.
Napayuko ako at napasinghap. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nahihirapan akong magpaliwanag sa kanya. Hindi siguro ako sanay na mukhang masungit ang approach nya sakin dahil sobrang mabait itong si Mrs. Beaufort.
Nuong makita nya kasi ako sa unit ng anak nya ay sinama nya ako paalis matapos nya itong pagalitan.
Nakaabot na pala sa kanya ang balita. Nasa ospital daw si Vincent. She instruct her daughter to go there dahil kahit papano ay may pinagsamahan din naman daw ang mga ito. I guess ate Veronica didn't tell anyone what that jerk did to her.
"I'm sorry po. But we're indeed in a dating stage now, Ma'am."
Inangat ko ang ulo ko at tinignan sya. Bakas ang gulat sa mukha nito at napainom pa ng tubig.
"You're not kidding?"
"Yes ma'am, and I believe that Veronica already told you."
"Of all people, why it has to be my daughter?"
"Bakit hindi po sya? I don't see anything wrong with her."
Saglit syang tumahimik at bumuntong hininga.
"Break up with her."
"Po?"
Muli akong nakaramdam ng kaba at mas humigpit ang pagkakuyom ko sa mga kamay ko.
"You need to listen to me——"
"But I don't understand, ma'am. I love her so much. Please don't do this!"
Napalingon sa amin ang ibang customers. Muli akong napayuko at nagtiim bagang.
"You don't know my daughter at all. It's for your own safety. "
"Ma'am, please. Ask me anything but leave her."
"You have to listen to me, Gwen. I get it that you love her, but are you really sure she feels the same way? "
"A-ano pong sinasabi nyo?"
"I know my daughter. She's my flesh and blood. Something is going on with her and I want you to be aware of it. Unleashing the mad beast in her will surely bring you to the gate of hell. "
"That's not true."-napatayo ako at umiling."If you're only saying this so that I can leave her, you're just wasting your time, Ma'am. I love her and I trust her. "
Kung meron man akong dapat paniwalaan si Veronica lang yon. Yes, I've seen her flaws. It's a bit off from my liking, but I still want to stay, to know her deeper and to help her tame her own beast.
"I'm sorry hija. But I want you to think thoroughly about being in a relationship with my daughter. "
Tumayo nadin sya at binigyan ako ng isang malungkot na ngiti bago sya nagpaalam at lumabas na ng cafe.
Nanghihina na napaupo ako ulit. Napahilamos din ako sa mukha ko at parang gusto ko nalang umiyak.
Bakit parang gumugulo? Bakit parang wala akong alam?
Tumunog ang cell phone ko na nasa ibabaw ng mesa. Tinignan ko ang caller. It's her.
I pick up the call and say hello. She asked me about my conversation with her mother. I told her it went fine. I didn't tell her that her mother had told me something about her because I wanted to find it out myself. I don't want to just jump to any conclusions just to feed my curiosity.
