False-hearted

Chapter 28

Julie and Jonathan was left in the garden and had a father and daughter heart to heart talk.

" Papa, I know you were disappointed in me. I'm really sorry. ( Tears continued coursing down her cheeks.) It was a reckless decision, I never thought of the consequences of my actions... I'm really sorry, Pa. But Pa, it felt so right. And it was the first time that I never thought of anything but myself, my happiness...it's liberating. I'm sorry. "

She began to open up and in between she sniffed and wiped the stray of tears that continued to sip down on her face.

There was silence for a few seconds, she sniffed the only thing they could hear.

" Anak, honestly... Nagsisisi ka ba? Masaya ka ba talaga? "

He looked at her straight in her eyes, like he was trying to get the answer from her eyes.

She gave him a closed mouth kind of smile...she wiped her tears before she answered her father.

" Pa, you mean getting back to Elmo and having a baby? Nah...the only regret I have? Alam mo yun... Haha. Seriously, the biggest regret I have is I should've never given up, I should've never broken up with him, or I should've tried harder to get him back early. Siguro hindi ako nagmahal ng maling tao. "

" Because you're stubborn, Julie Anne...when you think you're in love, nakakalimutan mo ang mga tao sa paligid mo... I mean, nagiging bingi ka, nagiging bulag ka and ang pinaka ayaw ko... You seem to always make it appear like you're really happy...and me, your Mama and JM, even Jac and other people in this home could tell when you're genuinely happy or not. You keep your hurt and pains to yourself, mali yun...that's why I'm asking you now. Are you happy? Genuinely happy with Elmo? "

Seriousness etched on Jonathan's face as he talked, he never took his eyes off her while talking.

Julie took her father's hand and placed it in between hers...she looked him in his eyes before she opened her mouth to speak.

" Pa... Papa, I never was so sure in my whole life but one thing for sure now is getting Elmo back in my life is the surest and right decision I ever made in my life. I loved him, I never did stop loving him. I admit, ang gulo kong mag isip but with Elmo now I feel like I'm home. I already am with you, my family, but I know you understand what I mean when I say I am complete, I am home...with Elmo. I never felt this happy and at peace, kay Elmo lang, Pa. "

Jonathan was silent and just looked at her like studying, observing her keenly if she was telling the truth...he could read his daughter's mind and gestures like an open book.

" Pa, thank you for giving Elmo a chance...for giving us a chance. Pa? "

When she asked, only then his expressions changed...it wasn't as serious as he was earlier.

" Whatever makes you happy Julie. Yan lang naman ang importante sa akin...yung totoong kasiyahan mo...if Elmo makes you genuinely happy then doon din ako sa nagpapasaya sa anak ko."

Jonathan honestly and sincerely answered.

" Pa? About the baby...I...we didn't plan it. Everything was so fast that night---"

She almost burst out into laughter when she noticed her father's expression, he was smirking.

" Ugh! Spare me with that Julie Anne! If ayaw mo akong magalit uli. "

He was frowning after.

Julie was confused at first with her father's reaction but when she realized she couldn't help but burst into laughter.

" I'm sorry Papa. (She laughed again after.) I am an adult na po. ( Her facial expressions became serious again.) But Pa patawarin nyo na po kami ni Elmo. Ang totoo nyan Pa, since the night we met at Maqui's party, he was asking me to talk to you and Mama...but that time I was still committed to Kim so I told him we have to start with a clean slate before talking to you...what I mean is, break up with Kim and his girlfriend. But Pa I wasn't really the reason why they broke up, dahil matagal na silang nagka problema, sobrang nagger ng ex nya. ( Jonathan was all ears, his unspoken questions finally got an answer one by one which Julie revealed.) I don't wanna hurt Kim so I tried to ignore Elmo. But yun nga, mahal ko pa talaga...when I learned that I am pregnant, I broke up with Kim...and Elmo and I got engaged (On this part Jonathan wasn't shocked at all, he shook his head and he smiled, a lopsided kind of smile. That's what he always liked about Elmo, he knew and always chose the right thing to do.) That was the night before Maqui's wedding too... And when he fetched me home, that night we're about to tell you and Mama that we were back together and we're having a baby. But things didn't go as planned, it didn't go well...we ended up fighting. "